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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  Sonata or Benz..........SONATA! - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By PrincessChantelle - May 18 - 2:00 am

  ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY LOVE IT!!!! DID I SAY I LOVE IT? IF NOT...I LOVE IT! We owned an Hyundai almost 10 years ago and swore I would NEVER buy another one. I asked my husband where he bought his crack from when he even suggested it! Moral of the story? NEVER SAY NEVER. The new reputation, warranty, the smooth ride, the price, and the appearance won me over. I couldnt be happier. It also helped to have a sales rep who rocked!

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  My Elantra, one year later - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By cml4sinatra - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The quiet ride is the most notable feature. Its easy to forget that the car is on sometimes, when idling in a parking spot. Long trips(for two) are comfortable, since the passenger seat lays back quite a bit, flush with the rear seating. I love how the headlights will shut off automatically when the key is removed and the door opened. I get annoyed with the air conditioning system--the recirculation button will not remain engaged when you switch the fan on and off again. I would have liked to have both a sunroof and ABS, but these options are not offered together.

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  GREAT SUV - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By daX - May 18 - 2:00 am

  FEEL COMFORTABLE-SAFE-AT AFFORDABLE PRICE. PLEANTY OF FEATURES AND STORAGE. ENGINE IS NOT A MONSTRER-BUT GETS JOB DONE AND HAVE NOT FELT SLUGGISH--ALWAYS PERFORMS.

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  Mama is Happy so am I - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Steve Page - May 17 - 8:00 pm

  I purposely did not buy the car with a turbo. Turbos require closer attention to oil changes and should be idled before shut down to cool the turbo before the car is turned off. This is my wifes car and all she wants to do is drive comfortably from point A to point B and not think about the car. This is the perfect car for her, stylish, comfortable, safe and easily controlled. Lots of room in the cabin for her students and all the books and paperwork she carries with her. Plenty of room in the trunk for trips to see the kids and grandkids and most important of all.... she is happy with the car. She has the Limited with the Ultimate package with the 2.4 L engine and 6 sped trans. I liked the car so much that I bought myself a 2016 Sonata Sport with the Tech package 2.4L with 6 speed trans. All I can say is I love my car also.

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  my santa fe - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By santa fe - May 17 - 5:06 pm

  I bought mine used in 2005, it was a 2001, it just needed a new catalytic converter... but after that, its perfect. I have 2 kids, I just LOVE it, its roomy, comfortable, it drives real nice and smooth, like a car just bigger and higher up! Im so glad I was able to get this car. I hope they stay around for a while so I can get a new one in a few years!

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  2002 Hyundai Elantra GT- Fun, Value - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Wevine - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I think this car is an undiscovered value. All other 5 door Hatchbacks I look at were over $2,000 more plus no 10 year - 100,000 mile warranty! Also the list of standard equipment is impressive (leather, 4-wheel dics brakes, alloy wheels, CD, etc., keyless/alarm, etc.) Great driving around town or on the inter-state!

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  check it out for yourself - 2018 Hyundai Elantra
  By MICHAEL SMIETANA - May 17 - 1:12 am

  the vehicle is awesome.great ride and comfortable on long trips.handling is superb.but had my first problem ever was the lights went out on me when i used my turn signals.and it happened at night.now my elantra is in the shop having a turn signal harness installed.havent even made my first payment yet.very frustrating.

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  2011 Hyundai Veracruz, Worst car I ever bought. - 2011 Hyundai Veracruz
  By george170 - May 16 - 1:00 pm

  I bought a new 2011 Veracruz limited and very shortly after I got it I started having problems. The brakes would make a very loud grinding and knocking sound, that is a safety hazard. The stereo system was not nearly good enough to pay the extra money for that upgrade. This car was taken back to Hyundai 5 times to get the brakes fixed. Hyundai sent a factory rep to look at the problem. This rep would not even take a wheel off to look at the brakes. All they would say is this is normal. I own another Vercruz and drove others and this is not normal. Hyundai never would fix the brakes. I had to get rid of the car before we had a wreck due to brake failure. I would not recommend this car.

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  BEST CAR EVER!!! - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By buffus1 - May 16 - 8:35 am

  I am a self-admitted car snob and if you had told me 5 years ago that I would buy a Hyundai, I would have laughed at you. I am also notorious for getting bored with my cars at about the 18 month mark. I have had my Genesis for 2 1/2 years and love it as much (quite possibly, even more!) as the day I bought it! It is amazingly nimble for a car its size! It handles about like my 350-Z did stock and the back end isnt twitchy like the American muscle cars tend to be. Its definitely quick and its very comfortable. Best of all, it has been extremely reliable! Only con is that people stop me everywhere I go to look at it and ask me all about it and there are always noseprints on the windows!

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  I love my Sante Fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Elizabeth Frye - May 16 - 8:30 am

  I just love all about it, it is very smooth driving, grips rite to the road ,the sound system is the best, milage is very good, the inside is all solid put together, easy and convenient buttons for working the lights etc., all is put in habdy area, seat I do wish went back a little farther for me, the way I prefer to drive, but, have ajusted to it. All in all love the vehicle. Thanks Hyundai