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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  Trouble child - 2004 Hyundai Accent
  By kenosmom - April 8 - 7:18 pm

  Bought my Accent GT new and regretted that purchase! Transmission troubles plagued it (my neighbor also has an 04 Accent and had to have tranny replaced at 30,000 miles). Blew out valves upon traveling over Blue Ridge mountains. Traded it in after owning for a troublesome 8 months for a Jeep. Never looked back! My first and last Hyundai!

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  After 3 months, could not live with the lack of power - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By rskdsk - April 1 - 12:27 am

  In general it is a nice car, but the lack of power is just not something I can handle any longer. If you live in a place were you need to pull out into traffic ... DO NOT BUY THIS CAR ... or you will cause an accident. I got the fully loaded model with the tech and appearance package, moon roof, etc... but could not get home-link. The nav is easy to use with good graphics, the ride is ok, but sloppy when push to its limits. The 38 mpg is only achieved when light-footed on the highway, otherwise the true milage is 27-28. In summary, I thought by buying a fully loaded model would somehow compensate for the lack of power ... I was wrong.

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  I will never buy another Hyundai - 2002 Hyundai XG350
  By jmckay - March 29 - 12:46 am

  This car has been nothing but trouble! Ive had it in the shop so many times, Ive lost count. Tranmission problems, air bag light, power steering leak, short in the stereo, bad alternator, had to have the back glass replaced, check engine comes on when it rains, paint is peeling off!

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  Poor Choice - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By cody - March 19 - 3:33 am

  At 10,000 miles calibers stuck had to have all new brakes and drums, then at 14,000 front breaks had to be replaced. Dealer said it was my driving that cause the brakes to crumble. Needed new belts already, gas mileage stinks. Paint came off door handles so they are now White, all four of them. Interior worn, and I am a single person. Would not recommend this car. Now at 48,000 need new breaks again, rear calibers stuck once again, but then it is always my fault. Dont buy a 4 cylinder, you have to turn off heat or air to get on the freeway, and pray when you go up a hill. No matter what a salesman says this model in a 4 is not like a 6. Have driven my daughters Toyota and her 4 has no problem.

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  Im done with this car and Hyundai Motor Co. - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By andrewg55 - March 10 - 5:41 am

  Love the styling and power from the 2.4 motor, but thats about it. The gas mileage is not what it is supposed to be, get about 21 City and never see over 32 HWY. The "leather" seats are cheap and hard. The suspension is rough and steering feels fake. The car has had transmission issues, steering recalls, brake sensor problems causing the car to not start, water leaks causing me to take the car in 4 times and eventually having to have a Hyundai engineer determine that the roof was not sloped right and then they had to do body work on the car to correct it! XM antenna shorted out and headliner had to be replaced all do to this problem.

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  Hyundai--No Way #2! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Hyundai--No Way #2! - March 2 - 3:29 pm

  Had to replace rear brakes at 23,000 miles. Had to replace a all four tires at 23,000. Had to replace the battery at 25,000...all at own cost. The 2 shocks and 2 struts had to be replaced twice at 29,000 because the factory parts were also defective! (fortunately the shocks and struts were under warranty). If you are going to buy a cheap car to save money like I did, try a different manufacturer.

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  In one word "crap" - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By na - February 27 - 5:19 pm

  This is my first new vehicle. I was looking for something with good warranty , fit in my budget, good gas mileage. I got some of that . I have had it for a short time and its been in the shop more times than i would like to count. I would not recommend this car and will never buy anything from Hyundai again.

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  An opinion - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tee - February 21 - 1:20 pm

  Less than 12,000 miles and the valves are rattling unless I run premium gasoline. Gas mileage is about what they say as long as I run premium. Otherwise, gas mileage is about 25% less than they claim. Interior rattles coming from who knows where, but very irritating. Brakes are squeaking as if I need brake pads already -- surely not, but gotta have it checked out.

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  What do you want for the price - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By Joe - February 15 - 10:29 pm

  This car is ok if you just want a puddle jumper to get back and forth. I bought this car as a left over 2008 b/c the price was right, but I should have spent more for a better car. The sheet metal body panels ding very easy. This car rattles with every bump, maybe due to the sport suspension. The interior plastic scratches easy, very easy. Plus I am only getting around 20-21 mpg in the city. 25-27 mpg on the highway. I do better with my old awd Subaru. The car is good for parking around town in tight spaces and can hold a large amount of groceries with the rear seats folded down.

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  Bad car!! - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By Roomraider33 - January 28 - 8:58 pm

  We bought this car with 68000 miles on it. The car was nice looking more on the richy side. when we drove it for more the 25 minutes the trany got hot. To back up it felt like you hit someone when you didnt. The paint on the bumpers would come up every time i washed it. Then the air bag light came on if we repair it the cost will be $1000. The spark plugs needed replaced well that bill was $400 because the had to take part of the motor to change them. loved the inside but overall bad bad car!!!!!!!