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:

• 

  Accent Hatchback - 2016 Hyundai Accent
  By Ron Allred - November 14 - 7:56 pm

  Car seems good so far. Noticed the layout under the hood could be better especially the upper radiator hose accessibility. I do a lot of my own maintenance and accessibility to components is very important. Transmission seems to up shift a little early. Car seems to sound very solid. Only have about 2500 miles on the car and am pretty well pleased so far.

• 

  Mileage NOT what I expected... - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By Barb - November 13 - 9:54 am

  Weve had the car a little more than a week and since we bought it specifically for the mileage... were not impressed. We drive about 500 miles a week to/from work and was hoping for closer to 40 mpg than 30 mpg. Also, since these are mostly highway miles.. we really thought it would do better. Otherwise, we are pleased with the leg/head room, peppyness, and my husband said "It WILL do 120 mph" and handled very well while doing so... no floating. It really stayed grounded.

• 

  A automobile Elantra GLS AT - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By crb@yahoo.com - November 12 - 9:21 pm

  I am averaging 26 miles per gallon overall. Consumer Reports says 24 miles per gallon. The EPA says the average is 27 miles per gallon average. The reports say the average consumer is getting 24.2miles per gallon. The Elantra I have has ABS traction control with a sunroof. I rate the car as a consumer a 9. As an expert I feel the car is a better than the Corolla LE.The cruise control on the Corolla was difficult toengage.Not so with Elantra.

• 

  Oh Yea! - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Patriot_Nation - November 12 - 1:06 pm

  I purchased the pearl white model and its a real head turner. The SUV is beautiful inside and out. I notice other SUV drivers looking at it in traffic and Ive even had some approach me to check it out. I could see their jealousy and envy in their faces. I feel badly for the people who bought a 2006 Santa Fe. I would be kicking myself right now. When my wife suggested a Hyundai I thought she was nuts. (The name stigma). But after ALOT of research, on this, the CR-V, the Rav4, and the Forester, the Santa Fe blew them away. I was impressed with how far Hyundai has come. Its no longer the high rent Yugo, its now the low rent Lexus!

• 

  NOT A BAD RIDE AT ALL - 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By samsmith76 - November 10 - 5:30 pm

  Got about 4K mi on my 2013 Sonata Hybrid LTD (no sunroof). People have mentioned they don’t like the brakes with this car but to me brakes are fine (I’m not a tailgater though!). They take a bit getting used to at first. People seem to forget that the brakes are specially designed to capture energy when you slow down and brake to help recharge the HEV battery. I quickly learned that you shouldn’t mash the brakes. Nice and gentle, steady as she goes = $aving $ at the pump!

• 

  Love It!!! - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Hyundai Lover - November 10 - 1:03 pm

  I would not buy anything but a hyundai! Both my wife and myself own Hyundais. For the money and the 10 year 100,000 miles you cant beat it!!!!

• 

  Tiburon 06 - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By jg31 - November 7 - 5:23 pm

  Since 2003, the new disgned Tiburon has been setting a trend. This sporty coupe will turn heads as the exterior designor was an ex-Ferrari engineer. The Tiburon has excellent transmission, automatic or manual. With the option of a 5/6 speed manual or an automatic with Shiftronic (allows manual gear operation), the Tiburon is a great 2 door hatchback coupe.

• 

  Nice Little Car - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By mac - November 6 - 8:01 pm

  The car ride is exceptionly fine. Gas milliage is great. Seat interior is good. The dash components are position ok, except the millage trip button needs to be postion in another location for easy access. It is short on drivers foot room from the clutch pedal. Also interior molding is poor quality it scratches real easily.

• 

  Traded - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Rscu - November 6 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 2002 Santa Fe LX for 9 months. After turning 10,000 miles, the engine started to sound like a diesel engine at idle. The service department and regional representative said it was normal engine noise. It was either the lifters or rods.....It also has an under-powered alternator; the lights fade after a stop, and the transmission indicator blinks with the turn signals. That was normal, also. I was afraid of engine durability. The engine is very unresponsive.

• 

  2003 Hyundai Santa Fe - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Review from NJ - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Can not beat the price for what you get. The Hyundia Santa Fe doesnt have any cheapter parts than other vehicles priced much higher. They are all using more plastic then metal now days. The Warranty is the best there is with 5 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper and there 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.