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 Tuscon! - 2015 Hyundai TUCSON
  By hkmac20 - September 8 - 10:38 pm

  Vey satisfied with all aspects of my Tuscon. I would recommend it to anyone!

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  My last Hyundai...Period! - 2014 Hyundai Sonata
  By golfr013 - September 8 - 9:24 pm

  I purchased a Sonata Hybrid Limited in April of 2013. About a year later, it seemed that an occasional panic stop would cause the car to stop abruptly rather than pulse to a safe stop. After noticing that it seemed to do that each of the few times that I applied the brakes in that manner, I took the car to the dealer, asking them to also check the brakes for a banging noise occurring each time the brakes were applied when coming to a stop sign/light. Many months and service calls later, my VA Lemon Law attorney suggested that I might want to avoid Hyundai or Kia if I ever expected to have my interests considered. I traded in that piece of @)$(*^* as quickly as I could!

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  I agree...transmission problems - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By jd - September 8 - 7:36 pm

  This vehicle has the absolute worse transmission I have ever experienced. It is defective between 1st and 2nd gear. What makes this more aggravating is that the dealers "acts" like nothing is wrong when the mechanics clearly experience the problem. They "allege" all the codes check out but this transmission has a slippage problem. I think Hyundai is out to screw the consumer and knows about his problem but will not acknowledge it. I am hoping that the government investigates some of the transmission complaints. This is a horrible vehicle.

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  Great deal on 2016 Sonata Hybrid Limited - 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By Michael - September 8 - 12:27 pm

  We have driven Prius and Prius V for the last 5 years. They are great cars with fantastic mpg. We were looking for a replacement hybrid and thought Hyundai might be it because of the reviews and features. Then we saw the sale of 2016s because the 2017s were coming in. We purchased a Limited for $24K. We wanted a car that was more comfortable and better at highway speeds. We looked at Accords, Camrys and Fusions. The Hyundai stood out because of the 2016 re-design. More room than the competitors and a great trunk. It actually has a large flat deck in the trunk. Comfort is outstanding with leather seats, lumbar support that can be moved up or down, and position memory. Heated and ventilated seats along with heated steering wheel are nice extras. The blind spot monitoring is great as well as the backup aid which lets you know if there is a car or someone approaching from the side as you back out of a space. Would like to have gotten the "Ultimate" tech package but I could not find it as dealerships had sold all they had. MPG is generally very good at 40 and acceleration to highway speeds along with solid feel are fantastic.

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  The Santa Fe - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Hyundai convert - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is fun to drive. We have received excellent gas mileage for an SUV. We average 24 on the highway and 21 in town. The only downfall of owning the Santa Fe is that now we see them everywhere! We liked being one in a handful of customers who knew about this secret.

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  Yawn - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By rogerd - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Ho hum. Technically meets the family car needs but falls short in most every area. No real bright spot. But its a good beginning for something to build upon. Reliability and resale will be fair at best.

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  Simply awesome - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By AllyCoug - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Love this truck! It is stylish, reliable and peppy. I have had no problems with it during the 1 1/2 years Ive owned it. Some recalls on parts but the dealership called me to inform me and repaired the truck in hours. Had a fender bender and wasnt taken for a bunch of money to replace damaged parts.

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  Poor Quality - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Disapointed - September 7 - 12:43 am

  I purchased the 09 Sonata GLS Manual with the intent to save money, not be inconvenienced every month. During the 8 months I have owned the vehicle it has died multiple times, starting at 1205 miles. The problem was traced to a faulty O2 sensor, but has had a skip and hesitation ever since. When I insisted the issue be solved, the lead mechanic said it was normal and they all do that. At 12000 miles the vehicle was blowing clutch slave cylinders every 2-300 miles, which required removal of the transmission to get to. After the fourth one was replaced and the vehicle being in the shop for an accumulated 58 days, I sought legal help because Hyundai would not return my calls. Cant recommend it

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  Excellent car in price class - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ray - September 6 - 10:20 pm

  Make no mistake, this is not a 32,000 dollar car, though Quality for cost is superb. Between 16,000 and 18,000 you will not find a better quality means of transportation. The Elantra is fun to drive with a great popular package features. The warranty on the car matches and or beats other motor companies. Surprisingly roomy interior, I am 62 and sit comfortable inside the vehicle. Fuel mileage is at 35 mpg with 65% highway driving. Exterior to interior noise control is that of a 26,000 to 32,000 dollar sedan. Purchasing this vehicle was not on the spur of the moment, Four months of going to one dealer to the next. Finally the right car for our family at the right price.

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  3rd Update since purchase. - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By 3rd Update. - September 6 - 3:53 pm

  Just completed a 750 mile trip to Midlothian, VA from Columbus, NC. Car performed like a charm. Extremely comfortable. According to on-board trip computer, I averaged 29.7 mpg at highway speeds up to 70mph. Better then I ever imagined. Lay off the "heavy foot" and you will love the car.