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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  Worst Ever...Horrible! - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By SSK80 - February 6 - 2:23 pm

  I have had my Santa Fe for almost 3 years now...and have had NOTHING but problems with it!! I have had to replace/repair so many things its not funny. It has ranged from electrical issues in the engine (multiple), the cruise control had to be disabled at one point or the transmission got stuck in 1st...now its a power steering issue. I am dumping this thing as soon as humanly possible. Hyundai was NO help at all of course, non-transferrable warranty and all that.

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  "Not worth it" - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Kim Korpics - February 3 - 10:26 am

  Bought my car brand new less tahn 40,000 miles...car alarm never worked after 4 trips to the shop they finally fixed it..painting peeling around my gas cap around 6,000..car battery dead after only 2 months... door handle broke off inside..Road side assitance stinks they will tow your car but y have to cab to your destination..was stranded at the airport at midnight..told me they will call me a "cab"...I live a hour away from airport...this will be the last time I buy a "Hyundai"...their picth..."roadside assist free cause you need it...looking for a Toyota..

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  Buyer Beware - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By chubeck - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Buying this car was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. It has been a huge disappointment. More importantly, it is unsafe and extremely dangerous to drive! The car has completely died on me twice. Once it happened on the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles and the second was on a busy parkway. The car just shuts off, literally STOPS! The "Check Charging System" light comes on and a warning chime sounds. The car does not switch to gas, but just stops running. I have had two near accidents with the car and cannot trust it.

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  Poor gas milage - 2013 Hyundai Sonata
  By jenkins170 - January 25 - 9:18 am

  I purchased a 2013 sonata new last year and have been fighting with hyundia and the dealership ever sice over gas milage. Advertised is 24 to 35 with 28 combined. Best I ever got was 23 on a flat stretch of highway through ohio. Down to 10 in the hills. But according to hyundia and the dealership that is operating within specs. Would not suggest to by this at any cost

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  Not Very Happy with the Santa Fe - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Robyn - December 29 - 10:00 am

  From Day one with this vehicle,I have had problems, the drive is horrible, the brakes already gave out, and the interior is falling apart

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  Clutch Failure - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Sheryl Gordon - December 21 - 10:00 am

  BEWARE!!! Clutch failed at 41,000 miles, 3 years of normal use. No towing of anything. Dealer where purchased out of business, new dealer not at all helpful. Charge was $160 to eyeball, another $500 if I wanted parts removed for inspection. Cannot buy aftermarket parts. Replacement parts $1,000, throw in another $1500 if new flywheel is needed. Cannot be resurfaced, dual mass. This dealer sees no problem with a $2,500 to $4,000 charge for fix. I DO!! If thinking about stick shift of any newer Hyundai vehicle in your "FUTURE" especially if in the East Bay of northern California, best to think again.

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  This car is unsafe to drive - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Lenny - November 22 - 8:20 pm

  I test drove this car righ after this model arrived at my local dealership. Liked everything about the car except one fatal flow - the DCT transmission failed to move the car from the intersection when the light changed to green for about 5 seconds after I depressed the pedal. The dealer made an awkward attempt to convey that this is normal for this transamission type. I turned around, drove back to the dealeship and parted our ways. If I ever drive this car agin - I would like to invite the company management family members for a ride along and see if they value the lives of their loved once the same way they value the lives of their customers. Please stay away from this car - it may get you killed.

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  Not the dual clutch transmission I had in my VW CC - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Art - November 22 - 8:20 pm

  The dual clutch transmission in the Hyundai Tucson is a piece of junk. Ive had 2 VW CCs and their dual clutch transmission worked flawlessly. The nightmare of a transmission in the Hyundai is unsafe at any speed. Sometimes you cant get the car to move, prompting horns to honk when the light turn s green. Other times it leaves the line like a dragster as the tires spin and Im shot off like a rocket. Ive read the other reviews and this car is not safe to be on the road. If Hyundai cant fix the issue, they should buy the car back. Im not one to depend on the Federal Government for anything except more problems, but in this case the NHTSA needs to step in and help the consumer.

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  Never again - 2009 Hyundai TUCSON
  By lb401 - November 10 - 2:56 pm

  Gas mileage is terrible considering similar SUVs with larger engines get the same or better. SUV that drives like an SUV... not a problem for me, but not a good vehicle to learn in. Would never buy another.

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  Its a Dud - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Bob - November 5 - 3:36 pm

  Engine replaced at 34,000 miles, transmission replaced at 51,000 miles. Hyundai corporate unconcerned about keeping me as a customer. At least they were replaced under warranty. Totally unreliable and no fun to own anymore while I wait for the next failure.