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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  A waste of time please listen to me please! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Bmack - March 15 - 6:59 am

  I purchased this car last year with about 68 thousand miles after I had a big problem with Kia Motors. From a good dealership ( Im going to let there name be nameless. So I get the car man I was in love with this car but I was 10 grand upside down so I say what the heck go for it.... So I did and yall ( you have to excuse me Im from Texas... Lol) when I tell you this car is crap from the start for my relationship. When I first purchased the car I had the motor mounts and the front wheel assembly replaced ball bearings and struts and shock all in a 35 thousand miles I had the car... But wait you have not heard the bad part so 9/10/2015 my car engine starts to knock and falls dead at this point Im thinking bad gas oh no I take the car home and guess what there is a letter in the mailbox stating that my Sonata is safety hazard and they may have to change out the entire engine and car could stall at any time so okay no big deal right? Call Hyundai report what happened to the car no big deal... Wrong so Hyundai sets me Up a appointment with the local Hyundai dealer. Ok well since than time I had my mechanic look at the car and he told me that it is metal shavings in my intake and if Hyundai is replacing the motor that I might want to give them a call to make sure that I will have a loaner while me call is being serviced with the recalls.. Nope Hyundai says no and that basically Im stuck driving this safety hazard till they figure out whats going on. This car is my only transportation to and from work and to get my self to my doctors appointments I have lupus so I have to have a car... Im so upset that Hyundai will not help me?????

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!! - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By unsatisfied customer - March 4 - 5:44 am

  I purchased a loaded 2016 Tuscan from a brand new dealership only open 1 week. I had the car for just 1 day shy of 1 MONTH. I was driving home and without warning LOST ALL POWER. Thankfully I was able to get it pulled to the side in a subdivision. I had NO warning of this. Dash light all came on, advising check AEB and TPMS. I couldnt even use my hazard lights!!!! After getting it towed to the dealership we purchased it from we went the next morning and was told the alternator had failed to charge the battery!!!! Really, a brand new car!!!! The manager refused to even talk with us after several attempts to speak with him. Total loss of EVERYTHING on a vehicle is a HUGE safety concern. Thankfully it didnt happen 5 minutes earlier when I was going 60!!!! The manufacturer advises it will be MAYBE February before they can get the alternator since it is so new. Definitely falling under lemon law since out for more than 30 days and major safety issue!!!!!! I would have given this no stars but didnt allow this. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometime newest technology not always what they claim and not worth it.

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  Traded it! - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By dj_jonns - February 17 - 11:23 pm

  After 4000 miles on a Honda CRV. The Santa Fe was the absolute worse vehicle I have ever owned and Hyundai is the worse car company I ever dealt with. Transmission was defective and they would not recognize its problems or fix it. Bad design and quality problems. They may allege to have the best warranty in the business but that is because they wont fix any problems and keep saying that is the way the vehicle was made to operate. Never buy a Hyundai again ......ever!

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  What a mess this car is - 2015 Hyundai Veloster
  By Jose Cruz - January 29 - 3:13 pm

  The veloster is by far the unsafe car Ive driven. Above 40mph you will feel loss of control when going through rumble potholes or road pavement dividers on the highway especially on curves. Worst when wet. Tires and design of car is the worst combination. When humidity or frozen windshield forget about rushing. Must run the car for at least 15 minutes before it becomes clear. The power seriously sucks. Please dont buy if you are one who cuts in into traffic especially during on ramp merges. Plain and simple this car dont belong in the north east only down south like Florida. Wont last in New York City.

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  Worst car Ive ever owned - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike - December 26 - 4:47 am

  Fit and finish Terrible. Handling poor. Bad weather Handling DEADLY. It is so bad in snow and ice I just left it home. Brakes were bad from DAY 1. Dealers response was they couldnt find anything wrong. I eventually had to do an entire brake job. New pads and rotors. Dealer put an inspection sticker on it even with bad brakes and worn tires. Corporate Hyundai is a total waste. They are uninterested in anything but M O N E Y!!! You get subtle threats when trying to resolve an issue. I could go on and on but there isnt enough space here. But something else this company vehicles are a waste of time.

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  Do not buy - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By unhappyowner - November 17 - 3:10 pm

  I have a 99 sonata. The reliability of this car sucks... I cannot remember a 3 month time span that this car has not been in the shop for something. The airbag light comes on 1 every 6 months, the oxygen sensors keep going out. There are 3 of them. Now after 60000 miles, the wheel bearing in the back tires have gone and it cost over 300 to replace the bearing as they do not sell only the bearing. It is the whole wheel mounting. And since it is front wheel drive the rear bearings are not covered by the power train warentee.

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  Crappy, Crappy Car - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Ron - November 13 - 5:41 pm

  Hyundai makes absolute junk! I have a 2011 Sonata where the engine completely failed at 61,000 miles with ZERO warning. A quick Google search let me know I wasnt the only sucker that got stuck with one of the worst engines since the Internal Combustion engine was developed. Let the Buyer beware! Buy this heap at your own risk. You will regret it. I hope the company goes bankrupt.

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  Going back to Nissan! - 2013 Hyundai Azera
  By MikeW. - October 18 - 11:11 am

  I had a 2002 Nissan Maxima SE and I loved it. What a super car and my oldest son recently turned it in to purchase his first Car. Back in 2013, just after I turned 50, I decided I would join my wife and get a new car. I liked the way the Azera looked, test drove it and decided to buy one. I wish I hadnt. The pros: the ride is decent, the car looks good, and it is roomy. The Cons: cheap interior(Trim on the steering wheel is peeling), the Bluetooth is (awful had to get it replaced once and people always complain it is hard to hear), Black soot is present in the exhaust pipes(Since Day 1 and I have seen other Azeras with the same issue) and the BIGGEST CON..the finish on all four 19" inch Alloy wheels is peeling and Hyundai(nor my dealer - Burns Hyundai in Marlton, NJ) will not replace them. The car will be sold shortly and I will be going back to Nissan.

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  dont buy a tiburon - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By sabre 1 - October 10 - 10:26 pm

  This is the worst car I have ever bought. At 60,000 I have things that are going wrong that shouldnt be until it has 100,000 miles. Heater control knob, rear wheel bearings, emergency brake cable faulty, brakes faulty, poor high idle rpms rims leak air, took it to dealer in Heath Ohio and was told 1050.00 dollars to repair. Should have kept Nissan sentra with twice the mileage in and more dependable.

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  Unreliable piece of crap - 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By Roman - September 2 - 7:57 am

  This is a first time I had to bring a month old car to the dealership. Initial check says its battery problem. It takes FOREVER to fix a problem. I made mistake buying Hyundai. Dont make the same mistake