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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  Quality check needed - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kona - January 12 - 10:00 am

  In less than a year a console latch has broken, one heated seat does not work, and a lettering fell off the outside of the vehicle. Warranty, has though, covered it.

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  Stylish affordable new car - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Jerry007 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  When I was looking for a new car to replace my very first car I thought about buying another used car but one time I looked though the weekly paper and I saw a new Accent for $6999 advertised I was surprised. I heard the 2000 to present models were 20 times better then the old models I never thought about buying Hyundai due to poor quility of eariler models.But when I test drove it the build quility and ride was soild and quite then the Accent I drove in 1997.I relly liked the two door style better then the four door. The two door has a more attractive front grile and tail lights.Gas milege is great im getting about 30 mpg.

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  One of the best for the money - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By steve - January 12 - 12:50 am

  Had the vehicle for a year and half. The ride is quite and smooth even at 80 MPH. We have had one small problem,the rear door seals needed to be replaced due to shrinkage. No MP3 or Ipod adapter. We would buy another Hyundai in the future.

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  So far, so good...great vehicle - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By D B F - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Have had car for 6 months, driven 17 k so far. I purchased the Limited model in Navy Blue with Tan Leather. I am routinely asked what kind of car is it and told it looks like a Mercedes. For what you get on this car, with leather, Navigation, the Infiniti stereo and the fuel efficiency..there is NOTHING close on the market. I was driving an Acura TSX before, a much smaller car that I paid more for, and was having to put 93 Octane in. This car blows away the Acura, and has SO much more for 15 k less. I am routinely getting 35 mpg on the Highway on 87 octane.

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  Sporty Looking - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By Warren Walker - January 10 - 9:45 pm

  Great simple reliable car. Does what its suppose to do to get you from a to b and back.

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  pleased so far w/ my entourage! - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By rafikicat - January 9 - 10:45 pm

  i m overall pleased w/ my purchase after the first two months of ownership. the van has more than adequate power, great sightlines w/ almost no blindspots. drives solid as a rock, w/ plenty of cargo space. definitely would recommend to others, knowing that the gas mileage is not that great.

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  Im sold on Hyundai - 2008 Hyundai TUCSON
  By JerZee - January 9 - 7:10 am

  Great car, great price, room galore. Quite, solid ride. My insurance went down $240 a year because of the safety features. Traded in my 2007 Patriot with no regrets. Tucson has larger storage area, more comfortable seats and sits higher. Very good mileage for this type of vehicle in a 4 cyl. A 4x4 will use more gas. 6 cyl,not worth the trade off for the difference in horsepower and mileage. Trailer hitch can tow small loads from the home centers. It is a heavy vehicle, with the front wheel drive, 4 wheel isnt needed if youre not an offroader. Quieter then the Rav4. Switched to synthetic oil increased mileage slightly. Still breaking in average about 24.4 mpg on hwy.

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  A Great Mini Van - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By M Allen - January 6 - 7:55 pm

  This is a wonderful mini van... Has ALL the bells and whisles. Tested the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna and THIS is the winner hands down.

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  Great car except for suspension noise - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Steve - January 6 - 4:53 pm

  We realy like our new 06 Sonata LX except for one thing. The suspension on these cars make a really loud sound when going over bumps. It makes the car sound like a bucket of bolts. This has been a major topic of discusion on the Hyundai forums with a lot of owners looking for Hyundai to provide a solution. Its to bad because other than that its an outstanding car. You listing Hyundai? Wheres our fix!!

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  So far so good - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike - January 6 - 4:00 pm

  I received this car new as a graduation gift and since I have put on 78,000 miles and have had it just shy of 3 years. It has been a dependable car, and has had no mechanical issues since 2004. I dont know if I would by a Hyundai again, not that it has been bad, but rather because although it has been a good car, the scheduled mantainence is rather pricy, and rather frequent. Gas mileage also needs to improve over what it is (never above 30 in city...expect around 27/8, never above 34 highway...expect 31) If looking at cars, definitely give this one a look.