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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  Azara Problems - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Yale Feingold - April 19 - 8:53 pm

  I am really dissapointed in this vehicle It is an overrated car with all the bells and whistles The suspension is terrible and I doubt that I will ever be able to get used to the bumping and knocking. The gas milage is very poor and i dont think I have ever gitten more than 11 miles to the gallon. The front seat sits too high. Should be able to drop lower.

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  Regretting Buying This Vehicle - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By tracy55 - April 17 - 12:13 am

  Major problems from the start. Navigation/radio total failure. Gear shift stopped working-froze in park. Recently air bag malfunction. Now the engine failed. Burns oil and rod knock with no warning. Need a new engine but Hyundai is initially refusing to back its warranty because I cannot product every oil/filter receipt (sometimes had private mechanic change). Research has led me to an investigation into class action suit for engine failure by Chimicles & Tikellis. Good to know that I am not alone. Hyundai is like the cable company - once you are a customer they dont care. Should have gone with Honda or Toyota and will do so going forward.

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  The Buzzing Tucson-We Cant Hear It - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Disappointed in PGH - April 5 - 11:13 am

  My Tucson has been a nightmare since I bought it. Within the first thousand miles,I noticed a loud buzzing/whirring sound from the engine. At idle it was very annoying. I took it back to the dealer on two occaisions and was told:"We cant hear anything like you describe". I even requested that a new Tucson be started alongside my Tucson for comparison. The difference was dramatic but I got the same response:"No difference here!". I tokk the SUV to an independent mechanic who used a stethescope and made a diagnosis of a timing belt problem. The dealer refused the diagnosis of course and basically said:Youll get that". Not worth the hassle of going through customer service.

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  Beware Windshield Wipers - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jim - April 4 - 11:41 am

  Hyundai wont admit this and the dealership says its a recurring issue and nothing can be done...the windshield wipers just stop working....rain or snow. Its a MAJOR safety issue and there is no remedy. Ive owned two Hyundais and Ill NEVER buy another. Unless you want to jeopardize your life or the life of you children, dont buy this vehicle unless this problem is permanently remedied by Hyundai.

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  Car no good - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Brian sturrup - March 31 - 8:13 am

  Fianance the car at 45k miles at 109k miles the whole engine locked after a oil change trash car

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  Lemon - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By hytib03 - March 18 - 10:06 am

  I bought this because it was so cute! I now know more about cars than I ever thought I would. This car has had almost everything go wrong. Its not built to put 100 miles on it daily.

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  Got Struck with this - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By adam - March 7 - 3:30 pm

  Terrible Fuel Economy 15 in city .dash compartment fixed in one month springs gone bad. Head light assembly fixed due to mist /fog build up after 80 miles only.

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  Stay Away At All Costs - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Regretful - March 3 - 4:20 pm

  Of all the vehicles I have owned since the early 70s, this is BY FAR the worst. After having trouble with my previous car, I bought the Tucson soley based on its warranty. What I got was HORRIBLE MPG, 8-12 City with a best of 17 Hwy. Youd think for $23G youd get a power seat, but no, I get seat bottoms an 1.5" shorter than normal to give the illusion of more leg room and my back hurts due to no lumbar support. The supposed 200W stereo sounds like a tin can.

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  Clutch-death, Best Warrantly? - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bob - February 26 - 11:10 am

  There is a reason Hyundai does not cover the clutch...it goes out, soon and they know it. Ours went out at 60k and the dealer said it is not covered since a clutch is a wearable part. I said, a defective and very expensive part which is not covered under "Americas Best Warranty?" If you dont have a problem with a $900 bill to fix your clutch, buy a Hyundai. Else read the fine print on the warranty. Because of this, we will not buy another Hyundai.

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  More than I could afford - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By BG - February 20 - 12:41 pm

  Got car used w/11k miles on it, have had nothing but problems with it.I dont know how many sensors this thing had but I think I have replaced them all.Also, transmission went at 77k mi after I brought it in several times for the same problem (over a couple of yrs), either that or the dealership got tired of trying to fix it, it was not covered by the warranty. Horrible to drive in the snow, its like rubbing crisco on the tires then driving in the snow. I spent more time getting it fixed and money on this car (seemed to be something every 3 months)than what it was worth. Traded it in w/the check engine, brake & battery lights on got $1400 for it, though I would have paid them to take it.