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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  Poor design - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Masoud Mousavi - August 13 - 9:49 am

  You have to remove 14 bolts to remove the splash guard under the car to change the oil. It took me 1-1/2 hour to change the oil that would normally takes 20 minutes. Hyundai did not give me a satisfactory answer when I suggested to add a trap door under drain plug and filter for easy access. I would have purchased a Camry for the same amount had I known this.

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  unhappy - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By jverjano - August 5 - 8:50 am

  Ive had my veloster for about a year now and 17800 miles. I am always having transmission problems my local dealer doesnt do anything about. Ive been dealing with Hyundai Corp not much help either. my steering wheel Ive changed two time already because the leather keeps peeling off. My radio gives me issues at time to.

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  Good at first- Didnt last long! - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By L Hecker - July 31 - 4:21 pm

  This car was great for about the first year only. If that! I had a major problem with my transmission in the first year. They told me that I was lucky it was covered under warranty because it would have cost me an arm and a leg! The next major problem was the brake light - apparently their was another major problem with the engine. It served the purpose of taking me from point A to point B in the city. I commute and I DO NOT recommend this vehicle to commuters! After commuting for 1 1/2 years the car broke down left me stranded twice. I put so much money into this car because the parts are soooo expensive for such an inexpensive car! The gas mileage is about the one good thing.

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  Horrible car - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jennifer - July 28 - 7:47 pm

  This car was a mistake to purchase, but I have had it for a year and a half. Between transmission issues and constant problems. Do not buy any hyundai.

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  worst realibility & bad dealer service - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By falkie - July 28 - 1:46 pm

  This car was driven only 70K miles. Dim light burnt out, both at the same time. Passenger power windows stop working. Having contious problem with transmission at 70K. Warranty, which is a complete deception as if you are the second owner instead of 100K/10 YR you only get 60k/5YR. The service/dealership are rude and abusive. Would get charged for a simple repair 5 times more than it cost at normal shop. Never would buy a hyundai again. You get service and care adequate for the money you pay. Next time would spend couple of thousand more and buy toyota. Hyundai is realiable and cheap until the first repair or 60K. Engine wiring harness cost $1100!!!! Dont waste your money on this garbage

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  No longer a good used buy - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike - July 6 - 2:50 am

  I bought this car with about 65,000 miles on it, and now have 110,000. If Id written this review before the 95K mark, it would have been a glowing review. However, since then just about everything has come apart-- the transmission (and Im not one to push a car and dont live in the city), the power window, horn, check engine light, oxygen sensor, wiring etc. This is one of those cars that falls apart at 100K, and youre unlikely to find one with lower miles these days. The Elantra was essentially redesigned the *next* year, so the newer models may well be worth looking at.

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  is it a lemon? - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By David C - June 28 - 9:33 pm

  1.5 months of ownership (2500 miles) the car broke down on the road. Due to the lack of parts the repair took 2 weeks (3cat converters and 2 O2 sensors). Two weeks later the car broke down again this time it was a computer module and a disconected wire. While driving car home from the dealer I noticed that the engine noise was so loud the I could not hear the radio. It is now back at the dealer waiting for repair for the 3rd time.

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  What a lemon! - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Michelle - June 14 - 2:00 am

  After 3 months of owning my Santa Fe my nightmares began. In the first 10 months I had it in the shop for service 14 times. Ive had my Santa Fe 2 1/2 years and have had a new engine, on going transmission problems, on going electrical problems, Im on my 4th battery, brake problems, cabling in my doors replaced, 2 transmission sencors replaced, rear differential problem (replaced carrier)all covered under warrenty but only after review of service and maintenance of the vehicle

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  What a lemon! - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By MICHELLE - June 14 - 2:00 am

  After 3 months of owning my Santa Fe my nightmares began. In the first 10 months I had it in the shop for service 14 times. Ive had my Santa Fe 2 1/2 years and have had a new engine, on going transmission problems, on going electrical problems, Im on my 4th battery, brake problems, cabling in my doors replaced, 2 transmission sencors replaced, rear differential problem (replaced carrier)all covered under warrenty but only after review of service and maintenance of the vehicle

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  Dangerous for tall people - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By whatever - June 5 - 10:57 pm

  I love this car and recently got an awesome deal on it. But I have to sit rather akward to keep my head from hitting the ceileing (im 63"). It has a sun roof which is nice though thats where my head is. Problem is if I get hit at the passenger door im very likely to break my neck, even at slower speeds.