Overview & Reviews

A relative newcomer to the American marketplace, Hyundai is a Korean automaker with a product line that has improved greatly over the past decade. Hyundai cars and SUVs provide a high level of content for an affordable price, and are currently backed by one of the industry's longest warranties.

In 1947, Chung Ju Yung founded the Hyundai Civil Engineering Company. Mere months later, the outfit was bombed in the Korean War. However, the company regained its footing to distinguish itself as one of Korea's leading construction enterprises during the 1950s.

By the late 1960s, Chung had turned his attention to the automobile industry. The Korean government at that time believed that it made more sense to import vehicles than produce them domestically, and had made its opinion known. Still, Chung opted to follow his own convictions, and in 1967, he founded the Hyundai Motor Company.

The company quickly established an alliance with one of the industry's oldest automakers, signing a two-year contract with Ford in 1968 to share assembly technology. Hyundai's first car, the Cortina, was created from that partnership. The manufacturer's first car to be designed and built in Korea was the compact Pony (although the car was based on Japanese technology courtesy of Mitsubishi). The vehicle made its debut in 1974, and the following year Hyundai began exporting it to overseas markets.

Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the introduction of its subcompact Excel. The car was an immediate hit, with its supreme affordability being a primary selling point. More than 100,000 Excels were sold stateside in the first seven months. By 1988, Hyundai had begun to produce cars using its own technology. The midsize Sonata was the first fruit borne of this endeavor.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's nascent image was soon tarnished by the poor durability and reliability of its vehicles. Sales tanked. However, rather than abandon the American market in the '90s, Hyundai chose to invest heavily in new product designs and improvements in overall quality and reliability. In 1998, Hyundai also purchased Kia, another Korean automaker, to expand its business and economies of scale.

It all started to pay off by the start of the new millennium, with the 2001 Elantra in particular showing massive improvements in overall quality, reliability and performance. Other models followed suit and the desirability of Hyundai cars increased sharply. Providing an extraordinarily long warranty period didn't hurt either.

Today's lineup is indicative of Hyundai's complete turnaround. Hyundai has a vehicle for nearly every segment, including the economical Accent subcompact, the popular Elantra compact, the midsize Sonata sedan (also available as a hybrid), sporty Genesis and Veloster coupes and a couple of stylish SUVs. Hyundai has also expanded into the entry-level and premium-level luxury sedan markets with its Genesis and Equus sedans. Having gone from being the butt of late-night TV jokes in the 1980s to a well-respected manufacturer of quality vehicles, Hyundai has created a very inspiring rags-to-riches story.

User Reviews:

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By KebbyT - March 3 - 2:00 am

  Purchased 10/2001 after 09/11. What an awesome automobile. Quality in design, workmanship, and overall a great accomplishment for the car. Should win any and all awards for ingenuity and originality. A success in concept to reality. I am most proud every day of my purchase and ownership of this automobile. Hyundai, be proud!

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  Very good car, GREAT value - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Flipper - March 2 - 1:43 pm

  Build quality is excellent, interior is well laid-out but materials are less classy than some competitors. Ride is excellent, though not particularly exciting. Roominess, fuel economy, and reliability/warranty make this car a fantastic value! But Ill confess that Im glad its my wifes car and not mine -- partly because the lack of excitement to drive, partly because at 62", I cant straighten out my legs behind the wheel. Still, amazing that we bought it for less than my 2000 Saturn LS1 when new - especially with all those standard safety features.

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  Wonderful car - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By b j CHRISTY - March 2 - 4:46 am

  Great car. Exceptional value. Local service/dealership and Hyundai national VERY interested in customer satisfaction..constant follow up. Highly satisfied, second Hyundai owner

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  value for the bucks - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By santamc - March 2 - 2:00 am

  huge upgrade from the old "econo-boxes" of the 70s & 80s. biggest difference is the ride comfortable seats, good suspendtion (sp.). no power steering is tough at times. I have over 135.000 miles on 97 and no oil consumption! good car for the money!

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  dont be fooled this car is not safe - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By volvo.driver - March 2 - 2:00 am

  Do not buy this car for your teenage driver. The handling is poor - coupled with the small, narrow tires, this makes the car unsafe. I had the exact same accident two years in a row - lost control on a slick patch on the freeway and banged up the bottom of the car but good. Each time, I know I would not have skidded in practically any another car. The second accident totalled the car - Im fine, but it could have been really bad. This car is cute and fun, Ill give it that, but should you get this car, its probably a really good idea to get bigger, better tires and not drive too fast (i.e., not faster than 55 mph) or be fooled by the "zippy" feel.

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  I really like it! - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By happyindywoman - March 1 - 7:41 pm

  Since the first time I saw a Tiburon, I wanted one. Finally, in 2009, I purchased one. It was the first sporty car Id ever owned and I loved the low slung design. Unfortunately, after I drove it for a few months, I started to have trouble getting out of the door. Back problems soon followed. So I gave the car to my husband who loves it. I think I would have had the same back problems no matter what low-to-the ground car I had driven; it has nothing really to do with the Tiburon. When it reached 58,000 miles it suddenly stopped dead on the street. Fortunately, we were still within the warranty period (barely) and ended up getting a completely new engine under the warranty!

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  Exceeding Expectations - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dave Hermens - March 1 - 2:30 pm

  Before purchasing the Elantra GT, I had done extensive research on the many competitors in its category. I was surprised to find that it outperformed even the Corolla and Civic. After 7500 miles, Ive decided that my choice was a good one. The Elantra is exceeding my expectations. It is sporty, economical, quiet and a very fun car to drive. The performance in the city or on the freeway has been exceptional. My one complaint is that the GT color options are limited. I would have liked a white GT.

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  IN LOVE with this car...Civic SI Convert - 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By slthomas123 - March 1 - 1:38 am

  27 yo female, I have a 2.0 R-spec, and couldnt love it any more than I do. I previously drove a 2009 Honda Civic SI, and never thought Id love any car in the same price range more. Well let me tell you, the Genesis beats the SI any day. Granted, there are amenities I wish Hyundai would add to the 2.0 models--I was initially irritated that I couldnt buy a 2.0 model with a 6spd manual transmission AND a sunroof, the R-spec model lacks cruise control and automatic headlights. However, the car is sexy and GORGEOUS (my friends all think its a BMW at first), it handles like a dream and is incredibly fun to drive. I literally get questions and compliments on it ALL the time. R-spec is awesome!

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  My third Santa Fe - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Hankt - February 28 - 6:40 am

  I have owned 3 Santa Fes and would buy another if they keep improving. I purchased the 2007 last May and drove it to California and back in June. The ride was fine, gas mileage was and still is 22 in city and highway. The only problem that I had was a blow out in Colorado. Try finding a 17 inch tire on a Saturday morning. I am now stuck with a top of the line Michelin that had to be replaced by the stock tire for the vehicle when I got home. I would recommend Hyundai vehicles to any one.

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  So quiet - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By je - February 28 - 2:00 am

  I never thought Hyundai could make Luxurious car!!