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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  Never Thought Id Own A Hyundai - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By larryw1978 - December 20 - 2:34 pm

  I bought my Hyundai Accent Pre-Owned. The color got my attention. The test drive stole my hear! I wanted something affordable and easy on gas - was reluctant at first because I am big guy and didnt to drive something I could barely fit in! Wasnt the problem at all. I drive quiet a bit in Houston daily, so traffic traffic traffic, so I guess getting 31 mpg is good for me - fill up roughly every 4 days and the most it has cost $24.00. I love how it handles and everything it offers. My only complaint is how low it is to the ground - the rear view mirror is level with almost everyones head lights - people here are to cheap to repair headlights a lot drive with brites on - annoying!

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  just purchased - 2015 Hyundai Elantra
  By mrsbarr0802 - December 15 - 6:18 am

  My husband and I bought two new Hyundais this past Saturday we purchased a 2014 accent and a 2015 elantra se I am driving the elantra so far I love the way it handles the seats are comfortable, as far as head room it seems to be plenty. It is a great fit for three children in the back or will seat or two adults comfortably with plenty of leg room all the way around. The radio sounds great from the speakers there is plenty of storage also all the way around the overall style of the elantra is great inside and out. One thing I have noticed that I dont like is all the road noise inside the cabin at highway speeds almost as if I have the Windows down. We can also feel and hear every bump

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  Great car for the money - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By waxahachiejoe - December 9 - 10:35 am

  I am a leasing agent for a leasing company and get to drive every kind of car out there. I recently leased a used Elantra a client of mine traded in. This is no Mercedes, but its the nicest car Ive driven for the money. The styling is great, has lots of power for a small 4cyl car, and gets great gas mileage. I regularly average 33 overall. I have to seriously abuse this car to get under 30 mpg. The handling is so-so and it tends to dart from one side of the road to the other if Im trying to eat and drive with my knees.

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  wouldnt want anything else - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By drvn2mddnss - December 5 - 12:33 pm

  bought mine used in 2010 it had 175,000 miles on it. i change the oil every 3k it now sits at 221,200 miles and is still going strong, ive only had to replace both the front drive axles at around 75 bucks a piece and the transmission sensors that were a little salty at around 180.00 for both. but still is an awesome running vehicle i use it to commute to work. looking at a 2004 model 5 speed now to upgrade. i would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Love the car - but...... - 2012 Hyundai Azera
  By dispatchn - November 30 - 9:38 pm

  Everything everyone else writes is correct and I dont have any complaints about this car except.... There will be times when I put the car in drive or reverse and all of a sudden it gives a VIOLENT jolt as if you were just hit by another car. Its rather scary. I found where a few others have posted online about this but unable to figure out the problem. The also gave me a loaner and it also did the JOLT. Please comment if you have experienced this in your car, once or more. I took the car into the dealership and they have been unable to trace the cause of the problem, and Hyuandai also shows nothing in their records of this problem. TRUST ME, it exists -

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  Great car but not for snow! - 2009 Hyundai Azera
  By seagypsy1000 - November 26 - 11:56 am

  I had my Azera for over two years and I absolutely loved it! However, with any kind of ice on the road, the car became completely undrivable. I had really good tires on it and even going down straight, smooth, flat roads with any type of ice on them, the car would fishtail all over the place. Ultimately, I decided I had to trade it in or risk winding up in the ditch in the winter. If I lived where there was no snow, I would have never given this car up! I was told by a dealership that even with studded tires, the car would still act the same way. Its a car meant for cruising and that it does very well.

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  2014 sport - 2014 Hyundai Elantra
  By sorento2006 - November 19 - 6:32 pm

  just traded in a 2013 volvo c70 for a brand new elantra sport with 6-spd manual.wow,this car has it all...high tech bluetooth,back up camera,push button start,heated leather seats,power driver seat,just to name a few.i got the windy blue with beige leather.great sound & love the steering.paint is better than on a volvo.

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  Excellent choice... - 2014 Hyundai Azera
  By woodsfortysix - September 28 - 6:28 pm

  Previously had a 2009 Genesis 4.6 - great car but rear wheel drive was a problem for Indiana winters. After four years, switch to another brand auto, but neither the car or the service was what I had with Hyundai. The Azera is the only front-wheel drive from Hyundai that is in this class. Extremely comfortable, fun to drive, great features, and extremely good value. This is our fourth Hyundai, and their customer service is equal to or better that what I experienced with my three BMWs, one Infiniti, and one Acura - I have absolutely no reason to go to another brand.

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  best car I ever had - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By mbarwick1 - September 25 - 5:38 am

  Brought July 2004 have how done 240,000 km always been reliable and very cheep to run just changed normal thing tires,brakes,radiator and clutch. I would buy another Elantra when I can afford it.

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  My second Genesis - 2015 Hyundai Genesis
  By genesis15 - September 24 - 2:08 pm

  I had a 2009 Genesis 4.6, then anEquus 2011 Signature, and have just gotten a 2015 Genesis 3.8 RWD, tech package. So far it is a great car the one thing I do not like in this car is that the drivers side seat belt connector is below the height of the seat and therefore neccitates rubbing the side of my hand against the console to secure the belt. This being done repeatedly has caused an irritation on the knuckle of the 5th digit. Would like to know if there is some way to extend the connector. Even the 2014 has theheight higher not causing hand to rub on console.