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:

• 

  I despise this car - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sydnee Sprague - November 30 - 8:48 pm

  I bought my car nearly 2 years ago with about 61,000 miles on it. The vehicle now has 79,000 miles on it. With the hail protection plan I added, it totaled to about $11,500. When I first got the car, I noticed nothing wrong with it, mainly because I lived in a small town and only drove it at no more than 30mph most of the time. Upon moving to the city for college, I noticed major issues, mainly with the way the car shifts. Its extremely rough, even getting up to 40mph is a hassle. Ive looked up reviews, and other people seem to have this issue as well. Im getting my transmission checked in a couple of days, and I swear if it needs replaced, Ill never get a Hyundai ever again. Plus, resale value is awful. Im looking at $3,000 trade in value.

• 

  I despise this car - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sydnee Sprague - November 30 - 8:48 pm

  I bought my car nearly 2 years ago with about 61,000 miles on it. The vehicle now has 79,000 miles on it. With the hail protection plan I added, it totaled to about $11,500. When I first got the car, I noticed nothing wrong with it, mainly because I lived in a small town and only drove it at no more than 30mph most of the time. Upon moving to the city for college, I noticed major issues, mainly with the way the car shifts. Its extremely rough, even getting up to 40mph is a hassle. Ive looked up reviews, and other people seem to have this issue as well. Im getting my transmission checked in a couple of days, and I swear if it needs replaced, Ill never get a Hyundai ever again. Plus, resale value is awful. Im looking at $3,000 trade in value.

• 

  My First Real Lemon - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By H - November 13 - 3:05 pm

  I am very disappointed in the 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited. My main concern is the acceleration issue particularly when one needs to make a left turn within an intersection or simply escape an unforeseen incident. I purchased the car new in May 2016 so there usually isnt any cause for alarm from a new car however this problem is such a cause. I have been driving it back and forth to work and traveling long distances for recreation so I have put it to the test. Yet, I am not happy, to say the least, that my car balks upon pressing the gas pedal from a stopped position. I am placing a compliant with my dealership but more importantly, I will contact the area manager to file my compliant. This is really a safety manner as I do not feel safe when I am placing myself at risk by possibly having an accident as a result of the cars poor construction.

• 

  Vibration - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By arl62q - November 4 - 3:10 pm

  Our Santa Fe is now 14 months old and since the first day we bought it we have had a vibration when driving well after serving Hyundai with a 3rd and final attempt letter they are going to put the 3rd set of tires on it Seriously this is a bunch of crap. The experience has not been a good one at all Thank you Prime Toyota in Scarborough Maine this is the 3rd car from them in 2 years the others a Tucson and Toyota Camry were great and paid for. But they dropped the ball on this one even after calling the owner himself. They have done nothing to help us we had to go to another Hyundai Dealer and they and the Hyundai Rep are helping Just buy the vehicle back or give us a normal

• 

  one lemon - 1995 Hyundai Elantra
  By roland - November 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is one lemon. The previous owner an old retiered school teacher had to replace the transmission under warrenty at 17000 miles. I bought the car with 50000 miles and I have had to replace the rear axel bushings,shocks an struts,check engine sensor,catalitic converter,o2 sensor,spark plug coil and now at 85000miles the transmission needs to be replaced for a second time and a break job. On the positive note the car always starts even in the cold and for a small car its roomy and fairly comfortable.

• 

  bad car - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By Kitty - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle skids awfully .Brakes dont work when you are starting off down a slope. Cannot climb upslopes or hills. Engine starts to heat up . Other things are ok except when u put it to test for extremems.

• 

  bad car - 1997 Hyundai Accent
  By kitty - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle skids awfully .Brakes dont work when you are starting off down a slope. Cannot climb upslopes or hills. Engine starts to heat up . Other things are ok except when u put it to test for extremems.

• 

  The real truth about Equus - 2016 Hyundai Equus
  By Gary Gettenberg MD - October 27 - 7:22 am

  Stay away from this vehicle.The major problem is with service.Buyers think they are buying a premier car,however the dealerships are not geared to a premier experience.The dealerships are not familiar with this car,and service is generally poor.My car was in the shop for long periods,parts were not readily available and were very pricey and frequently not covered under warranty. However, the critical fault of the Hyundai Equus is that it handles and drives very poorly.It also has a weak chasis that cannot handle New York City roads.My car swayed and vibrated at 50 to 60 mph and the dealers could not fix it. My wife just would not drive it on the highway because it drives so poorly. Stay with Lexus and/or Mercedes this car is not worth the money.

• 

  Worst ride ever - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By dmslv02 - October 19 - 1:38 pm

  I have the one with orange seat piping, on Sunday it will be 4 weeks of sheer awful. The ride is so stiff that after 49 minutes my back start hurting. After 2 hrs its not good, go four hours and I cant walk upright for a day and in pain for another two and stiff. I have never in my life had a back problem only in this car. The interior looks like a 90s Pontiac Grand Prix so Im sure most pedestrian amuricans will like it. The exteriors look good except the creases cause hwy wind buffeting like a Yaris, I utterly hate it and Im trading it in, the cars not worth 20k in the top line let alone 34 msrp.

• 

  better out there - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By maxbald - October 11 - 7:13 am

  Now have 4500 miles on car and buyers remorse has hit hard. Edmunds and Consumer Reports got it all wrong with this car. And people that give it favorable reviews are not very car savvy. The car rides horrible..like it has broken shocks. The 4 cylinder only returns 18 mpg tops. Been back to the shop 3xs for problems. The car has a cheap feel to it and little annoyances such as the passenger side seat belt that always clangs against the pillar. Service rep said to duct tape it nothing else can be done. Would not recommend a Hyundai to anyone and I was forewarned. Its junk. You get what u pay for sometimes less. Its crap thats why it loses over 60% of its value in a short time.