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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  Still loving the Car after 1 year and 13,000 miles - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By r_l_r - April 14 - 12:00 pm

  It has been the best car that I have ever owned (of 11 cars/minivans). My wife and I enjoy it so much that we bought a 2012 Sonata Hybrid with the leather package so that we can both drive a Sonata hybrid. Safety - This is the highest importance. The car has excellent crash safety ratings. More important is that it handles/maneuvers extremely well. It has a large amount of power to get you out of danger fast: passing, merging into traffic or accelerating rapidly from a stop to avoid a distracted driver who is barreling into an intersection. Shifing at low speed is smooth after initial computer update. MPG - 42+ overall Comfort - spaceous interior I could not be happier with this car.

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  2000 Hyundai Accent - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By Owner1 - April 14 - 2:00 am

  Reliable basic transportation.

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  Red Tib - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Fred - April 13 - 1:23 am

  This has been a great car -52K. After driving a VWGTI and Tibs I couldnt justify the extra 8Gs for the VW. I still get compliments on it. This is an unusual model: 5sp, low spoiler, and cloth upholstery. My sunroof is after market and has been perfect. The only problems have been two O2 sensors and a passenger power window failure. All were fixed quickly at no cost. Hyundai Roadside service has been flawless. Called two times.

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  Hyundai should be at the top of the list - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By Lonny - April 11 - 5:00 am

  Like many others here, I too cant believe I even looked at Hyundai, let alone getting one! I began researching this car early in the year. I was coming to lease end on a 2006 M45 Sport and wanted something much less expensive, uses regular fuel and gets better gas mileage. I liked the handling dynamics of the M45 and was worried that I took a big step backwards in handling. Not so! I have found myself taking the same turns and curves in the Hyundai that I did with the M45 - at the same speeds - and the Hyundai is just as "planted" as was the M45. Obviously the M was quicker, but I enjoy everything about the Hyundai better.

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  Great - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Curtis Addison - April 11 - 2:00 am

  It has been a great car so far and i intend to keep it a long time.

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  BEST BANG FOR BUCK - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By BAH - April 11 - 2:00 am

  The car is great thats all ther is to it. THE AMOUNT OF AFTER MARKET PARTS FOR THIS CAR IS HUGE. and its so fun to drive

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  03 Sante Fe - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Ken Grum - April 11 - 2:00 am

  A pleasure to drive covering the state of Arizona.Very good exceleration on hills.Comfortable on long trips. Driver fatigue at a minimum.Good straight handling in wet and dry conditions. have not driven on ice or snow yet.Seems to sway (roll) on curves and passing,Would like suspention a little stiffer.

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  Best small SUV money can buy ! - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By carfan - April 10 - 1:20 pm

  Recently purchased it for my wife. Compared with other cars, this is the best money can buy ! It has everything the others offer and a great warranty. Big interior, responsive engine, nice looking, good fuel economy (very important these days !)

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  Not as good as it seems - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ed - April 9 - 11:26 pm

  We bought this car about two years now, at the begun everything seem so be ok but problemas started.. alternator need to be change, two transmissions sensor were bad so all the transmission blew up, then the time chain, the radiator have a leak, the factory alarm fail, the ac compresor fail... everything fail in order all this in abour 2 months, i like the feel of the car but to me at least kia wil not be a brand to recomend i have own 4-5 GM cars and thay have had the same problems but maintance end reapairs are lot cheaper

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  tire towing problems - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By markxs - April 9 - 1:43 pm

  There is a definite front tire alignment defect on this vehicle. The tire warranty is bogus since no tire store will pro-rate remainder of warranty claiming it is from hitting too many potholes.