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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  I am disapointed - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jim - June 5 - 6:33 am

  After spending nearly $30,000 for a Hyundai with a 4 cylinder engine I thought I would get the mileage posted on the sticker 20/28. Instead I am getting 16/ 22. The vehicle occasionally lunges forward when driving in stop and go traffic. The zone service Mgr rode with me but the vehicle did not lunge during that half hour. I have a case filed with Hyundai. I hope this isnt something like the Toyota problem with gas pedals. It makes me feel uneasy.

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  Timing belt - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Lottie Holmes - June 5 - 2:20 am

  I need help! In the year 2006 I bought a 2007 Santa Fe. Now the timing belt needs replacing. I was told that it was not warranty? The reason that I bought the car in the first place was because of the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty! Lottie Holmes

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  Best SUV in lower price range - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tom - June 5 - 12:23 am

  This is definitely the best SUV that I can find for under 20K. The build quality is superb. I got 26 Mpg on high way. I really do not understand why some reviewers are complaining about fuel efficiency. At least I am very satisfied with 26 MPG. City MPG measure is not reliable. The control and handling is excellent, and the suspension is just right, stiffer than my Camry, which has a really soft suspension, but softer than CRV and Mazda. Cruise is comfortable.

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  Worst car I ever purchased!!!! - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By pamr - June 4 - 8:12 pm

  I bought it new, and always had problems, it burns oil (not a leak) i have to check it every week. The hood hinge broke, it doesnt shift right, even the clock and radio are broken. I wouldnt recommend this car to anyone. And the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty is crap! Anything that goes wrong, they say "thats not covered". The parts are expensive and for most of them you have to purchase from the dealer.

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  Hatchback Heaven - 2001 Hyundai Accent
  By maddelin711 - June 4 - 8:14 am

  Bought the car with 54,000 miles and had no problems with it until it hit about 82,000 miles and the reverse drum went out causing the transmission to need replacing. I figured it was worth it for $1300 because I really had no other problems with the car and thought a new tran would last. Now that Ive had the new tran its driving great. I love the car it handles well and as long as you keep up with oil changes it will do fine. It does have a very slow acceleration off the line, but what do you expect right? it handles well and Im very surprised that it still performs in the winter. I have heard from passengers that sitting in the passenger seat the car seems to be flying, but its not!

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  Got what I hoped for - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Midwest Driver - June 3 - 7:10 pm

  The 2009 shot up to the top of the list based on its reliability reports and its price. Ive only driven it 1200 miles but am very happy with the fit & finish as well as with the loads of options. The 5 spd manual is a lot of fun with its spirited acceleration. I averaged 35 mpg on a road trip of 660 miles. The steering wheel is on the heavy side, but it nicely responsive.

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  Great VALUE - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jodo17 - June 2 - 11:16 pm

  Just took delivery of my GLS V6 (paid $17,500 with no extra options but rebates just went up another $500 so I missed out on that). Nice so far. Just an incredible value compared to Honda & Toyota. Although I love the deal, I cant believe Hyundai has to offer such high rebates. That does not bode well for their future. More people need to get on the Hyundai bandwagon because you save so much $ (even without rebates) and get more for your money. I guess it is harder to overcome past quality stigma than expected, but Hyundai has arrived. Like everything I read, a comparable Accord or Camry might be slightly better but at way higher cost. Sonata wont depreciate as well but costs less.

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  BEST AT ANY PRICE - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By alan stone - June 2 - 12:20 pm

  my wife never gets excited about any car, but this one she loves. more leg room in the back seat then my impala or monte carlo also a smoother ride. im a easy driver, 17 miles to work 6 stoplights my average MPG 38.5 WOW. 6 new cars in the past 10 years this is the best one yet. i get a lot of looks at my 2011 sonata thank you hyundai GREAT JOB, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

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  Two Years and 19K miles later - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Mike - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Going on two years now the Veracruz has been decent, but Ive had the rear DVD player replaced and now the rear heat and A/C doesnt work. It started with a squeak in the right rear compartment. It was a part on the rear blower system. The dealer has been great but should I have had these problems so soon? Let me answer my own question NO! I hope this is not the beginning of a lemon car. I gave Hyundai a chance I hope I dont regret it. This is their top of the line SUV, right? Ive taken it on two decent size trips. It has performed flawlessly. I gotten as high as 24 mpg. Enough of the silly problems already. If I had the ging I would have bought an RX Lexus. Good luck to us Veracruz owners.

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  My New Car - 2010 Hyundai Sonata
  By Hyundai made in USA - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I love the car, luxury for me compared to what I am used to. Fuel millage better than I thought I would get, XM radio a plus, will keep until free time is up. Very comfortable, sight lines are excellent, sound system is great for a rock-n-roller,