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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  Ok car, but 3.8 litre looks tempting - 2005 Hyundai Tiburon
  By derfla - November 22 - 10:20 am

  I have owned this moonlit blue tiburon for 10 months and have no major problems with the vehicle. The 360 wat infinity cd stereo system is great. The engine needs more power and I am considing getting a Mitsubishi Eclipse, after I test drive it, the price is almost the same and the engine sounds to be alot bigger. The only reason I may not buy the Eclipse is that the Tiburon has a little more leg room. I am 6 tall and the leg room is ok. I will have to see how the eclipse feels. The interior of the Tiburon is pleather and is ok and stylish but for the money there is more out there.The Tibby has been reliable and the 160lbs of torque is ok to drive but the 260lbs look more tempting.

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  the worst car i ever had-dont buy one! - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By mrchip - November 22 - 2:00 am

  1. i been to the dealership about 12 times so far for all kinds of problems. 2. the warranty is great if you want to live in the dealership for all kinds of problems. 3. hyundai usa would not include me in the warranty extension program that they came out with because of the mistake they made with the horsepower rating of their cars. 4. the dealership service is terrible. the mechanics brake more things than they fix. 5. do yourself a favor an "do not buy this car" even if it seems cheap. the reason why the car is terrible is because is cheaply made. In the end you get what you paid for, nothing more nothing less. i learned my lesson.

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  Elantra Over Civic? Yes - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jim - November 21 - 5:56 am

  Decided to try the Elantra over Civic based on general good feel of Elantra in test drive and about $3,500 less cost than Civic. Get as good or better millage and the only complaint is that I felt the wiper blades were not right - dealer replaced on drive in to service in about 25 minutes. So far, I love the good feelings of saving $$ and gas and overall performance is A+++++. Great radio also. Highly recommended.

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  VALUE! VALUE! VALUE! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By HAPPY IN CHARLOTTE - November 21 - 2:00 am

  HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT 30000. OTHER THAN THAT CAR IS GREAT! YOU CANT BEAT THE QUALITY FOR THE PRICE. HYUNDAI HAS LEARNED THEIR LESSON FROM THE JUNK THEY USE TO PRODUCE. WE HAVE 3 HYUNDAIS IN THE FAMILY AND THEYRE ALL GREAT...ESPECIALLY THE 2003 V6 TIB.

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  excellant - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Cyrus - November 20 - 6:20 pm

  I had purchased this car exactly a year ago and completed 28000Kms so far and have no problems yet.I used to own a merc before and am totally satisfied with this one and will always recommend to friends.I love to drive and always find reasons to drive.Other than the steering being a bit slippery, everything else cannot get better. The performance on highways, the silent ride and the space inside is great.

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  nice interior, poor mileage - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By wkottas - November 20 - 4:25 pm

  After looking at several different SUVs, we decided upon the Sante Fe. You will be challenged to find a different SUV with the options provided on the Sante Fe. The passengers in the back also have heated seats that they control; very nice. The steering is crazy sensitive, and the mpg is no where close to the advertised or what is displayed on the dash; do the math! (#miles / #gal put in). Overall, disappointed Hyundai STILL having mileage issues. I commute weekly (120 miles round trip). The average mpg shown on the dash is always higher than the actual by 3-5mpg! Been to shop multiple times and dealer agrees there is a problem. overall, I average 22mpg

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  Loved my Santa Fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By JennHenz - November 19 - 10:33 pm

  My Santa Fe was the best driving vehicle Ive owned. It got fair gas mileage for an SUV (19-23 MPG). The car was totaled in an accident (neither our or the cars fault) but my husband and I both walked away without a scratch. My husband is 6 tall and didnt like to drive it because even with the seat all the way back, his knees were still in the dash. It wouldve been better with an MP3 player.

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  Electrical problems - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Dont do it. - November 19 - 6:33 pm

  I researched this vehicle before buying and found that all but one were great ratings. The one bad stated that he had electrical problems from the very beginning. Well, I am the second. After only 10 months, the alarm would trigger when ever I unlocked and opened the door. They replaced a circuit card. Then, the steering wheel would not tilt. They replaced the switch twice and then the steering column. Then it would not tilt nor telescope so they replaced a circuit card. Three weeks later, its doing it again. The DVD volume is much louder than the radio and they cant fix it. The fan under the hood is very loud sometimes. I am getting lots of rattles and wind noise now.

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  I would buy it again - 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Houston, TX - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the vehicle new. Three years later I have 91,000 miles. I have had to replace a fuel pump and seven headligh bulbs (problem with the manf of the bulbs - not the car). The dealership has been super and the car has been the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. I get 22 mph in the city and up to 33 on the highway. I was involved in a serious accident shortly after I purchased it, the car I hit was a Honda Accord who ran a light. I "T- boned" their vehicle and it was atotal loss. The Tiburon had to have the bumper assemply replaced - Total cost $880. Yea, I like my shark.

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  XG350L Eval. - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By coalcracker - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I have about 5,000 miles on the car and I have driven it locally in suburbia/interstate roads and a 1,600 mile trip. It has enough pickup when you need it.On the trip it was very comfortable riding. I enjoyed driving the car in all situations on the road. My wife absolutely loves the car in all respects.I have the car for only 6 months, but from the driving we have both done with the car, it gets good grades from us in most categories. I dont know anything about reliability. I would recommend to put this car on their list for evaluation.I feel that you get a lot of car for your money.