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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  Tucson it will grow on you - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By cr500mark - September 22 - 9:23 am

  I bought this suv under the thought of dependability,and not soly on it`s looks.I did not want a large payment and felt this vehecle offered a lot of safety with the six air bags standard.But know that Ive owned it for a short while I like the looks and love driving it. I drove the tucson in nasty weather and it handled great.This vehicle that i bought was a gls v-6 4wd .My only regret is that i should of shoped a little more for a better price.The dealership had only two at the time I purchased it.

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  Very Pleased - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Brooks Monk - September 22 - 7:46 am

  I waited until I had 2,500 miles on the vehicle to form a better opinion. I am still extremely pleased with the purchase. I received an incredible deal! The car has outstanding quality! Very quiet ride and strong acceleration. You will think youre in a V6. Base model has plenty of standard features, including CD-MP3 player, side curtain airbags, electronic stability control, rear defroster, side mirror heater, and auto stick shift. I would buy this car again and highly recommend it!

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  MY new 2014 Sonata - 2014 Hyundai Sonata
  By kingsnake - September 21 - 11:50 am

  We are very happy with our new car. Shortly after we purchased it we drove it on a long trip. We got 34 MPG on the highway at Texas interstate speeds, 75 MPH+, and close to 30 MPG in city driving. We are still getting used to all of the functions it has to offer.

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  Very happy - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By Homer Jay - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Sonata for just over 2 months and while that doesnt give me any long term perspective, what I have seen so far is very good. I have a car here that I actually dont mind driving, be it around town or on road trips. I am very, very happy with the Sonata!

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  my 2001 tiburon - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By afchick1484 - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Reliable,good looking car.No trouble since i purchased my car almost 2 years ago.Its a 2001 and Im planning on trading it in and getting a newer model. GREAT CAR!

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  Water and oil. - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Dkaiser - September 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is great for a first new car. It has great looks great handling great performance overall. Car takes corners quick, and has tourque to pull you out quickly. However the build quality is weak. My interior plastic coating flakes apart. It has already been replaced once. Also, while going 90mph, the front airdam flexes alot, and the wheel dam cam apart and got trapt under the wheel ripping it apart. It was scarry to say the least. If you live in the snowy states, be sure to buy snow tires for it, the tires are great for the street, but had NO TRACTION in the winter time.

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  Excellent choice - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Kim E - September 21 - 10:00 am

  After reviewing saftey ratings, I chose to go with my first new car --and upgrade because I am now a parent. Great design, decent fuel econmy, BEST warranty ever, cant go wrong ehre!

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  some problems, but a good car for the $$ - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By laurelg9 - September 21 - 10:00 am

  We purchased on a friends advice and for the waranty. Day after delivery, the a/c stopped working. The trunk hood needed to be adjusted (it was off center and leaked). Three weeks after delivery, a hose clamp in the engine broke & leaked antifreeze. Weve been into the service dept. three times in three weeks! The car *is* fun & very comfortable, but workmanship could be better. Waranty is a real selling point, esp. the extended bumper-to- bumper 100K mile, which we got...and they did offer a free oil change. Overall, were pleased, but tentative to reccomend b/c of workmanship issues.

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  Love My Hyundai Tuscon - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Nancy Farrell - September 21 - 7:10 am

  This is my 4th Hyundai purchase, first SUV and I love it!!! The Hyundai cars are a terrific value for the price. They run well, look good, have good storage space especially once the back seats fold down. My Tuscon is my baby, it is so roomy, comfortable and looks good. I cant wait to get in the car (I know its a SUV) and Im very careful where I park when I go out. I cant say enough about my Tuscon, I will tell anyone who asks where I purchased it, who was my salesperson and that the service department is great also. My 85 year old mother loves the Tuscon and she has no problem either getting in or out. She cant wait until we drive to Disney in February, 2006 and neither can I.

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  Safe, Great Car, did I mention Safe? - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Rob M - September 21 - 6:50 am

  The best car for the dollars, bar none. I had it for two months and then was rear ended by a full size Chevy pickup. Yes, I had some damage but the active headrest moved forward for both my wife and I and despite the impact from the speed of the Chevy we were FINE. I drive this car 96 miles per day and it is economical, reliable, comfortable and, did I mention, safe. Room for my 6+ ft sons in the back. GM has lost me to Hyundai, the only thing I dont like is that mine looks dowdy next to the new ones, very sharp. I have owned dozens of cars in my life and this is the very best for the money spent..a great value.