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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  Love my Car, Comfy, convenient controlls - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Barbara Herring - December 26 - 10:42 pm

  The disappointing part: before I bought it, Consumer Reports said to use caution when purchaseing a vehicle in its first year of redo and updating., (2011 in this case). I loved this car right away with all the technology, comfort, easy access to controls, over the top temperature comfort. I sit on a pillow to give me better views, not conducive for short/medium dirivers. expecially when checking out windows traffic , blind spots seem to be a challenge. I wish there were some high tech sollution (standard equipment) to this problem. I took off the rear head support restraint so I could see a little better. But as with everything you adjust to mangage the drawback. Standard safety equipment should be standard in every similar vehicles with the same challenges. My love affair became strained when I checked for recalls and tech reports. Their were approx 10 RECALLS. of which few could be fixed, but they couldn,t get repair parts to repair the problems. I have had steering coupling ordered for 7 months. The driving mechanisms is deteriating, expect to send me into the drink! I check Carflex, they already show "12 reports". One man RECALLS, I am cautioned about hight risk of loss of control, lose brakes, chance of fire. Scarry! WHAT CAN I DO?? CHECK LEMON LAW?? SELL IT TO ANOTHER SUCKER??

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  Not recommended - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By JMJ - December 21 - 6:06 pm

  Very disappointed in this car. I loved driving it in the beginning, but Ive had to bring it in for service at least 5+ times since buying it for "check engine" light coming on. Car has also died on me twice. These issues should not be happening when a car is brand new. Dealership always tells me they cant find anything wrong with it. Even told them that I dont feel safe driving the car, and all they could respond with was "Well, you have roadside assistance available." (Not exactly the most comforting thing to hear). The dealership is now wanting to buy the car back due to their shortage of 2008 pre-owned Santa Fe vehicles. I am MORE than willing to sell it back to them!!

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  Transmission fails after one month - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By NO GO - December 19 - 9:10 pm

  I purchased a new 2011 Sonata for a cash price. One month, 2,500 miles later, the transmission failed -- DOWNSHIFTED at highway speed during rush hour -- very dangerous! Sounds like the opposite problem of a Toyota! Dealership very unfriendly, will replace transmission, but tried to talk me into buying a higher priced car! Nonsense. Corporate office nice, and is looking at buying vehicle back, no promises. Dealership not useful at all.

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  Disappointed with 2011 Sonata GLS - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By VIV 55 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Car is attractive, spacious and standard bluetooth is appealing. However there is little else to celebrate. Steering is poor: It vibrates on uneven road surface, makes odd sounds on deep turns. Steering feels unstable and unsafe. Engine rattle/vibration when in slow traffic. Low power on inclines; car slides back before going forward.

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  This Car Has Issues! - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By m liggeri - December 6 - 5:06 pm

  The car looks great, but it might be overrated. I have only had my car for less than a month and I have to bring it in a second time for the engine light. The dealer keeps telling me its not a problem, and then adds 40 miles to my car before giving it back. Towne Hyundai has a terrible service department. They pretty much told me to ignore the light unless it turns on again, and its on again. Plus now when I drive it that smooth new car feeling is gone already. You can feel the car shifting into gear. Too bad they wont call me back to fix it.

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  Do NOT buy - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By frankg068 - November 23 - 12:45 am

  Bout the car early 2012 I had it for a week and on my way home from work it broke down less then 150 miles on it the transmission went out, they had if for a month replaced it 2 weeks later it goes out again and once again they have it for over a month fixing it. I got it back had it for almost 2 months and im going down the highway and my car starts smoking and then shuts off a tow truck comes and gets it brings it to the dealer and they said my engine cracked... i called hyundai and it took me 2 months to get anything done they game me a new one after all that had it for 3 days and my trans went out... gave up traded it for a good car.

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  Hate it already - 2010 Hyundai TUCSON
  By hater1 - November 21 - 11:06 pm

  Bought a loaded limited awd couple of months ago and cant stand it already the ride is horrible around town can feel every bump and imperfection in the road on the highway its not that bad.The tranny isnt very good either the 2nd to 3rd gear upshift jolts the car into gear very rough but only those 2 gears for some reason had it to 2 dealers now and they can feel it but they have driven othrs on the lot that do the same thing and said thats just the way they shift??? Ive been driving for 21 yrs and had many cars and never had 1 shift like that unless the tranny or computer were bad!!! The bluetooth is horrible also the other person cannot here you very well.Going to look elsewhere soon

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  Never ending problem car - 2000 Hyundai Sonata
  By David Blain - November 16 - 2:43 pm

  Unfortunately, I bought the cae used, so I didnt get the 100,000 mile warranty. At 50,000 miles drivers window mechanism went. I have since replaced all wheel bearings once and now a second on the rear, after only 25000 miles. There were no lugnuts for the spare donut tire. The capped lugnuts wont work. now at 100,000+ miles the car is always in the shop for various transmission and engine sensors. I have driven cars almost 200000 miles and never have replaced wheel bearings. This model should have been on a recall list. While the car drives and handles well, mechanically it is a piece of junk. The government should not allow vehicles like this into the country.

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  GET THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED! - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Melony - November 13 - 1:10 am

  Bought this car with 12K mi on it, ran great the first year. Then the little check engine lights, about 4 times into the shop for "sensors". Always had the oil changed at 3000k and air filter, but never the "recommended service", i.e. trans flushing at 30K mi. Never had done that with a car before until closer to 100K, and then just precautionary. Well...BUYER BEWARE...Yesterday at 54K miles, the car starting "revving" while changing gears (auto trans). Took to Hyundai dealer who immediately said it was internal transmission, but WOULD NOT be covered by warranty since it hadnt had "recommended service". WHAT TRANS GOES OUT AT 54K MILES? So much for the "best warranty". WHAT A JOKE!!!

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  Poor Quaility Paint Jobs - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By tim - October 27 - 7:07 pm

  I own 2 hyundias the elantra has paint peeling of from bugs and such(the rep calls it fallout)They do not cover this my 2004 santa fe has this problem also and they would only pay for 1/2 of the cost it was bought new and only has 20,000 miles on it my 95 and 97 model car paint jobs are fine. Poor paint quality paint and clearcoat very thin. Look over the car closely and dont drive on gravel. Also make sure you go buy the rules of there warranty at 30,000 miles transmission drain and radiator flush. If you don,t they mostlikely wont cover it if you have problems.