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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  Review - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By spiffsteruno - June 28 - 10:00 am

  The Elantra is not a reliable car. It was at the dealer every other week for transmissino problems. The car has died on the highway and hyundai did nothing for me. I had to wait 2 hours for their tow truck to get me and they didnt even give me a loaner. I am very disapointed with this car.

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  Let me down.... - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By captain_jag - June 25 - 9:31 am

  ... at the worst possible time... in the worst possible way. I chose this car mainly on Hyundais good reputation and was convinced it would be durable. These are important things when choosing a used vehicle. 5 months and 6K miles in, the transmission went and cost me 3.5K to fix. Not what I had in mind when I spent $11,5K on it! Ive had good ownership experience of VWs, Toyotas and Hondas in the past and while you have to maintain and keep up, none of them let me down, so the Hyundai is on its own. If youre considering it as an alternative to a CRV/RAV4/ Highlander/Pilot/Forester dont, this car cannot pretend to be anywhere near of these. If you really must pay $2K for a dealer warranty

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  dont buy if you have an Acura - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By avis - June 21 - 2:21 pm

  I traded out of my Acura due to gas prices, on the rise, as it took premium and it was getting up in miles 94,000 but should have kept the Acura, as I miss the handling on the Acura. The Azera limited handling is unstable,and bouncy. I cannot do 120 mph comfortably, as it does not handle the curves very well. transmission has difficulty shifting at times, ABS does not work well in the snow, I slid a lot with new tires. I get 15 mpg due to my driving habits, and any one who knows how to drive, and likes to drive, will not like this car.

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  Nothing but problems - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tessa - June 3 - 1:30 pm

  We have had our 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe for seven years. In that time it has been a very costly car to maintain. Within the first two years we had two major fuel issues, the leather interior started to peel away in areas, a battery that didnt even make the 2 years before dying suddenly and tires that were done long before the warranty. The amount that we would have gotten on the pro-rate for the battery and tires was so minimal that we went outside of Hyundai to replace and got better warranties with longer life. Within the past year we had a low fuel sensor issue that I have come to learn is not uncommon for Hyundai products and a high ticket repair (over $800). Now its the rack and pinion steering (over $1400). Im sure that some owners are fortunate and dont have the lemon issues that we have had. We have a Honda that is 14 years old have never had these issues. Having to deal with so many issues I know that I will never purchase another Hyundai automobile. Considering the price that we paid for it, one would think that the quality would be better.

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  id rather have a yugo. - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By bgbstrd - May 11 - 9:13 pm

  No fun, no power, and phantom electrical issues. Been ok reliability wise, but is no fun. Steers like a Mack truck, rides like a Jeep with mud tires, and even after you sacrifice all the enjoyment of driving you only get about 24 miles a gallon. Thats not good enough for me. If it got 30 or better, then ok.

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  Very Poor Reliability - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By Peter - April 27 - 3:30 pm

  I have owned other Hyundai products and have loved them. The 2007 Entourage van has been a nightmare. It has stalled on us several times and has had various electrical problems. Trim pcs. and hardware in general are falling off and are of poor quality. Gas mileage is terrible (13 in city and just under 20 on hwy). Ouch!!! I would strongly recommend not buying the 2007 model and get the 2008 or 2009 as I would hope Hyundai has worked out all the bad bugs from the 2007 year. Avoid at all cost the 2007! Very disappointing experience to date.

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  Gave it a chance. Fed up. - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By ifaub - April 24 - 5:14 pm

  My wife and I purchased this car used in December 2006. One main reason was for its reported gas mileage. Another was for its "value". This car has been one problem after another. Multiple issues with the brakes (took them 4 times back in the shop to finally fix the problem). The paint downright fading/falling off on the door handles. MPG is around 19/21 even after the ridiculously expensive 60k mile service ($1200) and bringing it back again for diagnostics to see if something was wrong to cause poor fuel economy. Nothing found, but tried to up sell the injector cleaning service. Now, the vehicle feels like the trans is having some problems. Done with it. Trading it in this weekend.

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  I Wish I Never Bought the Car - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Clara - April 14 - 1:53 pm

  I purchased a 2009 Sonata Limited its looks great. But that is all. I have made 6 payments and it has been towed 4 times. The first 3 times because it didnt start. The last time transmission problems. Run from this car spend a little more and get a better car. Stick with the bigger boys. Theres a reason why they give you a 10 year warranty not because its a great car because you are always taking it to the service shop. Be careful with your money....Run

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  Spend more, go for Honda or Toyota - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By Jenn - March 26 - 12:38 pm

  We have had nothing but problems from our 2007 entourage. It has been in the shop for 26 business days (m-f only) and 5 times (8000 mi). We have the same knocking noise others have mentioned, which it has gone up in smoke for (a/c burned out) and stranded us on the interstate w/ my 4 mo old. We have rattles/creaks etc. Poor gas mileage. The a/c is knocking again and we are claiming lemon law. Just yesterday after picking it up from being at the dealer 2 weeks, the airbag light came on. We were told they couldnt get it in until Friday (it is wed) but not to drive it b/c we wont have airbags in the event of a crash (no rentals avail). And Hyundai warranty does not guarantee a rental.

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  Going on 5 years and 2 transmissions - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kim C. - March 24 - 10:44 am

  One month after purchasing brand new the problems began. Had to arrange multiple visits to dealership for various issues:1 month-check engine light repeatedly on 3 months- rotors had to be cut, new brakes warranty covered as per recall. 5 months-black around Windows and hatchback hinges needed to be replaced. All minor compared to the transmission exploding (pins blew out the side- pics avail) at 31k miles. Not covered in 100k mile warranty because I did not have trans. Fuel changed at 30k as suggested in manual. I compared w/ other vehicle manuals Toyota, Nissan and tran. Fuel change is suggested @ 50k miles. Suggested not required or car would stop running. Now 79k mi. And need new transmission.