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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  You will like this car, but might not love it - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By paul_c1 - November 22 - 5:08 am

  The Veloster is one of those cars that will turn heads like the Mini Cooper did when it is re-released in the early 2000s. Stylish and different with a next generation interior, this car is fun to own. You will like it, but will probably not love it. Compared to the Mini Cooper, its performance and handling is terrible. Even with the manual transmission, it is impossible to get enough torque out of the engine to make it fun. That being said, the panoramic sun roof, comfortable seats and great sound system help make this car enjoyable. An improvement in performance and handling is certainly doable. If Hyundai makes this happen, watch out.

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  2011 stunning Black on Black limited - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Heather - November 22 - 5:00 am

  Absolutely the most beautiful car I ever had. I cannot believe the drive, smooth and powerful

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  2nd XG - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By KD - November 22 - 4:00 am

  Had an 01 XG300 that I bought new. This is an improved model, however Gas mileage goes to "pot" over 72 "ish" mph. Other than that it is a sound commuter with luxuries found in much more expensive price tags. Reliable auto that I hope goes the 148K the last one did!

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  the best choice ive ever made! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By joe c - November 21 - 11:33 pm

  what a beautiful car! it looks so good, and wherever i go i get a great compliment. hyundai has changed forever. my perception has changed forever. this car blew my mind, and it looks so much better than my previous 03 accord, and it costed me 4 grand less than my previous accord. its roomier, and the overall exterior is so much appealing than my accord!

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  well worth the money - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By value buyer - November 21 - 12:56 am

  Sonata beats other cars in its class when it comes to the performance/price ratio.

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  Very good car...but not perfect - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Henry - November 19 - 2:43 am

  With one exception, this has been a great car. The drivers side seat (non-powered but adjustable)has a squeak that has not been "repairable" after the third visit. The seat is comfortable, but squeaks at stops and starts. It can get rather annoying. Otherwise the car has been all that I could ask for, especially at the price.

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  Hyundai Tiburon GT Special Edition - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By mat2818 - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. Love the sound of the exhaust and it has great handling around the corners, better than my maxima. Turns everyones head when i go by them.

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  Very happy with this car! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By wdlp65 - November 18 - 5:33 am

  I just bought this car last week, and I have to say it has to be one of the coolest cars Ive ever owned! You cannot believe all of the features you can get on this car, all for under $25,000 dollars! Took it to the hand car wash and the man at the window looked in the camera screen and said "you own the Audi?" Wow! The car looks great and runs even better, what a great car and a great deal.

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  Seller Source - 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By nireesha - November 17 - 10:46 pm

  Buy from a proper dealer who cares for your business, and make sure it was not a smoking Vehicle

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  My first real lemon also!! - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Skip - November 17 - 2:20 pm

  When I first purchased the vehicle I noticed a significant delay between pressing on the gas pedal and acceleration. Within one week of driving the Tuscon I was almost in an accident because the SUV was slow to respond through an intersection. I reported this to the dealer and was informed by one of his technicians that there was a recall and a software update was needed. The update was only moderately successful. The transmission is unpredictable in how it responds to steep hills, sporadically jerky, and still, at times, slow to accelerate only now its inconsistency keeps you sweating it out at busy intersections. Every passenger that has been in this vehicle has commented on it. Ive talked to the technician and he told me this is the nature of a dual clutch transmission but he would look at it. I have told the owner of the Hyundai dealership on two occasions that I believe this vehicle is unsafe and should not be on the road.