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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  Surprise - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Nathan - September 26 - 8:46 pm

  So far so Good ,Car looks good inside and out. Quiet ride. The Veracruz has flavor. The controls are easy to use. The steering wheel audio controls are good. Something when making a turn my hand hits the mute button. The Infinity sound system is flawless.Veracruz handles well in city and on the highway. City mpg 15 highway 21. Own car for a month everyone is looking and asking questions about the car.People are surprise that this a Hyundai.Third row seating worked well with my adult childern 57-510 on our 3hr trip.

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  FANTASTIC - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Italstallion - September 25 - 9:20 pm

  This is the best car I have owned.I also have a Caddie Deville. The Azera has more features.Owned it 3 months, & have to fight with my wife over who gets to drive it. Drove a Buick,Lexus,& Acura before deciding on the Azera.Handles well, & gets 29.5 mpg. on a trip.Get this car.

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  Great car!! - 2010 Hyundai TUCSON
  By peri - September 25 - 5:20 pm

  I just got my new Tuscon and I love it!! The exterior design is appealing and modern and they have done a beautiful job with the interior. It runs and handles very well, it is fun to drive and their is plenty of room in the back. The panoramic sunroof is hot. I am very, very happy with the price I got. Well worth it!!!

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  This is quite a car!! - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By David Krongelb - September 25 - 4:40 am

  This is an amazing car. Especially for the price. Outside appearance is classy and elegant, like a much more expensive sedan, while inside has a very Lexus feel to it. Very luxurious, rich leather, lots of wood trim, rear seat air conditioning, huge trunk, tilt-down mirrors when backing up, a rearview mirror that adjusts itself for glare and a state of the art stereo system. Combine that with the best warranty in the business. All in all, this is the nicest car I have ever driven. I highly recommend it.

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  Hyundai youve come a long way - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Molly Cartwright - September 23 - 1:41 pm

  Overall Id say the car is definitely a winner. The only mechanical work Ive had done in over 10 years of ownership, brakes, oil changes, O2 sensor, fuel gauge. Interior quality is its biggest drawback. Both visors broke for no apparent reason. The rear seat fold down has a design flaw, when you set the seat back, theres a good chance you end up with crinkled carpet, and both rear map pockets are gone. If those things are still intact, consider yourself lucky. Id buy it again 10 times over.

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  Good Deal !! - 2007 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Robert M. - September 23 - 2:10 am

  I just traded in my Ford Ranger and boy what a difference. This is one roomy little ride. My fuel economy is decent, the included six speaker stereo rocks and, to top it off, it looks pretty good in my driveway.I truly enjoy the plethora of included features. All in all, i feel very good about my purchase and would recommend this vehicle to others.

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  Best of the best - 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Ralph - September 22 - 11:13 pm

  We switched from Ford in 2002 and bought our first Santa Fe. Since then we have owned three and have loved every one. Only expenses have been regular maintenance and tires. Warranty has never been a problem with our dealer and all work has been done in a timely manner. I have also owned an Accent and now have an Elantra and would recommend any of them. Fuel economy on the Santa fe is 24 to 27 on the road at freeway speeds. We have 67000 miles on it and never had any problems.

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  The Hyundai Xperiment - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jerald Rose - September 22 - 9:43 pm

  The feel of the Santa Fe is very comfortable and smooth, sleek SUV and great on power. Havent been a owner for a long time, but the experience is great so far.

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  Balancing - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By EDWARD - September 22 - 9:40 pm

  My car drifts to the right when I let go the steering wheel

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  This is Hyundai not Honda or Toyota! - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By e1700 - September 22 - 10:20 am

  It offers a lot more than what I expected. It drives really smooth and quite and spacious room front and back gives less tried for a long trip and everyday track with my kids or friends. I usually paying 28.5mpg an average but Ive got once for 30.8mpg its a awesome mpg for the size of the car. Wonderful design of interior and exterior it look as much as sharp enough and storng. It has a great acceleration on highway one of my friends says "it drives better than Lexus ES330!". I like the stereo sound system its dynamic sound. Sonata got #1 crash test from NHSTA too. I totally satisfied with this Sonata and truly truly recommand to everyone.