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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  2013 Santa Fe Sport 2.0T AWD - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By rmcbain - August 9 - 4:16 am

  The 2013 Santa Fe Sport 2.0T AWD is a good all round suv and does attain a fair gas mileage if driven below 70 with the econo engaged. I have one concern regarding the engine as it has happened several times where it feels like the engine has stalled and when you try to engage the gas pedal the engine does not respond. It is quite disconcerting when you are trying to cross traffic when making left hand turns and there is no acceleration. If you wait one or two seconds or feather the gas it will seem to engage the fuel system and you are good to go. It has also done this on the interstates when you are drivng without cruise and the gas pedal just goes dead.

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  holy moly! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By viotto5872 - August 9 - 12:13 am

  I am a "Ford for life kind of guy." I did some research and found a vehicle by the name of "Hyundai" I remember growing up, thinking "Hyundai was a piece of crap." But, I just bought a 2012 Sonata Limited for my wife. Now i think, "Holy Crap." What a vehicle! If you think Honda and Toyota are the best in the west, well you got to test drive this thing. I was so Impressed!

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  Almost there - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By dgavin - August 8 - 9:20 pm

  I really do enjoy this vehicle. All around good buy. Transitioned from a Crown Victoria to the Elantra due to obvious fuel economy issues and am extremely satisfied. The safety features, (Halo airbags, stability control) are standard an a great addition.

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  Not sure yet how I feel yet - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By DA - August 8 - 4:03 pm

  Pros: Nice features, great warranty, nice looking, not many around. Cons: Accelerator and brake are too close together - too easy to have one foot on both. My leather front seats are like sitting on boards. I cant beleive others say theyre very comfy. Air gets musty easily, though there may be some setting Im missing. Car accelerates from a stop a bit too quickly for my tastes, though Im used to 4-cylinder engines. Front, driver side, door lock seems to get stuck occasionally. Model has been discontinued, so parts may be harder to come by. Not many dealers around and Ive heard the company is in bad shape.

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  Value for Money - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By es - August 8 - 5:33 am

  This car is unbelievably smooth with raw power and exquisite handling not to mention the awesome design and looks. I could not have asked for more for the value that I got compared to the base model of other car makers, this car is without a doubt more than a base model. It has leather seats, fog lamps, power remote trunk, alarm, remote keyless entry, electronic stability control, abs, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, 18 inch alloy wheels, satellite radio, automatic headlights, automatic air conditioner, bluetooth, etc. The ride is not punishing but stable as it glides through the wind. Two extra seats in the aft section for petite passengers.

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  elantra touring is great value for money - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By rodger - August 8 - 4:00 am

  What a great little car. There are very few options you can add on to this car as it comes very well equipped. The elantra touring is the same model as one they sell over seas and it shows in the handling, the car handles like a sport car. It comes with eltronic stability control which also helps in this department. I got 30 mpg second tank and the driving consisted of about 45% city and 55% highway driving. I love the bluetooth which will dial your cell phone with voice commands. The only dislikes are the dinky horn, come on Hyundai with todays quite cars it likely wont even be hear if someone has their Windows up and the radio on, also the key and remote should be combined.

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  This car sucks...Id rather have a Geo - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sweetlou014 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is the worst car I have ever driven. I bought the car with 80,000 miles on it and since then have had nothing but trouble with it. The oxygen sensors went, and they are the most expensive I have ever seen. Diagnostic tests say that the oxygen sensor was the only thing wrong, but the car runs terrible. It skips in gears, revs incredibly high when idling sometimes. Overall, the only good thing I can say about this car is... umm... well... wait... nope, theres nothing good! K Im done.

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  Unhappy - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By unhappy1999 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Took car back to dealer 13 times during one year for the same problem. Bad elctrical system. Faulty door locks and stero system. Car does not hold any resale value. I will never buy another one.

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  college car - 2001 Hyundai Accent
  By joec - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car as a college car for the economy, and it has yet to stop impressing me.

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  Great Price & Fun to Drive - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By blueyedlady08 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  When I went looking for a new car to replace my 10 year old Honda Civic I was shocked at the price of a new car. I was just not in the market to pay outrageous car payments. My fiance suggested I look at the Hyundai Accent, I balked at first because in my mind they were UGLY!! But I went online and took a look, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only by the price but the looks and the warranty too. I have had my Accent for a year now and I still love it.