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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  not happy - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By george moore - November 26 - 10:00 am

  A little disappointed in this Sonata. Whats this with a vibration when your in drive and sitting at a stopsign or redlight. It just vibrates to much. I realize its a 4 cyl. but this is just uncomfortable for me and we have had the car for only 4 days. Everyone is giving it mostly good reviews, Did I miss something?

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  Still loving my Santa Fe! - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By MMHBLG - November 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the first vehicle that I have purchased and still love after months of use. It is comfortable, reliable, and well engineered. I have thoroughly enjoyed owning this vehicle. Its cost and warranty are unbeatable. Much better value than Japanese counterparts and the dealer will treat you better as well.

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  Fun on Wheels - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ferrier - November 26 - 10:00 am

  after much research we decided on this vehicle and have not regreted our purchase. we bought in feb of 03 and we have had nothing but good to say about our choice, love the color (silver), love the options, everything but 4 whl drive which we didnt need so left that off. back seat is very roomy as if the front and the bun warmers are fantastic for those of us with tender backs it helps as well.

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  Nice but underpowered - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By nmroberto - November 26 - 10:00 am

  Great value for the money. Similar equiped vehicles from other manufacturers were a couple of grand higher. Very comfortable, lots of amenitities, handles well, quiet and build quality has been excellent so far. My only gripe is the underpowered 2.7 liter engine.

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  Buy this car! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Popol - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a 4-door sedan. Tried the Sentra, Civic = didnt like. This board recommended the Elantra. After staunching the typical knee-jerk anti-Hyundai reaction I did a test drive. Then I bought it. So far, I cannot look back! Im very satisfied.

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  Hasnt let me down so far - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By chris1003 - November 26 - 10:00 am

  i was most leary about purchasing, but the price was right, the sales staff worked with me on my terms, and i got more bang for the bucks

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  great little car - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By janice - November 26 - 9:06 am

  I fell in love with it immediately. I live in a hilly area and gas mileage is 28 mpg combined. Elantra has plenty of power for highway driving. It also handles well in snow. It has 52K miles on it and has never needed a repair. This car is an excellent buy for the money!

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  a car for all reasons - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By m. Fitzgerald - November 25 - 4:33 pm

  great ride;roomy;road warrior;low road noise.

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  BEWARE!!! Hyundai Manufacturer "Bumper to Bumper" Warranty Not Always Honored by Dealerships!! - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By jbcanderson - November 25 - 4:18 pm

  I bought an 09 Sonata V6 Limited in Dec of 08 and an Azera in Mar of 09. Both cars have needed repairs which I was assured by Hyundai Motors were covered by their bumper to bumper warranties, but which a local dealer, Doral Hyundai, refused to warranty, claiming owner fault rather than factory defect. They are [non-permissible content removed] extraordinaire! It is impossible to get them to fix anything under warranty; they always try to charge the vehicle owner. Hyundai has no way to make a dealer honor the factory warranty, claiming dealers are franchises and they cant make them do anything! Each dealer decides what they will or will not warranty. I had to "shop" for a dealer that would honor the warranty.

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  Hyundai won this battle. - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By Jose Machado - November 24 - 10:36 pm

  I bought my car a couple days ago and I can tell you that this a nice car, I compared this car with the Lexus gs 350 and the Infiniti g35 and the handling, ride and quietness of this car is superior.