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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  Style with a kick - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By mike - April 28 - 3:00 am

  Comfort with some major kick!! This car puts some of my mustangs to shame. Transmission is silky smooth and the over-all performance of this car is just awesome. Highway gas mileage is 30+and around town at a respectible 25. Buy this car,you wont be disappointed.

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  Good vehilcle a couple problems - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By satisfied - April 28 - 2:30 am

  We bought our 2008 Sante fe after looking at Ford, Chev, Toyota and Chrysler and decided that the Sante Fe was an all better deal, price wise, handling and style. We had a problem with the airbag sensor which was irratic, coming on and going off was not predicatable. This was finally fixed. Also the accelerator sensor acted up. The vehicle would pulsate from 600 RPM to 1500 RPM. The sensor was replced and now works well. Love the interior design especially the dashboard lighting. Exterior design is also good.

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  Happy with my Hyundai and selling dealer - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By William Greanbowlt - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I wasnt sure if I should by a Honda or Hyundai I know that Honda has a very good track record and product . But everything I read about Hyundai kept saying buy the Hyundai so I did I am very happy with the car it has more power a better ride and more standard than the Honda And to top it all of it has the best warranty, warranty was important but the Hyundai seems like a better built car.I was very happy with the dealership I had a salesman named Jerry he did not preasure me explained everything on the car and backed up facts with reports .

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  Love my Santy - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By SilverSanta - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Love my new Santy!!!

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  Azzy Rules - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Jazzpreacher - April 28 - 12:18 am

  Traded from a Buick Rendezvous because driving it 80 miles round trip to work was too much $$$ for gas. While looking at Sonatas, a salesman said "check out the Azera, it has as much space as a 7 Series BMW" I sat in it and was instantly hooked. Bought my Azera used with 18K miles, Im up to 45K and loving every driving minute. I get 29-33 MPG highway and 20-24 city. Idling will drive that down. With the possible exception of my 96 Buick Riviera, its the best ride Ive ever had.

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  2007 Azera Limited - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By agzeal - April 27 - 10:08 pm

  Traded in my Cadillac while on vacation. This car is roomy and has a trunk as large as my DeVille. Fun car to drive and it will get up and go. Very nice leather interior and I love the white pearl exterior. Engine is exceptionally quiet as well as powerful. Heated seats and folding rear seats and exterior chrome accents make this a special car.

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  The 2.7 AWD Santa Fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Sant fe - April 27 - 9:40 am

  I would reccomend buying this SUV to anyone looking for a worthwhile SUV at a very reasonable price. I purchased the same model in June of 03 and I liked it so much that I traded mine in for a newer model. They handle great, look great and get good gas mileage!

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  Great Car - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Mike - KY - April 27 - 8:35 am

  Excellent car, my 3rd Hyundai, love the power and gas mileage. 22 MPG around town, 29 MPG highway. Great leg room, five adults can ride comfortably. Holds the road well and has excellent power. Better insulation would help with road noise.

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  Another look - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Impressed User - April 26 - 10:00 am

  I shopped for a long time for a car. The tiburon has given me a sports car that is fun to drive, and a great price. Not to mention it turns heads. I believe its a great buy for the money.

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  Its nice fooling all of the others - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By TRP - April 26 - 12:20 am

  10 year/100,000 miles 25 combined MPG (my experience, not EPA) 306HP and 266Lb/ft torque Leather seats, iPod, USB, and Bluetooth This is the only vehicle which fit my very, VERY short list and I had to make no compromises to get. $25,000 for a car which can easily be in BMW/Infiniti range, from a company with no previous hits. I run heavy on the gas and still get 25 miles per gallon, along with at least one redline per drive. There are only two reasons this car didnt get a 9/10 or 10/10 in one category (see below).