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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  Pauls Tucson - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Paulrichard - September 8 - 10:56 pm

  I am very pleased with how the vehicle was thought out. Ergonomically well done. It drives like a car.

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  Hyundai sedan - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By palegrey - September 8 - 9:53 am

  Very comfortable, completely trouble-free, good looking, very quiet on highway driving. I like this car more than I did the 2000 Honda Accord that I owned previously because it is quieter than the Accord.

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  Great Value - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By B Bloomster - September 8 - 9:43 am

  For the price, it includes lots of features and functions well. It lives up to its advertising. Very good fuel economy. The warranty is tops.

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  Car stumbles engine wont engage sometimes - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By s2them - September 7 - 10:15 pm

  We loved our Sonata Hybrid until we pulled out and the engine didnt engage after getting out in the road under battery power,, Hyundai has not called me back when promised and unless they do something to fix situation ,i dont recommended this car maybe 5 years down the road after they have fixed the bugs,,just to Day they issued a new service bulletin on the connector to the computer

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  Gas Gauge Calibration Problems 2015 Sonata Limited - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By AP - September 5 - 8:17 pm

  I just purchased the car last week. When the dealer gave me the car it was suppose to be full tank and the digital gas indicator showed about little above 3/4 full. So salesman and I drove down to the nearest gas station to fill it up to full tank as that was the dealers policy. But, when the salesman tried to make it full tank the pump would turn off, even though gas gauge showed it was not. We thought it might have been the pump at the gas station. But, after purchasing the vehicle and filling it up at another gas station, I came across the same problem, the pump would shut off even though it was not full tank. I did some searches online and it seems this is an issues, see link: http://www.hyundai-forums.com/lf-2015-sonata-i45/306826-gas-gauge-calibration-2015-sonata-ltd.html Other than this issue, the vehicle as been good.

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  Honda 2 Hyundai - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Webster - September 5 - 8:00 pm

  Own a Honda V6 Accord and still love it. My mate needed to replace his old junker so we went looking for a later model used car because I didnt want to hand down my Honda. 4 banger Hondas (I am more interested in fuel economy now)have not improved (mainly I hate the noise)so we looked at the Hyundais. I was pretty blown away. We took a 500 mile trip and went (shhh) 75-80 most of the way-got 33 mpg! As near as I can figure that is so far out in front of any other lg. sedan on the market. When combined with the quietness and snappy performance I dont think it can be beat. On a 2 lane road I passed 3 cars effortlessly and smoothly. All in all its a SWEET Ride.

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  Love it - 2007 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Giffords - September 5 - 7:30 pm

  My husband got me a great Christmas gift..my Hyundia Tucson,,,,, I love the pick up it has.....very roomy for my husbands long legs, and lot of head room. It is very comfortable to drive and I like that I sit up high. I have the dark red and the color is great.

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  Love It - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jo - September 5 - 6:00 pm

  I love this car. It is a treat to drive and I get TONS of compliments on it. There are a couple things lacking, though. It would have been nice to have a tuner on the steering wheel and lumbar support in the passenger seat. Otherwise it is fantastic.

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  nice car - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By moshe - September 5 - 2:00 am

  its good fun to drive very cheap amazing car better than a lexus its a steal

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  Affordable, Comfortable & Quick - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Littlebluedaewoo - September 5 - 2:00 am

  A Very Nice Car!! Ive only had it for 2 weeks but so far so good. It rides like a cadillac. Its little 2.0 litre engine feels like a bigger V-6 and it really drives & feels like a well built car of the $30,00 dollar range. I love the seats. Quality Job!! Relaxing but yet firm. The interior is a no nonsense design & I like it.