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:

• 

  Supercruise Sonata! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Kilibreaux - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Owned a month now, driven on average 50 miles a day. Startling gas mileage. Registered 51 mpg at 55 mpg Cruise off. Averages 37+mpg at 75! Acceleration is outstanding! Entering freeway dedicated "throttle up" results in very rapid acceleration beyond normal freeway speeds without effort. By no means a "powerhouse" muscle car, this sonata evokes a sensation of an efficient modern fighter jet capable of near effortless "supercruise" 90-100 mph (easy) at which point steering feedback really becomes near perfect.

• 

  This car = money - 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By dc23 - October 22 - 2:14 am

  Bottom line over half my car payment is going to be made by the money I am saving on gasoline. I have gone from driving a truck that gets 15mpg on its best day to a car that I can see is getting 38mpg in the city and over 40mpg on my 25mile trip home from work. I am extremely pleased with the handling. It has a smooth transition from electric to gas engine. Most of the time I dont even know it happened. I did go with the leather package and I am extremely pleased with the interior design. Plenty of room, and stylish. The exterior design is great as well with a cool set of lights. I would love to have a different set of wheels but that is avail. for a little more money. Very satisfied!

• 

  Almost as good as Honda/Toyota - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jean - October 21 - 5:00 pm

  Bought over the Net for great price. Extended warranty used when rear wheel bearing cracked but otherwise has been flawless. Service from 2 different dealers excellent, good customer service locally & from Hyundai USA. Very impressed with build quality altho its underpowered for the weight. Excellent handling & braking, great cargo capacity thats easy to use.

• 

  Good economical car - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By Dave - October 21 - 4:06 pm

  Small car, but good headroom, legroom, overall comfort. Economical to own and drive. Would happily buy another.

• 

  The best car I ever owned - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By wes0922 - October 21 - 2:26 pm

  I owned Cadillac since 1966 and wanted to buy American but driving the two cars the Genesis was head and shoulders. I also drove Lexus and Lincoln. This is a well designed and built car.

• 

  Used to have a RAV4 - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Elle - October 21 - 10:06 am

  Traded my RAV4 in for the Tuscon because of all the added features on the Tuscon, the warranty, and the great things I had heard from friends about Hyundai. I love it. Its a solid SUV, perfect size for travel & carrying. Very roomy. Great handling. I really like the V6 which may not be as peppy as some but perfect for driving to & from CA on the 15 which has some crazy drivers.

• 

  Look around before you buy - 2014 Hyundai TUCSON
  By deputy320 - October 21 - 4:48 am

  We are in our late 60s and wanted a small suv. Mileage is nowhere close to what is advertised about 21MPG. It is underpowered to the point of being dangerous. If you are driving in any kind of wind, HANG ON TO THE WHEEL! Maybe after someone is killed in one of these Hyundai might listen. This is the worst car I have ever owned and I have owned plenty in my lifetime

• 

  All this for how much?!? - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Daniel - October 21 - 1:56 am

  The 2006 Hyundai Sonata is a great car, it is the best car for the money. My wife and I traded in our 2003 Mazda 6i which cost the same amount when we purchased it, but came with a lot less standard equipment, less quality and a lot less power (4cyl vs v-6)!

• 

  Sorry I bought it on day 3 - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By disappointed - October 21 - 1:53 am

  The first six weeks of owning my Sonata it was back to the dealership every week trying to fix all the rattles. Broken part replaced for the glove box, broken part replaced in the dash and another noise resolved in the steering column. Today had a door panel replace due to poor plastic welds in the original panel. This isnt the end to the noise. Still has a rattle in the instrument panel. Seatbelt chime is annoying. It dings even if your in park. Heat always comes out from defroster even when set on floor only. Legs never get warm. Defroster defrosts windshield unevenly. Car jumps around when hitting road imperfections at higher speeds.

• 

  This Car Rocks ^_^ - 2007 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Slayer1982 - October 21 - 12:43 am

  This car is truly amazing! It gets really good gas millage. I got 400 miles out of the first tank and only put 12.125 gallons of gas in it!!! The price you pay for the millage is the power. While this car isnt anywhere NEAR powerful for a sports car(138 hp/136 ft-lbs) it does get around ok and can keep up with traffic without needing to red line every gear. The styling both inside and out is great. Everything is easy to reach. Its super comfortable to ride in and takes corners like a pro. Overall, this is a great car, Good bang for the buck and really fun on the back roads. All this for only 18 K!!! You cant go wrong. :D