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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  "CUTE" SUV - 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By sweetpe - December 20 - 7:45 am

  The Santa Fe is a "cute" SUV, especially in Red, but its not very comfortable when it comes to seating. The front seats are hard, the seat itself is too short and the power seat is very hard to adjust to a comfortable position. Actually the passenger seat is more comfortable than the drivers seat. The ride is way too stiff. When the back seat is flipped in the down position it does not lay flat making it hard to haul flat items or even packages. They keep sliding toward the back of the vehicle.

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  Just got the Tuscon LTD FWD today - 2013 Hyundai TUCSON
  By johnnywes - December 20 - 12:05 am

  Bought this earlier today to replace an 03 Camry. I tested this vs the base Santa Fe Sport. While the Sport was a smoother ride, it was slow and the standard options were underwhelming. Next, I drove the Tuscon LTD FWD. Even though the ride is stiffer, the little 2.4 ltr engine has plenty of get up and go. The standard features on the LTD are plentiful and useful. Options added, mats. cargo net, cargo tray, first aid kit, mudguards and wheel locks. I got the Garnet Red w/ Taupe leather int. Its a sharp looking car. I got an awesome deal on the car. Very awesome vehicle for the money in todays market. IMHO This is my 2nd 2013 Hyundai purchased with the last 30 days. I love Hyundai.

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  High quality and reliable - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Scott - December 19 - 11:46 pm

  Its going on 2 years since I bought the car. I just passed 50,000 miles of mostly back road driving. I bought the manual so that I could pass on country roads and it performs beautifully although it does struggle in 5th up the steep glacier-carved hills of upstate New York. Gas mileage is about 29 mpg with little highway. The interior has enough room for my 6 4" frame. The quality is great, and better than my 2004 Toyota Sienna. My only problems have been with the windshield squirters and the roof trim (held on by weak plastic clips that cant take being hit by a snow shovel). For the money, it is a great little car.

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  Super car ! - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By airjordan707 - December 19 - 9:55 pm

  Sonata was my first car. I have driven many cars as rentals or those that belong to friends, including Ford mustang, oldsmobile alero, chrysler sebring, dodge neon, ford taurus and toyota avalon. I think Sonata beats all these other cars hands down. The audio for a 2002 model is quite good, the looks (i think!) are extraordinary, the drive is smooth as butter. After more than 100,000 miles of driving I can say that its been quite reliable. I havent used the 100,000 mile road-side assistance at all except once when my old batteries ran out while it was sitting in my driveway. Its time to buy my second car and Sonata 2010 is one of my first choices for the test-drive. Great job,Hyunda!

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  Favorite vehicle to date - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By bristol6 - December 19 - 8:43 pm

  2005 Santa Fe LX AWD. The first car i ever owned was a Hyundai. Since then i owned a BMW, a Dodge, a Mazda, and a Chevy, and I have returned again to Hyundai. My Santa Fe is reliable, capable, comfortable, and relatively easy to maintain. They are fairly common vehicles so parts arent hard to find. Plenty of space inside, and enough room in the cargo space to stow whatever you want. Folding the back seats down is easy and quick. I put some Toyo All-Terrain tires on mine, and i am comfortable driving it across fields, through mud, snow, ice, and sand. If youre looking for a reliable fun midsize SUV that you can take anywhere, this is your ticket.

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  Proud Hyundai owner - 2001 Hyundai Accent
  By erikgonzalez90 - December 19 - 2:54 pm

  I owned a few older Hyundais and they were crap before 99 I got my 01 accent and I love it, I get my usual oil change I had bought it from the original owner at 96,000 I have put 10,000 miles since aug of 09 it has good power with the a/c off, fuel up with less than 25, it takes the abuse I throw at it, recommend Hyundai for life, at 107,000 the serpentine belt squeaks

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  Hyundai Elantra is like a shrunken Sonata - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Al Piskorski - December 19 - 12:49 pm

  The Elantra is a great basic compact automobile. I think it looks and performs better than other makes in this class. Rides quietly, handles well, very good gas mileage, comfortable and controls are laid out well.

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  I Love My Hyundai Elantra! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Cindy - December 19 - 12:14 pm

  I bought my 2009 elantra as a used vehicle. It has turned out to be one of the best cars, and is the most fun to drive of most of the cars I have owned, previously I have owned Mercedes c2330, e500, and s500, navigator ultimate, 3 Chevy trailblazer ext lts, etc., so I am giving you my opinion after driving quite a few high end cars. Im wondering now why I spent all that money on those cars, when I could have just bought an elantra... I love the sun roof, XM radio, the fact I can use my ipod, the cd/stereo sounds awesome, and I love the color (White) it is sporty, I get lots of compliments on it and the value is unbelievable along with the gas mileage, about 31 mpg.. The warranty is also great

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  Roller coaster ride / Unsafe to drive - 2008 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Charley - December 19 - 2:30 am

  1. During the week of April 1, I discovered the car was producing a bumpy ruff, roller coaster ride; tossing me up and down, back and forth and side to side. The seat was not absorbing the shock nor was it adjusting for my comfort. Then came the shocker: the cars right back wheel seemed to slide to the right, bumped, then righted itself. I was instantly knocked to the right and then back to center. This action takes less than a second and seems to happen on an uneven indentation, ridge or something in the road. This happens out of the blue and I do not feel safe. I notified Robert Lawson of my unhappiness with the seat and the ruff ride.

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  Head Of The Class - 2010 Hyundai Genesis
  By Frank Duve - December 18 - 4:19 pm

  I love everything about this 2010 luxury liner from the fit & finish to the fabulous sound,style & ride. Who needs Lexus,Mercedes or BMW. This trumps them all.I decided to lease because I like the change without the maintenance hassle. I am fitting the Genesis with new badges found on Ebay Motors web site. Be very careful, if you drive it, youll buy it.