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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  Over 10 years of reliability so far - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By corky - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Even though I have put very little mileage on this car (26,000 in the past over 10 yrs.) it has been very reliable for my needs. The only repairs Ive had to deal with other than field mice chewing wiring, was some sort of valve failure in the emissions system when the car reached the age of 10 years..(a $240 job). Oh, and the cover came off the catalytic converter awhile back, but both the dealer and my local mechanic assure me its okay as long as dont park on long grass which I wouldnt do anyway even with the cover on. I seem to get way better mileage claims and I only use it for around town errands (obviously by the low mileage). I hate to give it up.

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  Reliable car with nick nack problems - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By Hoosier Sonata - September 18 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our Sonata on Dec 24,2007 after doing several hrs. of internet reviews on reliability, fuel efficiency and overall results. We now have 31,000 miles on this car. Has been an okay car. No serious problems. Both of our sun visors had to be replaced because they would not stay up. We do not keep anything on them to have caused this. Now our strut for the trunk lid has broken and this will have to go back for repairs. Seats are very uncomfortable on 9+ hrs. road trip. They are too short and we are only 57.

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  Great but - 2011 Hyundai Genesis
  By vjk - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Some items have been overlooked in an otherwise great car. No mute button. No pedal adjustment. No outside temperature view. No power folding mirrors. Surround sound is not permanent selection. No 6 disc with navigation a few of the shortfalls

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  Very Quiet and Refined - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dan fro AZ - August 31 - 7:26 pm

  Came out of a 2001 Infiniti I30 with 192K miles. This car is quieter at freeway speeds and at idle (nearly silent). Getting around 30 mpg overall here in Scottsdale, AZ on mix of city and freeway. Car feels very safe and the build quality is indeed excellent. This is the last year of this body style so I know all the bugs have been worked out. Everything is easy to use in this vehicle, the quiet cabin really allows you to enjoy XM/IPOD or cell phone call.

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  Love It - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ryan - August 30 - 7:13 am

  Bought new in 03 and now has 117,000 on it and still runs and drives great. Have had zero problems other than the typical eating of tires and the head and tail light headaches. Has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. Also, hit a deer at 55 mph and the front end held up incredibly well, just replaced the grill and hood after about a month and looks and runs great still.

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  You get what you pay for - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By mad - August 25 - 4:58 pm

  My sonata is a 2006 lx with 55,000 Florida miles. While the car runs great and is very comfortable. I have had to replace the dashboard cover both sun visors, both window frames for rust problems, and now the body is rusting out and Hyundai says the warranty does not cover rust until it causes a hole in the body. All I can say is let the buyer beware, you buy cheap car and you get a car full of cheap parts

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  Excellent commuter or first car - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Janglez - August 24 - 3:09 pm

  Ive had my Elantra for about a year and a half now and have 125k on it, Im 19 and it is my first car, but I have driven a lot of my friends Hondas, and other I4 engine cars. My Elantra out preforms all of them, even stock. Only bad thing is when I have a car full, power lacks a little, just like any other 4 banger. Drives smooth until about 55 and vibrates a little, stops after 70. Corners great, with minimal body roll with good struts. 22 mpg average, topped out at 35 mpg on a road trip. I drive this car really hard, and only had minimal damage. Defiantly recommend this car to anyone looking for a cheap reliable car that out preforms other cars in its class.

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  2006 Sonata GLS 6 cyl automatic - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By 2006 Hyundai Sonata - August 23 - 4:49 pm

  Turned 76K miles and pleased overall. Excellent value for the quality. Floor shift indicator lamp went out after warranty expired. Have not bothered to have repaired. Vehicle came with free oil change for life every 3500 miles. However, when you add the extra charges associated there was little savings. Does not perform well in snow.

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  2002 Sonata - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Andy - August 23 - 4:33 pm

  Good commuter car, not so great mpg but manageable. Some issues were fixed under warranty water pump, front window motor replaced and complete instrument panel replaced because of a broken fuel gauge, so reflected mileage is actually less than actual. The cons: front right brakes were replaces but always squeaks, timing belt jumped and damaged the timing sensor before 60k miles and transmission speed sensor went out at 64k mi which cost me $950 and $350 respectively. Dealer said it was not covered under drivetrain warranty, would have wanted to keep this car but problems are starting to pop out.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Zeus Charles - August 17 - 6:57 pm

  I have owned my car for 3 1/2 years. Got a great price. At 55,000 miles, I still have 5,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty. Thus far, all I have needed done is my lumbar support on the driver side. When I get into my car I still feel like its a fun, luxurious drive. My family, including my father, has had five Hyundais (2 Accents, 1 Elantra, 1 Sonata, and 1 Azera) since 2003. No regrets.