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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  Another Bad Car Decision - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By whblack - September 19 - 11:36 pm

  We traded in our 2006 CR-V because we really didnt need an SUV and were looking for a reliable car with excellent gas mileage. Getting the Elantra was a mistake. After reading the reviews on the Elantra, we thought we were getting a better car. We looked at the Corolla, Civic, and Hybrids. We decided to go with the Elantra because it was not a hybrid, offered really good gas mileage, and promised reliability. The Elantras mileage is not as advertised. After 4 months and over 3000 miles, we are averaging about 23-25 mpg (around 31-34 on the hwy). I dont believe the mpg read-out on the car and dont know what the ECO mode means (on most of the time). Were worried about quality now.

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  Dont buy for gas mileage - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By unclogum - September 17 - 1:13 pm

  I bought it for mileage. The days when manufactures lied to you are suppose to be over. At 3,000 miles power steering went out. Repair time 5 days. While on board computer says 38 MPG the real gas mileage is 31-34 mpg. Six thousand of car now and just did Oregon to Wy. trip taking northern route there and southern back. Cruise control, real gas, nothing got me above 35 mpg. I dont like being lied to so I will not buy another.

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  Horrible Navigation System - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By stellasmom - September 17 - 11:18 am

  Ive been driving my 2011 Elantra now for 9 months. I have a major complaint about the navigation system. It does not follow major highways and fastest routes. It takes you down every country road and very strange routes. Hyundai needs to update the system to better software now. Ive tried using the alternate route option, but that just makes things worse. Also, everytime the car is stopped and I press the gas, both in reverse and forward, the rearend is making a pinging sound. Im not sure what it is yet, it could be the brakes or something in the rearend. One additional problem that I am having is vibration of the engine w/ AC on. The steer wheel vibrates and something under drivers seat.

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  Probably going to jinx myself with this review - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By sturn2k - September 15 - 3:10 pm

  Gotta say, I didnt expect much when I picked mine up at an auction for $3600 with 93K on it. Now three years later and double the mileage I am singing the praises of Hyundai. Must agree with what others are writing - loud road noise, ride is rough and it absolutely eats headlights for some reason, BUT this thing gets me to and from work everyday 130 miles round trip. Left me stranded one time with a broken fan belt and another time because the battery went dead - my own fault. I like the car so much that my wife now needs a car to go back and forth to school and Im going to look at a 2004 model that is identical to mine. That is the best compliment I can think of.

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  Great car, but a few niggles - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By dirtbag - September 13 - 8:45 am

  I got the SE hatch automatic. Nice car. Fun to drive. Quiet and comfortable. Looks good. Averages 35 mpg. Im very pleased, overall! The cruise control is useless on uphill grades. The door armrests are hard plastic and uncomfortable. Handling around curves is great but it doesnt track well in a straight line on the freeway, requiring continual corrections. No spare tire, even though there is a space designed for one...cheapskates.

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  Bluetooth doesnt work. MPG is not very good. - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By kgibson0 - September 2 - 10:44 pm

  I have the 2012 preferred package. Drove 5 hours to get one with the blue tooth on the steering wheel. It works less than 50% of the time. If I can get it to connect a make a call, the very next minute a call coming in wont go through the bluetooth. When I get out of the car, it wont disconnect and I cant answer my phone. Even if I am far away from the car, it wont disconnect. It wont work for days and then suddenly a call will come in on the bluetooth. I got it for safety and it turns out it is just the opposite. I had a 2008 Elantra that I sold. I always got 33 MPG mixed hwy and city and not much more on the highway. I usually drive fast. But this Elantra is much lower.

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  Undercoating of the Chasis - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By revo2 - September 1 - 7:49 pm

  Just bought the 2012 GL Elantra and I really love this car. But unknown to a lot of people who shared their excellent reviews is what lurks underneath the car. I discovered recently that some part of the chassis behind the tires have coating and some dont have any as you can see the painted metal part. SISSLEY DEALERSHIP called it gravel and sand protection and to my surprise not an undercoating to protect the cars chassis. Hyundai headoffice already gave them the GO signal to have it done but they did not bec of the following reasons: 1. They checked the Elantras in their dealership and have the same thing 2. Undercoating might affect the ABS & brake lining Check your Elantras

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  Great Value - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By whatitis101 - August 23 - 12:27 pm

  Just got a 2012 Elantra limited, and this is a great value. I am 6.5 and my wife 5.10 and we have plenty of room, and can also put 2 adults in the back. I looked at all the cars in this size and mileage range, and for the comfort and style we chose the Elantra. So far the only thing I dont care for is the road noise and I would like to see at least an 18 gal fuel tank in it. For what I paid, gas mileage, the great warranty, and good looks, its was a good buy. We keep cars until nothing is left, so lets see how it holds up after 15 years.

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  Almost Perfect - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By akaur - August 22 - 9:18 am

  Very impressed with this car. No other hatchbacks come close to the new Accent with regards to fuel economy and warranty. Responsive handling and enough pep that I feel confident entering the freeways. The interior is roomy and quiet, the A/C works great on even the lowest two settings, and thats saying a lot in Phoenix summer heat! I only averaged 34 MPG until I filled up at Chevron, then my MPG jumped to 36-37 mixed and 41 highway. Im not a schill for Chevron and dont work for them, but thats the only gas Ill use now.

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  Pretty good - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By fannibal - August 11 - 12:24 pm

  Bought the car because of the value, safety, and warranty. It has been good so far, but my mileage has bee low, hovering around 21mpg with mixed city and highway driving(my 4 cyl 1.8L manual 1998 corolla had 30mpg with similar commute). I have had the car for more than 3 years now, and had only 2 minor problems which were covered under warranty- drivers side visor came down and didnt go back up. fixed in 1 day. 2nd problem was a ESC controller which was broken- my "ESC off" light was constantly on. this was fixed in about 1 week. my dealer provided a free loaner during this time. I am overall very happy with my car. The problems the car did have were fixed under warranty.