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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  My 3rd Hyundai and this is the best yet! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By concrodenerd - August 14 - 8:50 am

  This is my 3rd Hyundai and I have loved them all. My 1st was a 99 Elantra, than an 04 Elantra now and 06 Sonata. Great cars. Well built and reliable. The car is so great. Have driven the V6 and did not need that so I have the I4. Enough power for me. This a great commuter car and my gas mileage is good. The car is quiet and still well built after 1 1/2 years. no squeaks or rattles. Tight gaps and nice interior materials.

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  In love with my Azara Experiance - 2016 Hyundai Azera
  By Terry Bahgat - August 14 - 6:24 am

  I cant say enough about my over all satisfaction with the 2012 and now the 2016 Azara. In 2012 I trade in my BMW 750L for the Azara, I was worried that I would be greatly disappointed but I wanted to save some money as I had to kids entering college. I was worried about NOTHING; the Azara was such a plesant surprise, it is chuck full of high end technology, fantastic look and feel, an increadably comfortable ride. With all honestly, I did not miss a single thing from my BMW. The price value was amazing and the ownership experience was even more of a pleasure. In fact I loved is so much I just picked up my new 2016 Azara Limited. I just know Im going to love my 2016 even more then my 2012. If you have not considered an Azara you are truly missing out!

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  long term hyundai vera-cruz limited 2007 - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By bernard edwards - August 14 - 4:43 am

  Hello every one, just wanted to share my fellow Hyundai Veracruz 2007. I now have 10,000 miles on my car and it continues to impress after one and a half years of ownership. My Veracruz is black diamond and saddle interior, and it still is drop dead beautiful, and as I approach the car I just thank god that I have such a beautiful car and drove it to my college at Florida state and got 26 miles per gallon with the air on driving 65 mph, so continue to be very impressed with the Veracruz and I highly recommended to Hyundai that they at least offer the v8 engine, and offer the full 375 hp engine and not de-tune it like its brother the new borrego with only 337 hp, or offer the 290 hp 3.8 engine

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  hmm - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By tiburon - August 13 - 3:50 pm

  I drive my tiburon REALLY HARD. and for the last 8 months its been taking it great. ive gone thought 2 sets of tires and tones of gas but i love the car. the V6 dose sound a little under powered when you hear 175 hp but it can do a hell of alot with that 175 deff a great car looks geat and very easy to tune up. stage 2 assains supercharger with ice box and exshust plus a few other things can push you up in the 500 hp area.

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  The commercial was right! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jon L. - August 13 - 8:23 am

  The commercial says this is a Hyundai like youve never seen before and let me tell you, that aint no joke. Ive driven Accords, Camrys and, Altimas too. This car handles like a dream and is as smooth as butter. An all new, all aluminum 235hp V6, traction control, stability control, 4 wheel disks with ABS at all 4 wheels. Are you sure this is a Hyundai? If you buy an Accord, Camry, or Altima and you dont drive this car, You will be missing out. A V6 with duel exhaust! I love it! It truly is a Hyundai like youve never seen before.

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  Accent GL 4 door sedan - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By reddy - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Hyundai 1997 with 50850 miles from a dealership .i get around 36-37 mpg on regular highway driving. I had a bad crash with the car.. The water pump was faulty. This was within the first week of me driving my car. I had the dealer look into it and engine gas casket had melted due to the heat. After that I have put 4000 miles on the car highway city driving and not a single problem.. I wont recommend it or unrecommend. I yet have to drive it on the snow or test it on a long shot

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  cruising in style - 2002 Hyundai XG350
  By blazersin2005 - August 12 - 2:00 am

  i like it i feel like an old man in it thogh but it is very comfortable it drives real nice the stereo jams the seats are great powere everything real great car so far.

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  Fantastic - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Cathrine Smith - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This car handles great in the snow, as I live in the east and we have had qquite a few snow storms. The inside in very quite and the car runs like a dream. I get 270 miles to a full tank of gas but that is both Highway and city driving. Teh car comes with electronic wondows and door locks as well as keyless entry.

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  hyundai sonata - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By udd - August 12 - 2:00 am

  it is a great car it looks like it is more expesive than it is. it drives very smooth.

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  2004 sonata - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By rn - August 12 - 2:00 am

  this car is smooth.. in transmission, riding, and driving. It has the sense of luxury without the luxury high price. I have owned for one week and I love it.