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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  Driving and riding experience - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jean PAyne - March 19 - 10:00 am

  This 2011 Sonata Limited is my husbands car. Exterior is sporty and beautifully designed. Do like the turn signals on the side mirrors. However, very rough ride. It feels like I am in a tin can or a truck. Lot of road noise even after buying new Michelin tires the same day of purchase. Front windshield distortion. Passenger seat way too low. Passenger door sounds hollow and tinny, slight vibration, when pushed shut. Strong chemical smell in the car,gives me a headache."leather" seats low quality. Traded a good 2007 Camry, which was a well built car, for this. My 2008 Toyota Avalon is a far better car than this 2011 Sonata Limited. Would not recommend this car at all.

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  Dont buy hyundai - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By mikee - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for about half a year and am not pleased at all. Ride quality is poor along with power, and looks. I figured that hey! It was alot cheaper than other cars but I dont like it. Sure the warrenty is good but who wants to have a good warrenty with a poor car? I dont. I will never use a better price for an excuse to buy a car again!

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  Junk - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By jttaint - February 28 - 9:22 pm

  I am trading this car in after owning for a year and putting 20k miles on it. The transmission is garbage and Hundai knows it. We purchased the car because my wife liked the looks and because I have purchased two Hundai Elantras and they have been excellent cars. My 2009 Elantra has 100k miles on it and I have only done the standard maintenence on it, tires, belts, brakes and oil changes. It runs like a champ. This car is junk. It is my own fault for buying a car the year they release it with so much new technology on it, I should have known better. Hundai is practically begging me to trade this car in so I am going down to Hundai today to trade this in on a new Elantra.

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  Unreliable - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By kurtish - February 18 - 3:48 pm

  Bought used, dont do that! 65K warranty used for transmission at 32K. Out of warranty transmission replaced at 82K. Owned 3 years with 6 breakdowns requiring towing. I have never had this much trouble with any other car. Rapid loss of value. Intermittent poor shifting even after dealer service. I cant recommend this car in any way.

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  Good Luck Fixing It - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By driver - February 12 - 1:50 am

  The check-engine light went on. So I went to the dealer, who told me the exhaust manifold is cracked, and it will not be covered under the warranty because "it must be your driving." A few months later, I get a letter from Hyundai telling me exactly that the car is known to crack the manifold itself. So I go to the dealer and asked both the exhaust manifold and catalyst converter to be replaced. The fix costed over $800, and Hyunai would only reimburse about $400. 1 weeks later, car starts to lose power, and eventually died on the highway. It turns out the dealer never replaced the manifold or the converter and the car overheated and killed radiator.

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  Worst Car I have Ever Owned - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By dchoat - February 3 - 4:37 am

  Up until today, I would have told you I was pretty pleased with my Sonata. However, with 85K miles my engine is dead. Driving to work today, the engine started knocking, the check engine light came on, and about 5 seconds later the car just died (while I was driving.) I was fortunate not to be on the interstate, and was able to coast to a safe side road. I am the second owner, so the 100K warranty doesnt transfer to me. I contacted Hyundai Customer Care, and they said sorry, but what do you want me to do about it. The cost to replace the engine is $5700. I will now have a loan for my car, and a loan for my engine. I have read on other sites that the 2011 won Beware of the Clunker Award.

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  terrible experience - 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By gesiggie - January 15 - 1:21 pm

  I bought my 2012 Sonata Hybrid last year and was originally very pleased with it, with the exception of the seat design. The headrest comes too far out and pushes your head forward. I could get over that, though. What I can not get over is the shuddering that began just over a month ago. Ive had it into the dealership 4 times, and after upgrading the software which didnt solve the issue, they tell me the shuddering I experience every time I stop is normal. The drive is no longer fun, but stressful, as I brace myself each time I see a stop sign. Its a rough ride for driver and passengers alike. I would not recommend this car to anyone. Sadly, Im stuck with mine.

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  Tuscon: Overpriced Disappointment - 2012 Hyundai TUCSON
  By mybestequinox - January 10 - 3:12 pm

  I purchased a Tuscon because I wanted the style and improved gas mileage over my heavy Chevy. I had owned a number of Hyundai vehicles and had largely been pleased with them. Two Sante Fes and the Luxury Hyundai. This vehicle did not match up. My son said, "You dont drive this car. It drives you." Constantly have to correct steering. Cant control acceleration. Wont accerate, then takes off whining. I was happy the day I bought it and the day you sell (albeit at a loss). Miserable in between. Dealer unable to remedy any of the complaints. Sold at 12,000 miles. Whew. Will never buy another Hyundai. Got my Equinox back and love it as well at the real 32 mpg.

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  Got a spare Tranny? - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
  By BoyDestructo - December 18 - 1:05 am

  We bought this car used a bit over a year ago with 60K on it. It has proven to be more cheap than inexpensive. Everything about this car feels cheap. Now, with 71K on the odometer its in need of a new transmission. Not inexpensive, definately cheap.

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  feels like a prius with turbo lag - 2017 Hyundai Sonata
  By pery - December 15 - 10:17 am

  adding to title, do not know if suspension is different than sport but sport was more planted. sport has better wheels and tires and 300 more lbs which perhaps adds to more refined ride. acceleration not much different in time but eco shifts can be rough at lower speeds.