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:

• 

  Bulletproof! - Eulogy to an Old Friend - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By lindabinca - December 21 - 5:08 pm

  Just sold my 02 GLS V6 Santa FeAWD a few days ago.(Feb 2012). I was 2nd owner. It was HANDS DOWN the best car Ive ever owned, When I sold it it had 246K!! miles on it, and get this - not a SINGLE rattle or loose panel, etc. inside. Completely amazing.Unheard of for me who had always owned Fords. YES I had to repair the engine, tran. etc along the way...but what a trooper! I hesitated before buying it-semed too utilitarian - grew over the years to totally respect its design integrity and heartiness. Went shopping for another-an 07 90k yesterday to replace it-what a DISAPPOINTMENT, SO cheaply made. Might just have to scout around out there for a low miles02 again.What happened Hyundai?

• 

  Greatly improved - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By stalyn59 - December 21 - 11:25 am

  As a previous 2010 coupe owner all I can say is that Hyundai has improved this car inside and out. I think Hyundai has done and outstanding job of responding to the earlier owner surveys, its no wonder how they have become so competetive in todays market.

• 

  Hyandi - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Susie - December 21 - 11:06 am

  The leather heated seats were uncomfortable with a bar in the lower part of the seat to the back. Also the heated seats only heated the seat not the back.

• 

  I love it! - 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By Del Scott - December 21 - 6:52 am

  I bought this car and even though I was hesitant because its a hatchback, I still love it!

• 

  # 1 Car 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ingridjoe - December 21 - 2:00 am

  I just had this car for three months and I love it,would not get rid of it for nothing.I plan on staying with Hyundai cars.The ride is smooth and i love the sunroof. I think a rear spoiler would make it look as good as other vehicles. We got a good deal with low mileage.

• 

  2000 Sonata, good for the money - 2000 Hyundai Sonata
  By fish - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Weve beem pleased with the car. So far (weve driven it about 14,000 miles) the car has been great. The car drives well, has upscale features, and no maintenance problems so far. There have been several manufacturer recalls and the Renton dealership has been good to work with.

• 

  Good and Cheap - 2003 Hyundai Accent
  By clauwolf - December 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Hyundai Accent because of the Great price and fuel mileage and I have been so happy with it.My only complaint is a little more room.The car comes loaded,I couldnt beleave the extras that came with it for the price.Plus the car not only gets great fuelmileage but my boyfriend says its fun to drive and I agree.

• 

  my review - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By lawrence byrne - December 20 - 6:36 am

  had 3 in the last 3 years, no major mechanical problems

• 

  Eve - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Christmas Eve - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Experience has been great. I drive approximately 40 miles a day, and so the new car has made my commute much more bearable.

• 

  Please Consider.... - 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Monica - December 19 - 9:00 pm

  I honestly love the car, how it drives, has awesome a/c, and just a fun car, but it has some major issues. Ive read through these reviews and see that people are constantly replacing headlights, which I found myself doing the same. People with wiring problems, which Ive had. Ive spent WAY too much trying to fix a problem with my car not starting. It turns over only when it wants to. Ive replaced the relay wire to the fuel pump, which worked for a while, but now the car is only starting when it feels like it. Ive replaced the battery, ignition coil, relay wires. The interior dome lights quit working, and for a long time, my only headlights were my brights since the headlights wouldnt work