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 Bang for the Buck - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By ALLAN - September 1 - 3:33 am

  My wife recently bought a 350L. For around $2 $25000 not counting a trade in, you get a lot of car, with features that surpass the Mercedes Benz I own. Hyundai has finally come around and built a fine automobile. Good power, solid but comfortable ride, no options everthing included. Amazing how the South Koreans can produce a car like this for the money. If you like to show off your car and how much it costs, this is not a car for you. But if youre a down to earth person, the Hyundai is your car. My wife has been asked 3 or 4 times what model Mercedes is it? Goes to show you where Mercedes is going with its designs.

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  Please Read - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By swtness0924 - August 31 - 5:33 pm

  Ive had my Hyundai which now has 46k miles now for just under 3 years now. Up until this year I was absolutely in love with my car, until it started giving me problems. Ive replaced both front and back brakes twice within a year. Ive had my transmission fluid flushed (shouldnt have had to do this). Ive had problems with it stalling, the RPMs jumping like no other. I no longer feel safe in this vehicle nor would I ever recommend it to a new buyer. Ive had it to the dealer 3 times and no one seems to know whats wrong, and everything that they "think" is causing it IS NOT covered under warranty. Paid for a warranty that doesnt cover a thing. Im highly disappointed & looking for a new car!

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  Hyundai Got it Right - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Acura Owner - August 31 - 4:10 pm

  Do a lot of highway driving in my job. Had 2004 Acura TL which was a nice car but needed to get it replaced. Wanted sedan with good build quality and driving performance, but also good warrenty coverage. Purchased a Hyundai Azera Limited with Ultimate package and could not be more pleased. Intial quality was excellent and better than my experience with my old Acura and it handles great on the highway. I have no problem passing slower traffic since the engine has more get up and go than my old car. So far, an excellent buy.

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  BMW > Best Mileage We Got !!!!! - 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By Guy Aveck - August 31 - 11:23 am

  Looked for a Poor Mans Tesla > This is pretty darn close . GREAT MILEAGE 40-45 MPG *600 Mile range per Tank . Very Quiet. Great Acceleration in sport mode , Is this really a Hyundai ???? SE has lots of pluses Cruise /Tilt / PW/ PL / Hands Free Truck Release / Bluelink service lets me allows me to receive directions via my Iphone , Kinda like GMs @onstar 3 months free , then a yearly fee . Lotz a Room . Im 6.4 . So Far So Good . Is This Really A Hyundai ???????

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  Few repairs after five years - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By deliah - August 31 - 8:14 am

  Originally, it cost $14,000...it now has over 87,000 miles, with only minor repairs. Original battery lasted me to the 80,000 mile point. The windshield got a crack from a thrown up rock on the highway at about the 60,000 mile point. Now, at my last inspection, the brakes barely passed, and Ill need to have them worked on soon, but not bad for this age and mileage. I would buy another of this model.

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  My sonata is rusting after a year - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Timat21 - August 31 - 2:40 am

  I have a 4cycl Hyundai sonata 2.4 liter, when I first purchase the vehicle it had only 20 miles on it after a year I have over 42000 miles on the vehicle, it is a fun vehicle to drive and it handle very well on long trips, the vehicle does not burn much gas what so ever, the only problem I have with this vehicle at this time is that it is rusting out the rims and the hood of the car, this should not be happening to a one year old car.

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  Fun little car - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Amanda - August 31 - 1:28 am

  We purchased our Hyundai Elantra around the middle of June. We already have over 5000 miles on it, and we have not had a single problem. We love almost everything about the car. It gets decent gas mileage-we are averaging 29 mpg city/highway combo. It has an excellent safety rating in Consumer Reports. It comes in some way cool colors. There is one issue we have: the back window is too small, so sometimes Im nervous changing lanes, especially on the freeway. Anyway, its a cute little car that does what it says it will do. In the Valley, youll pay a little more-ours 14000 with no extras.

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  dntbuyit - 2005 Hyundai Tiburon
  By dontbuyit - August 31 - 12:30 am

  I bought this vehicle from the dealership at first the vehilce was fine, i got 1/2 mi down the road they never put antifreeze in the car!! then they drove me around in circles on what they were going to do. I called hyundai Motor America and they have not called back in 3 weeks on what is going on they said they would trade out vehicle. Nothing has happened. Some plastic pieces are allready falling off the car. and it has 1400 mi not worth the money that they want for it. unless its free dont bother buy a mini cooper S instead!!!!

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  Great car Good Price - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By kristina - August 30 - 6:51 pm

  I love this car. I payed 15300 for it after rebates and it was a great purchase. The dealer gave me Invoice minus rebates and I feel pretty satisfied that I got a fair price. This car fits my budget and my kids safely in the back without any cramping. I recommend this car to anyone starting a family!

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  still going - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Michael G. - August 30 - 4:48 pm

  Bought the car in 2002 - first transmission oil change was around 45,000 mi, I changed the timing belt around 69,000 but the mechanic told me tha124,141,799t was still in good condition and changed the spark plugs and the belts for water and alternator around 90,000 mi other than that just oil change (only synthetic) and tires. I have 107,000 mi and no problem I get 31 mi/gallon in city driving