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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  My Moms car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By G man - February 3 - 10:00 am

  We purchased this new 2001 champagne Elantra GLS for my Mother in August of 2001. We purchase package # 3 which includes the moonroof, CD player, cruise and the remote entry. WE LOVE this car!!! I cannot say one negative thing about it. It is fun to drive along with being a great looking car. We paid $14,000.00 and it listed for $15,494.00. The dealership, Twin Tier Hyundai treated us like GOLD!! I currently own a 2000 VW Beetle and 1993 Nissan Maxima. I am seriously considering trading in my 1993 Maxima, with 126,000 miles, on a new Elantra GT!! I RAVE about the Hyundai product to everyone that I know.

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  I cant keep it under 80! - 2005 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Swizo - February 3 - 8:33 am

  This car is way too much fun. The review compares it to an RSX with an inline 4, and I say, how dare you? The V6 is where most of the weight is, and a few minor adjustments will drop the weight by 100 pounds. The clutch is the weakest part of the car for me, it just isnt fast enough, too much travel with factor settings.

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  Nice for the Price - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Phredd in CT - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Its the SE edition, with driving lights, spoiler, alloy rims...Bought my car in 2000 with 23k on it. Was just declared a total loss due to a hit and run on Christmas eve... The car now has 67,000 miles on it, and, besides a shorted out wire harness 3 weeks after I bought it, I have had no problems with it.

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  A Well Kept Secret - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By voodoo9055 - February 2 - 2:00 am

  For starters, the realiablity on this car is amazing. I am now pushing a little over 43,000 and I have not experience any major problems. I have replaced some sort of sensor that was part of a recall. Other than that, I had to take it to the dealership twice because my driver side window stop working. It was the regulator. Overrall, it is a nice car, but you WILL get bored of it quickly!!! If you are buying this car based on price and this is all you can afford, then it is a good buy. Otherwise, if you are buying this car and you can afford a better car, then dont buy this car because you wont be happy.

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  Surprise - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By ENU - January 31 - 10:00 am

  When I went to purchase my Elantra it was for price and warranty and to drive to work. To my surprise this is the best small car I have ever owned, so much so that I have purchased a Sonata. This car company has come a long way.

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  2004 Sonata GLS-Superb - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By shelley1121 - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought my new Hyundai 1 week ago, I totally love it! The dealer was great and the price was outstanding. I test drove the Toyota Camry and this seemed to run better. I felt like my money was well spent. I like the4 cargo net in the trunk. I liked Hyundai because everthing my car came standard and it is pretty well loaded. It seemed like Toyota and Honda added more options which drove the price up, not Hyundai, I only paid $49 for the pinstriping and that was it!

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  Best SUV in its Class - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Elaine_G - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I had to purchase a new car in a hurry, and test drove every SUV in the under 25,000 price range. I drove most at least twice. The Sante Fe is Roomier on the inside, has more options that are considered standard features, is more comfortable than all of the other brands. I have been driving this car since July, and it is the most fun car to drive that I have ever owned or ridden in.

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  GREAT LITTLE AUTO - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By JERRY PACIELLO - January 31 - 10:00 am

  GREAT VIEW OF THE ROAD FROM DRIVERS SIDE .EASY TO HANDLE BOUGHT IN FLORID DROVE BACK TO NEW YORK THE NEXT WEEK.MOSTCOMFORTABLE TRIP I HAD IN YEARS POWER OF ENGINE WAS A BIG TREAT JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT

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  Great purchase - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By jprich - January 30 - 9:53 pm

  My first new car. Read a lot of reviews. Had a great deal (rebate) + winter tires and other free goodies. Had it for 5 months and nearly 10k km on it. Went on a trip to Boston from Montreal and the car ran perfectly well. Very comfortable and roomy. Gas mileage on road is greater than expected. Bit disappointed for city mileage though. Had a burned tail light and the small door speaker unglued itself on the first month but got them fixed right away. No biggies.

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  2nd review, still learning - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By gary - January 30 - 8:46 pm

  All good, finding new things on this machine every time out. Found take off in automatic a little hesitant but not used to drag race, so ok. Did a little research anyway reading tech data. It makes since to me why now. Drive train is made to get max fuel economy w/fare amount of horses. Using same 3.3L v6 added cvvt, new injection system boosted HP and MPG + Shiftronics all new f/2009. Trans has special valve to somewhat control RPM surge in auto mode manual side no valve 1st geared lower. You control RPMs. Better jump, dont hit car in front. Good f/ city driving. Also car has timing chain not stupid belt. Traction control is great when rain puddles on hiway.