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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  Excellent. - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By accent12 - April 8 - 2:17 am

  I love this car. The quality, value, performance, styling and efficiency are first rate for the class. It doesnt even hydroplane. It took a while to break it in to get the best fuel efficiency - 3,000 miles. It averages anywhere from 35-45 m.p.g. The shiftronic is fun to use. The highest m.p.g. is attainable @ 60 m.p.h. on a highway with the cruise control on. It will get 40 m.p.g., by slowly getting up to speed. I wont even post the highest numbers because it will make the Prius and competitors look bad. Leave eco-mode on if you want the highest efficiency. Driving it the fastest I couldnt get less than 28 m.p.g. This is the best car Ive ever owned. I recommend it over Fords Ive owned.

• 

  Best buy. - 2012 Hyundai Genesis
  By flyhigh2 - April 3 - 3:07 pm

  Test drove 2012 model sedans of the following: Acura TL, BMW 5, LExus 350, Hyundai Genesis, Infinity G37, Audi A4.... purchase the Genesis. heres why: Quiet... felt better than ES 350 and unlike the Infinity since I dont want to sit on top of a chariot, riding the highways and hear the engine. Comfort... seats, lumbar support adjustments, heated, head room, leg room I am 64... you get the picture Open... most spacious and largest of all the other models, very comfortable on long drives. Performance... Quick, love the comute to work. I feel the speed, acceleration and dont hear the noise. Gadgets... everything that I need. located in the right places Looks... front, back, inside

• 

  Great car! - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By ofwgkta54 - March 29 - 2:01 pm

  This was my first car that I got for my 15th birthday. It is a great car. I see lots of reviews mentioning the harshness of bumps. Honestly, I dont see the problem. It rides so smoothly. The interior is amazing. Very classy steering wheel, plus very comfortable on the hands. Its got a list of very cool features. The steering wheel leans back when the car is turned off as if to get out of the drivers way. Heated seats, electrically powered seat adjusting, sun roof, etc. There is even a mile counter counting down to an empty gas tank. Speaking of gas, this must be the only feature less than excellent. The gas mileage could be slightly better. All in all, its a really great car!

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  1000 miles and love it - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By ferg48 - March 27 - 12:46 pm

  I compared all the cars in this class before deciding on the Elantra, including the Corolla, Civic, Mazda 3. The Elantra offered so much more for the money! While I wouldnt call it sporty by any means, it has a great ride and is responsive enough for me. I read a lot of people complaining about the "poor gas mileage" and cant figure that out. I am averaging about 32mpg with mainly city driving. On one 100mile highway trip, we got 39.2 mpg. Nothing to complain about!! Not sure how these people drive, but I am definitely not a "granny" behind the wheel. I am pleased so far

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  Love this car, only one beef - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By thehippie777 - March 26 - 4:33 pm

  I love everything about this car! The only beef I have is that I havent come all that close to getting 40mpg. This car blows all others similar models of different brands out of the water. Number one reason was, of course, the price! Well designed and easy to handle. Even the man in my life likes it.

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  Great Car - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By iraqwarvet - March 25 - 12:06 pm

  I bought my Elantra with 82,000 miles on it. It is still very solid, no rattles and drives great. And, the gas mileage! Oh so sweet! You could not ask for a better car!

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  A great car - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By garth4 - March 25 - 1:56 am

  I have had a 4 cylinder 2002 Sonata since new in 2002. It is as good looking a car as is any on the road, it has been absolutely reliable. I have had no costs associated with repairs to the car. I am 70 years of age, and hope to drive this car for another ten years. It has just over 60,000k.

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  No Regrets at 5200 miles - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By chitown35 - March 17 - 12:01 am

  Fun to drive, actually accelerates well esp. in manual mode Hyundai gets a lot out of a tiny engine. Excellent gas mileage in Eco mode Im getting 37-38 mpg right now on mostly highways w/ mild traffic. Looks great, recommended maintenance is cheap even at the dealership. Also, much better in the snow with some good traction control features than my previous compact car with no abs even. And theres a lot of room in the car very spacious.

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  My first foreign car - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By skydog1964 - March 10 - 10:06 am

  The professional review I read stated that the car was sedate for driving. well dont be put off by that because it couldnt be further from the truth. I am 47 yrs old and have owned a lot of cars. This car is the total package for someone looking to save money on gasoline without sacrificing power, looks, comfort, and driveability. To be clear I have the 2012 accent gls sedan, not the hatchback. I test drove the fiesta first and lemme tell you, it doesnt touch this car in the performance department.

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  As the other reviews say, What A Find! - 2012 Hyundai Genesis
  By jheaslet - March 6 - 11:38 am

  I havent been this excited with a new car in a very, very long time. I feel similarly about the Genesis as I did with my first car back when I was 16. It was an 83 Buick Skylark which required me to pour gasoline into its carb to get it started haha. Those were the best times. Im by no means comparing the two, just the lovely feeling I had with my first car and how excited I was every time I had a chance to drive it. This is how I feel with the Genesis. I like nice things, but love saving money. This car fits the bill and provides me with a great feeling when I get settled into its wonderful seats. I find myself making up reasons just to drive it. Really, the experience is terrific.