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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  If they fix the oxygen sensor its a 10 - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By JFP - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Love the styling and the interior. Sound is excellent and all the right features for the right cost. It looks like a million bucks.

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  2005 buy back for new 2006 - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By S & T - January 5 - 7:30 pm

  The 2006 was a buy back from Hyundai for us from a 2005 that was in the shop more then it was on the street. The 2005 was truely in the shop constantly. With much negoitiation, the 2005 was bought back and replaced with a new 2006. The 2006 is a much better car, more room, more power and better styling. The motor is responsive on the bottom end but seems to lag a little after the initial acceleration. The only problem so far is the back power window cable broke after about a 1000 miles. No other issues so far. This is the forth Hyundai we have had over many years and the 2006 is far superior over the first one we had when Hyundai first sold in the states. That one was a real dog!

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  Disappointed customer - 2010 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Disappointed Owner - January 1 - 7:00 pm

  The paint - chipped less than a month (exactly 28 days). Im so disappointed. The dealership repair was poor- they just touch up with paint which was so obvious to see because its not the same color as the original and the touch up paint comes off, also the original paint continues to peel. The in charged from dealer repair told me that they will paint the car in the body shop. I cant believe it. A new car repainted? For me they should change that part not just painting it because its brand new. Now, Im planning to talk to the manager, missing my work and hoping for the best. Was so excited I bought my new car, then less than a month so disappointed. How I wish i can undo everything.

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  Sues Car - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Ted Melonas - January 1 - 12:56 pm

  We owned a 03 Nissan Murano. The Veracruz has more room, better ride, and is less noisy. May not have the name, but I think the Veracruz is better

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  Economical - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By I bought it used - January 1 - 12:56 pm

  I bought this car because I needed a cheap, reliable, high fuel economy car. In the 21 months I had this car, I took it to the dealership two times for check engine light, once for flex hose on exhaust, strut leak and brake line leak and replaced the front brake pads twice. Needless to say, it fails in the reliability catagory. Considering the price, I should have suspected as much.

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  Secret sport coupe - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Tiburon love - December 31 - 10:16 pm

  People are constantly poking fun at my "hyundai"! But it is by far the step child of sport compacts and the moxt under estimated, it handles just as weel if not better than its competitors and on it "on days" it can out accelerate any sport compact with equivalent performace talking about the motor... Its seems a little temperamental at times depending on weather and road conditions, it may not perform as well but still thrills me every time I hit the accelerator and throw it through a hard curve!

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  Hyundai 350L - 2003 - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By armby - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought a demo w/5000 miles. Great limo/road car Rolls too much, but holds the road! Audio is top notch. Fit & finish is up there with the best. Runs better/mileage better on 89 octane. Will keep it for 100,000 mi if it stays reliable. Great family car!

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  Go for it - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tom1949 - December 31 - 2:00 am

  No question about it. So far this is a great vehicle at an even better price. The finish, trim, and fit are more than what one would look for in a higher priced vehicle.

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  Nice Car ,awful fuel economy - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Tim Guyer - December 30 - 10:50 pm

  I like this car all except for the fuel milage, The window sticker is rated 20 city 30 highway, Im lucky if I get 22 miles per gallon on average, and Im not a hard driver. This is my second Hyundai and Im not sure if there will be a third. Im very dissapointed. In 08 the window stickers changed to 18 city and 27 highway If they were honest with the 07 stickers I wouldnt have bought it

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  Vibrates when stopped - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Fed up -shaking - December 27 - 10:15 pm

  When stopped for any length of time, car will start to vibrate. First, you will feel it in the steering wheel, then the dash board and the floor vibrates. Dealer states this is characteristic of car. I have had five Hyundais, starting in 1990, and not one of them vibrated like this car.