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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  cool car - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By stevegel - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive

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  I love my tiburon - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Ariel Kateb - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I Love this car, i was in between the spec-v and this car. i test drovee both and fell in love with the tibby. the look the performance. althought he hp is kind of low you can do alot to change that. i love it

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  Never say never - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By BG53 - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Only owned for two weeks, so impressions are still forming, but so far I am greatly impressed. Feel I got more than I paid for. Very solid construction. Extremely comfortable seats. Decent performance and fuel economy. Great space for people and things. And of course that warranty.

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  My Review - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Nikki - May 14 - 9:13 am

  I recommend this car to anyone budgetting and low maintenance. The car looks nice runs nice and is nice. For the price it gives more than it costs. My mother loves it, it is compact but roomy inside. my brother who is 59 fits in the front and back sit comfortably. Working single moms, lay of the expsive suv this will handle the car seats and kiddies too.

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  Its great car and value!!! - 2001 Hyundai XG300
  By kelopi - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car in 2001 as brand new. It rides very nice and I love all the features came with the car... which you find those features as options on other cars... such as automatic climate control, leather seats, wood trims, abs, traction control and etc.... I love this car very much and I always hear too nice things about my car from other people who saw and ride in it..

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  New Sante Fe Owned as of 3/2/02 - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By BCav - May 12 - 6:33 pm

  I will send further info when I have about 2 weeks of constant driving under my belt. I would like to thank everyones input on this car as it helped with my final decision in buying it. There is NO SUV on the market for the money and feel like the Sante Fe!!

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  just gotta love her! - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Love my Tibby!!! - May 12 - 8:36 am

  I have had my Tibby for 3 years now and she has been the best car I have ever had (I have only had 4 until I got the Tib.) I dont experience ALOT of noise, there is some, I have only bought tires once, that was 3 months ago. I have driven on the hwy at 150km no problem and in the city I have no problem accelerating. And its cute as a button!

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  Great Car! - 2006 Hyundai Accent
  By Angie - May 10 - 6:32 pm

  What can i say,this is one great car that others try to imitate but dont quite match up.Hyundai is really moving up there and this car proves it.The overall build quality puts some higher end models to shame.Best choice ive made.

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  Best New Car I Ever Owned - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By dct - May 10 - 1:23 pm

  Wanted an economy car to replace an eleven year old Pontiac. Got more than I wanted... Fun/easy to drive... Great economy (21/35)... Surprisingly good acceleration for a 4-cyl... Almost luxury level interior. (heated seats, cabin air filter, dual air/heat controls for passenger and driver, I- pod plug-in for sound system, XM radio, bluetooth for cell phone, moon roof, steering wheel radio controls, telescope/tilt steering wheel, heated side mirrors, tire inflation warning system, air bags everywhere, lots of storage compartments, leather seats/steering wheel, 5-speed auto or use it like stick shift, compass, dimming rear-view mirror, home-link garage door openers (3), 8-way power seat)$20,900.

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  would recommend - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By jimmyd5 - May 10 - 1:16 pm

  what a great car! much more reasonably priced than Camry, Accord, Altima and equal options and performance. Total cost of ownership is much less considering insurance, excise tax and sales tax. People get spooked by the name, but if you just plan to drive for 100K, why buy anything else. Folks gloat about driving until 200K, but who actually does this. Couldnt be happier with Sonata.