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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  No Complaints - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By Shade - September 20 - 2:00 am

  ABought this car 7/99 new for less than $12K. I should have bought the GLS with the rear wiper, but am very satisfied w/the car. Turned 90k miles this week and now need new brake pads (2nd pair and rotors were never cut). Never did the timing belt yet - waiting for 100K. Did have 1 occurence of the check engine light - my brother filled the car w/gas and "topped it off" so it messed up the sensor. I would definitely buy another Hyundai - cant beat the warranty and the space for the $$$.

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  Good car for the price. - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Tnhbla - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I actually did not choose this car. Even though I paid for it, my parents pretty much decided that this was the car that I was getting. Ive had the car for a month now and I have had no problems with it. All in all, a great car for the price and warranty.

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  Sonata GLS - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By phillyjay - September 20 - 2:00 am

  It smells. I thought the their was a fire around the area. The salesperson told me its the car they spray it with a special fluid. I smelled it during the whole test drive. When I parked the car I wanted to test drive another one because I thought perhaps it was just this car in particular. I was so dissappointed and went to another dealership and the same thing happen. I fell so in love with this car after test driving a nissan altima that I bought the Sonata GLS. He told me that the car will stop smelling after 150 miles has been used. Is this true? Have anyone else experienced this?

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  an owner speaks out.... - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By delraylbh - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Found auto to be an excellent car for the money and would recommend. I usee as a second car and am not disapponited Slightly disappointed in the gas mileage around town whereby I expected more in the 22 to 24 range but receiving 18 to 20.

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  It works for me. - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Kurt Moore - September 20 - 2:00 am

  this has been a dependable vehicle and never had a manufacturer so interested in the car working correctly. we enjoy driving it and find it quieter than the 99 Chrysler 300M we had. Not as peppy as would like and fuel economy should be better.

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  awsome car - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By sunsman - September 19 - 8:16 pm

  i owned a 2006 tiburon gt limited which was brand new i loved the thing the leather seats and the infinty radi with the subwoofer everything about the car was awsome then in january i got hit buy a mini van i just wanted to cry because there goes my drem car down the drain after that 4 month later i got hit by an old lady driving a buick man i wanted to cry so i dont have it now because of those accedents but as for enjoyment when i wasnt getting hit by other people was a 10 the car had verything i wanted but i dont have it anymore traded it in for a 2006 gmc canyon.lets just say this the car is a 10 all around and when i pay my truck off im sure ill get another tiburon

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  This is the best car ever. - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Agnes - September 19 - 6:16 pm

  I got to tell you three episodes. First, there was snow storm in New York 2005 Winter. This car was the only one which could go up in the corner of long island expressway. I was so impressed. Second, I had car accident in which the other car hit my car as right angle. Of course, a lot damage, however, I drove the car to the auto shop and it came back without any problem. Third, I moved to VA by myself with this car. I rent trailer twice and I moved small stuffs with this one. I was so amazed with the capacity.

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  Excellent - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Lori - September 19 - 11:50 am

  Terrific SUV! Great handling, very comfortable to drive, and looks good to boot. Gas mileage is good. I took it on a vacation and was very comfortable in it as was my 7 year old son.

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  XG350L - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By HDAWG - September 19 - 10:00 am

  My XG has been great!!! It has been wonderful on the road trips we take to Canada each year. We usually only go once a year, yet, we have made the trip 4 times since we got our XG last year. Not only did we get a great price from Fitzgerald Hyundai, we also have been contacted by their sales and service team regularly. Any time we have service done I feel as if I am really appreciated by their organization.

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  Ricks Review - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rick0225 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Pros: A lot of thought went into designing this car. The amount of equipment included for the price is an exceptional value Cons: Within two months the service was required for the following problems: Clutch switch. License plate light Cruise control unit Also the service manager informed me two days ago that there was a safety recall for this model. It involves the positioning of a particular clamp which may puncture the fuel tank in a serious collision.