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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  WoW! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By e2stang - October 9 - 5:42 am

  Bought my car on 4 Dec 2010, from Browns Manassas Hyundai in Northern VA and first off, the dealership experience was EXCELLENT! Next the car is an absolute GEM! I got rid of my 01 E55 AMG for this Gas Saving Technological Masterpiece! Can you say 35MPG! I filled up on 4 Dec and as of today 23 Dec I am still riding on my full tank with over 350 miles logged! Excellent Nav, Bluetooth and overall ride quallity. No more expensive repairs (Benz) with the build of the new Sonata and warranty! Enough room in the back to semi-stretch my legs out and I am 6ft tall. Bought this over a Toyota Avalon. I just cant get over the amenities the car offers and did I say 35MPG on 87 Octane!

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  New owner - 2008 Hyundai TUCSON
  By longbeachjohn - October 8 - 3:40 pm

  Drove a 6cyl then a 4 cyl and there was very little difference in performance. Car has good space inside, controls and features great. I appreciate the safety stuff like traction and stability control and all the airbags. First weekend cruise got 24+ mpg, mixed bag intown and freeway at 75+. Will update in the future. Like to see more cubby holes for things like cel phone.

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  Hyundai Warranty and Brake Quality - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By John Got Beat - October 8 - 8:56 am

  I have a 2002 Santa Fe GlS with less than 30,000 miles and had to get 3 brake jobs and 4 new rotors for the SUV. Hyundai says it is the way I drive but my Toyota Highlander is driven more, gets better gas milage and pick up and has no issue with its brakes. Each change is $700 to $1200 dollars. Add that to the price of the car every 9,000 miles and see if you are happy. My engine is now sounding as if the lifters are going which they can not hear untill the warranty is over. My radio display is gone, Just missed warranty! Nothing was covered by the "warranty" which they tell you to read the fine print! GOODBY HYUNDAI AND WELCOME BACK TOYOTA!!!!!! AT LEAST THEY HAVE PROVEN QUALITY.

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  Updated Review - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By Carolina Bob - October 6 - 4:23 pm

  I now have 5,000 miles on the car and have made several trips of 125 up to 650 miles. Everything is perfect about the car, except the ride over mildly rough roads. It bounces and the car ends up with excess body float combined with sharp wheel motion on anything less than perfectly smooth roadways. That sharp wheel motion isn’t soaked up by the suspension it’s transferred to the cabin in the form of impact harshness. It bounces up and down on anything other than perfectely smooth pavement. Hyundai is replacing a lot of shocks, but that really isnt solving the problem. Plan to have mine replaced under warranty and hoping for the bes Fantastic car in all respects except for ride.

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  best for the bucks - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By best for the bucks - October 6 - 3:46 pm

  I am very pleased with the Hyundai Accent SE. After comparing it to the Fit, and the Yaris. The Accent SE had all the features I was looking for. Anti-lock brake, front and side air bags and all power. In California you cant buy a Yaris with anti-lock or side curtian. the Fit had all the feature I was looking for, but dealers were asking $3000 over sicker with very little lead way. 18,000. I got the Accent for $13,500 and a $500rebate. I was suprised how will the Accent handled on the road much smoother than I expected. I dose lack some power,but with 110hp what do you expect. Interior is roomy for its size and I like the body stlyeing. For a car in this class its the best buy.

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  love my truck - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By sandy - October 6 - 3:20 pm

  i have driven it far over 35.000 miles with out ever break down are any troubles all i can say i love it an would buy a new one an my self an husband are large people the room in side great he 6/4 an im 5/8 an a lil chubby lol

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  Honda Girl Turned Hyundai - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Krystal - October 6 - 9:10 am

  My first non-Honda car and I am impressed. This SUV appears to have a smaller trunk space than I am used to but not a show stopper. There are a/c vents on the sides of the door in the back, which causes the air to circulate better than being on the back of the center console for the back seaters. The ride is smooth and I dont hear the thumping sound that others are complaining about. I do have a concern with the exterior door handles as they seem like they arent too sturdy. All in all, I am very pleased!

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  Tidalwave Blue is as true as it gets - 2005 Hyundai Tiburon
  By MKAMR - October 6 - 7:00 am

  We walked into the dealership looking for a Sonata, not a Tiburon. What we found was fun and excitement. I have known others that have own Hyundais before and a family member bought one when they first came to the US. What crap they were back then. Always breaking down, always under powered. That isnt the same Hyundais we see now. The 2005 Tiburon is stylish and very good looking. Not a retro look of the new Mustang but stylish nonetheless. The lines are beautiful to look at, and if it looks as good driving down the road as it does sitting still it is amazing. It handles like a dream and rides just as well. All around a great car.

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  Excellent Car - Excellent Value - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By PV - October 5 - 5:46 pm

  We bought this car for my Fiancé to get something bigger than her Mazda Miata and we couldnt be happier. I love the car and some of my previous cars include BMWs and Mercedes. Hyundai really did a great job with the interior of this car. It looks very "Lexus like". The Exterior is great, despite the wheels. My Fiancé still doesnt like the wheels, but theyre actually starting to grow on me. I guess it makes it look more European. It also drives great. Plenty of pick-up in the V6. Initially, we were going to get the 4 Cyl, but at the time we got it the 4 Cyls werent as available as the V6s. Im now glad we got the V6, and the MPG difference is negligible, plus it has dual exhaust

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  My 2007 Elantra - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bill - October 5 - 4:44 pm

  Although the electric power steering takes some getting used to, I really like this new & improved Elantra. My other car is an 05 Elantra, so its easy to compare them.