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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  its ok - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By mgperez - May 31 - 12:13 pm

  Feel bumps on rough pavement. Gas mileage is around 29 mix driving. Transmision is very good. 5sp. Auto. This was the second car they gave me. First 1 failed to start on the second day. Electrical problem and had to get it towed to the dealer

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  Great car but with rattles - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jerry - May 31 - 4:10 am

  The 2006 car is my fourth Hyundai and undoubtedly the best. It is also the most expensive so I expected a better ride, beter everything and it lived up to all the hype produced by Hyundai, almost. It still rattles over rough roads and lets you know it does not care much about the somewhat harsh ride over such roads by producing the noise. It handles better, is smoother shifting, and has more than enough power to get you into trouble with the law if you can afford such adventures. This car even gets a wee bit more gas milage than the others with a much bigger and more refined engine. There will probably be a fifth Hyundai someday.

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  my cheap honda - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By ben digennaro - May 30 - 11:56 am

  car is very reliable,easy on gas,looks good. the price cannot be beat by civic, corolla,or mazda. i think they set a bench mark.

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  little money and a good reliable car - 2001 Hyundai Accent
  By Zach - May 29 - 7:38 am

  This hyundai accent i got for $5400 cash with 30k miles. My dad got this for me as a gift, so I can get to and from northern illinois to indianapolis. 4 hour trips, the trip alone there and back is 550 miles. I can do the trip for just 40 bucks. (50 if you include chicagos ridiculous toll rates) great car, just dont hit the gas at 60 otherwise you will hear and feel the transmission.(not suggested. Keep the plugs and wires fresh, oil changes, and get fresh tires every 25k and the car rides smooothly. Ive kept up with high speed traffic on I-65 going just over 100mph. I am 59 200 lbs and the car is fairly comfortable with the armrest. Get a 25 dollar cd player for your tape deck. KEEPER!!!

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  Love My Elantra! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Nayko - May 24 - 1:32 am

  I bought this car used in the fall of 2004, with about 50K miles on it. Ive been driving it almost everyday since and have never had a single problem! It runs really well and didnt have any problems starting up in Chicago winter weather. Fuel economy is decent too. While it isnt particularly luxurious or anything, its still a great car especially when you consider its price.

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  SOLD!! - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By Carlos - May 23 - 6:03 pm

  I drove out of the dealership in a beautiful bright silver 2005 Sonata for less than $16,000.00 total (WOW). Its a great mid size car for the price. Very comfortable ride, and very good looking too. I get plenty of compliments on this vehicle.

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  ok school car - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By rose2003 - May 23 - 2:27 am

  The car was really fun to drive when i first bought it in 2002. Ive had a problem with it eating tires. i have to put new tires on about every 3 months even when i buy expencive tires. ive had the alinement done and it still goes through tires. Ive had to put an alternater in and replace a barring in one of the tires. Otherwise it has been fairly reliable i drive about 45 miles everyday for school and work. It gets about 32-35 mpg. so thats nice but it shakes really bad and there is a lot of noise when driving. it has 135,000 miles so i guess problems are to be expected.

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  great purchase - 2005 Hyundai Accent
  By Don - May 21 - 4:17 pm

  this car was a great purchase for me...its very reliable,fun to drive and cant beat the price. And for a few extra bucks...you get the 10yr/100k mile. I will have nothing to do with this car except drive it...and keep the oil changed.

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  HYUNDAI - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By JannaH - May 19 - 2:54 pm

  I purchased a used Hyundai last year after my Ford Explorer gave out on me. I was skeptical at first because I didnt know much about Hyundai after my test drive, I was sold. The power and the sleekness of this car has really been worth the remarkably low price I paid for the car (9,000 with a 4 year 75,000 mile total warranty). I am very pleased with my car I just wish I could have found one with a sun roof at the dealership! :)

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  Sonota Odor - 2010 Hyundai Sonata
  By vin - May 19 - 10:00 am

  When I purchased my 2010 Sonota I was told that a chemical odor in the car was associated with a metal protector applied to a new engine at the factory and it would burn off shortly after driving it awhile. After a year, the odor did not go away. In that year, I brought the car back to the dealer on several occasions to complain about it. The dealer acknowledged the smell was present and tried to remove the odor once by cleaning the car. They admitted they could not remove the odor. Except for odor, the car has been great (just like my previous Sonota). Unfortunately, I no longer recommend buying Hyundai cars. Hyundai does not stand behind their product after they make the sale.