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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  Unbelievable!!! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Shannon - September 26 - 5:40 am

  To sum it up, I am elated. This is the best car for the money, both horsepower wise and safety wise. It looks great, feels even better, and comes with surprising perks. Even without the warranty I would have purchased this wonderful car.

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  I love this car..... - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By LidaRose - September 25 - 8:23 pm

  I researched and drove other cars for 3 months. My short list also included the Fusion, Camry and Accord. I kept going back to this one because I got everything I was looking for without having to buy a package (or not be able to get it at all) not to mention the warranty. The Camry had shifting issues, the Fusion didnt have stability control, the Accord dashboard was ugly and confusing. I only have 1000 miles on it, but so far its been an amazing car. Im getting 21-22 mpg avg city and hwy combined. I got the SE auto - had a Taurus and the v6 best fit what I was used to driving. It has more than enough power for me. It handles well, shifts so smoothly and looks great too.

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  2017 Hyundai Elantra Ltd (Love the Deal) - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By William Gilmore - September 25 - 10:07 am

  Not easy entry for Extra-Large people. Otherwise, its an affordable car pretending to be a luxury/sports car and it make you believe it.

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  Just cant stay home - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By louise - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I really took a chance buying a new car on the internet and had never test driven the car, but I havent regretted my decision for one moment. I knew the moment I first sat in the drivers seat that Id made the right choice. Ive since driven 4400 miles in the 6 weeks that Ive owned it and am still looking forward to my next long trip. Just going back and forth to work is not enough. It handles nicely - city and wide-open spaces. I like the style of it, inside and out. Im getting better gas mileage than I expected.

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  Just cant stay home - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Louise - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I really took a chance buying a new car on the internet and had never test driven the car, but I havent regretted my decision for one moment. I knew the moment I first sat in the drivers seat that Id made the right choice. Ive since driven 4400 miles in the 6 weeks that Ive owned it and am still looking forward to my next long trip. Just going back and forth to work is not enough. It handles nicely - city and wide-open spaces. I like the style of it, inside and out. Im getting better gas mileage than I expected.

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  So far, not good - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By cvanduyn - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Some problems with this car have appeared in the first 7000 miles. First, the sticker states MPG as 22/28. I drive using the cruise control on highways, and never travel more than 3 or 4 miles above the posted speed limit. My MPG has been 16 city, 21 highway. Second, there are no window gutters on the doors. Get in your car in the morning when the car is covered in dew, roll down the windows and watch the water drip onto your leather seats. Third and most important, after 3500 miles the engine developed a very loud valve rattle. It now sounds like a 6 year old car. Unfortunately, "it sounds like crap" is not covered under the warranty.

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  Small Problems are the most annoying in a new car! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By ambermofwv - September 24 - 5:49 pm

  I am a proud owner of a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, happy with my purchase, just not from where I purchased it. There have been SEVERAL interior problems and the car is less than 3 months old, the car dealer blames me. I take VERY good care of my car, clean it every day, inside and out, make sure its always full of gas and drive smoothe. BOTH side air bag panels have fallen off, there was a tear in the passenger seat, the cupholder is fading to an off black, and there is white glue on my door air bags. Its just the small things that bug you, and rude salesman playing you to be a fool.

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  Bob Green - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Bob Green - September 23 - 4:40 am

  This car has preformed way better than I expected except for gas milage. Drove from Maine to FL with no trouble at all. This was right after purchase.

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  glad i bought the car - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By sky - September 23 - 2:00 am

  bought the car in january for 17,330 delivered. gls model...only options i didnt get were leather and abs traction control.ruby red...love the car getting 25 mpg hyundai should make the abs/traction control a standard feature, not an option. you gotta see how many people come up to me and ask me, " Soooo, you bought a Hyundai Sonata...how do you like it?" It reminds me of " Im not going first....you go first. Seems some people just wont take the chance. i did a lot of research on a ton of cars. For the buck I felt it was the best bang.

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  My First Lease - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By James - September 22 - 7:26 pm

  After shopping for several months and renting several suvs, we found that the 2007 Santa Fe was head and shoulders above anything else in its price range and several thousand dollars above. It is quiet, well appointed, has a smooth (for an suv) ride, and so far has been a pleasure to drive. Would recommend anyone looking at mid-size crossover suvs to give the new Santa Fe a serious and close look.