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:

• 

  Worst driving Position for Six-footers - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Tony Merante - October 28 - 1:40 am

  Guides show driving position leg room of 41.5 inches but it is nowhere near that. Actually found that it is 39 inches - 2 1/2 less than the smaller Santa Fe and Tucson. Painful driving position for anyone six foot or more. Driving seat back intrudes into drivers back and constantly feels like a rod across the back. After less than two months, am looking to dump it for something more comfortable. Ride is very rough over road joints or any potholes, minor or otherwise. Feels like a rattletrap over normal roads. Otherwise, a great SUV.

• 

  One of the Worst - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By andrea - October 24 - 3:43 pm

  This car is loud and had tons of work on it. WHile it was under warrenty, it had many parts replaced. THen 2000 miles after warrenty was expired, the trans had to be replaced. It is loud, rattly, and it drives like it is ten years old. It has been driving this way for the last 50,000. Gave this to my sister and bought a honda, much happier.

• 

  worst car Ive ever driven - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By vincent grolli - October 17 - 3:23 pm

  The 2009 Hyundai Sonata I own makes noise like something is loose and the body is bouncing off the frame. Its steering and front end need to be redone. The car pulls to the left while driving on highways and when hitting even small road cracks has a jarring effect. Also while driving on smooth roads you can feel a pulsating in the steering wheel. All this still occurring after the front shocks were replaced last month.

• 

  I would not buy this car again. - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By connien - October 5 - 2:40 pm

  I love the style of this car as do many people. That said my particular car has computer/electrical issues. I have had to have the radio replaced twice, an amplifier replaced, the driver door button replaced twice, and the push button start had an occasional "interrupt" in the brake connect that kept the car from starting quite a few times. Now these may seem minor, but somehow the computer/electrical system is damaging components in the car! Im very worried about what might be next. I have heard from another owner that his traction control siezed and caused him to have an accident. Hyundai replaced his car but the new one has issues too! Nothing worse than electrical issues.

• 

  less than satisfied - 2014 Hyundai Sonata
  By roscoe103 - September 28 - 3:11 am

  gas mileage not what was advertised transmission shifts into higher gears at the wrong time. took it back to dealer and was told it is running as designed. that is there standard answer instead of trying to fix it. complained to Hyundai and that was a waste of time. beware of the advertised fuel mileage, although I am sure it is an industry wide problem of not getting what is advertised as far as gas mileage

• 

  uncaring auto company - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By shiloh - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Unable to unlock only the drivers door. A bad safety feature. Horse power is not as much as truck was supposr to have,(UNDERPOWERED).

• 

  Overall Dependable Car - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By Karen - September 8 - 11:14 pm

  This has been a dependable car. I bought this car at the 30,000 mile range. Its no good for comfort on long road trips. Seats are uncomfortable if sitting in for more than a 1/2 hour or so. Overall for the price you cant beat it. It has over 80,000 on it now and not ready for brakes yet. Just normal oil and maintenance keeps you running in one of these Elantras.

• 

  Hyandai Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By draggonfly76 - September 7 - 8:17 am

  The biggest problem I had with the car is the handling is slow, turns are wide, and curves you have to take slowly, mostly below the speed limit. Also the care dents very easily if you put your hand on the hood of the car and press down the metal will bend with your hand. You can have all the safety airbags in the world, but the car is made out of tin. The plus side of this car is it is great on gas I wouldnt have to fill my tank for over 2 weeks at a time.

• 

  2007 Hyundai Santa Fe - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By lmartin002 - September 3 - 1:23 pm

  Our 1st SUV- not used to hopping up into it. For the price, warranty it seems to be a good choice. Compared with Ford Escape, CRV, RAV 4 and others. Needs some thins added- HUD, P3, interior lighting,etc

• 

  2013 Santa Fe Steering is scary on straigh highway - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By njuneer - August 23 - 5:49 am

  We have 256 miles on one week old 2013 Santa Fe Sport -non turbo. Great car, great style, good warranty..... however power steering is scary on straight highway.... it constantly requires correction to keep it on the road. Should have read up on this one before purchase. Dealer says all is OK....alignment, tire pressure, steering system. Was told to just get used to it....not happy at all....will be taking it to the next level soon. Recommend a 30 mile highway test drive before purchase.....