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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  Best in class - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By drickey - May 4 - 10:00 am

  The Hyundai Elantra GT is everything it was purported to be in 95% of the reviews I read. Mine has the two available options packages, power sunroof and Traction Control System with ABS. Many standard features including A/C; Leather seats, steering wheel and door trim; AM/FM/CD; 4 wheel disk brakes; side airbags; and many other items. Good handling on various road surfaces. Have driven the car hard and fast. Lots of power available when engine is mated to the manual transmission. Finding a GT with the manual was difficult, especially one fully loaded with the chianti paint. The only negative issues are minor. Overall this car is hard to beat.

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  2 more inches of rear seat room - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By loyal hyundia buyer - May 4 - 9:56 am

  this car would basically be perfect just shrink the trunk like two inches and add like two more inches too the rear seat and you have the perfect car

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  Tons of Fun - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Troubador - May 4 - 7:56 am

  What can I say: I love this car! Fun to drive, great looks, loaded to the dual tailpipes with features and for a lot less than its competition. Ive owned my Tiburon for just over a year and it hasnt given me a seconds trouble. Its quiet on the highway and quick on the city streets, handles like a sports car and sips gas instead of guzzling. Forget Eclipse and Celica - the Tib is twice the fun for nowhere near the price.

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  Excellent car for the price! - 2013 Hyundai Sonata
  By tpratt2590 - May 4 - 12:56 am

  I traded off a fully loaded 2011 GMC Terrian for this car and have owned it since May 31, 2012 and enjoy driving and riding in the car. I own the limited edition without the turbo and very impressed with the horsepower under the hood. After reading some of the other reviews of how the car is sluggish, paint coming off the car, makes me wonder who is writing the reviews. After going from a V6 in the GMC to this car, I was impressed with the power. The interior of the limited is comfortable and spacious and has plenty of leg room. The car rides quietly without any road noise. Good car for the money!

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  The Hyundai that can - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By AbeFrohman1986 - May 3 - 7:52 pm

  After owning a lemon-like 2001 Kia Rio with my wife for 7 years, it was time for a new car. Living in the city, we needed an affordable, not too big car, that offered lots comfortable options. The Hyundai Elantra met those criteria. Our salesman showed us a GLS model with the option package, XM Radio, Cruise, Anti-Lock Brakes and a Sun Roof. Sans Alloy wheels and nifty bluetooth feature of the SE, it was still a remarkably refined and comfortable compact with a smooth and definite road presence on 15 inch steel wheels. 138 HP 2.0 pumps solid life into the car and sitting in the soft cloth seats moving down a rough road, you feel safe and comfortable. Hyundai is making a great car.

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  Duh! - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By VolsFan - May 3 - 1:41 pm

  I replaced a 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS with the 2008 Sonata Limited V6 and LOVE IT! Ive had it about 16 months now and am 100% satisfied. I, like others, was a little cautious of buying a Hyundai but have zero regrets. I really wanted a Prius when I started looking but the price was in the stratosphere and figured it would take 5+ years to make up the difference in gas. I looked at the Avalons and Camrys but just couldnt justify the HUGE price difference. The interior design and quality is not on par with the Avalon, but is nearly as good as the Camry. It was all the bundled features: V6, traction and stability control, safety features, Infinity audio, and creature comforts that sold me.

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  Purchased Used and Thrilled - 2008 Hyundai Azera
  By Ozzie - May 3 - 11:56 am

  Purchased used with 17,000 miles. avg about 25 MPG in mixed (mostly Hwy). Very comfortable. Great car! We will probably purchase another. We know a lot of tall people

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  Not as solid as I had hoped - 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By al_syracuse1 - May 3 - 5:44 am

  I traded a CR-v for this Sante Fe. The CR-V was much more solid, with absolutely no rattles. From day one, the Sante Fe has had a very annoying rattle in the back end which I cannot locate. Road noise is more noticeable in this vehicle than in others I have owned. I am very disappointed.

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  Overall Very Impressive - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By engine89 - May 2 - 10:16 pm

  Been driving for about 3 weeks now and Im very much impressed with the drive. I know that Hyundai does not have the image compared to Toyota or Honda but this Azera will change that image, a step closer to the Japanese cars.

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  Worth taking a look... - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By dos0711 - May 2 - 9:26 pm

  My in-laws have Hyundais and have had no problems at all. So I decided to take a look at the new Azera. When I got there, I decided it was too big and my wife suggested the Sonata. I didnt care for the Jaguar-like look of the older ones so I balked at first. Then I saw a 2006 and I was like "WOW! Thats a Sonata??!". I drove it and the rest is history. Im proud to have it sitting in my driveway at less than $20k.