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:

• 

  Great Value and Quality - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By BOB - August 8 - 1:01 pm

  Great build quality. Equal to much more expensive Japanese vehicles. Fun and a great pleasure to drive.

• 

  Good value for the money - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Stekicar - August 8 - 10:13 am

  For a $16,266.62 OTD price, no-one could come even near this car. Just got 7500 miles on it. Excellent ride. Great MPG for the size of the car. Average 27MPG, worst 23MPG-city (driven by my wife :) ), BEST - 30MPG-freeway (average 65MPH). Just came home from a vacation. On 75MPH (average) had 28MPG. Big trunk, was able to fit all skies except mine + the luggage for family of 4. Mine skies ended up in between the seats. Roomy interior. Flimsy parking brake handle. Soft plastic on the back, bent under pressure. Kick-down very slow, there is some delay. NON fold-a-side rear view mirrors. Driver seat not so supportive. Doesnt have an opening on the rear seats for placing skies in the trunk.

• 

  Best Car I Ever Bought - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By jammb - August 8 - 10:00 am

  We love this thing! Through our first 1.5 years owning this car, it appears that Hyundai has nothing to lose by offering a 5 year bumper-to-bumper warranty, because we have not had to utilize it at all. The car is very roomy, comfortable, and fun to drive. That stuff about not being a great off- road vehicle is a bunch of boloney for most people. The 4WD handles superbly in the snow, which is the most important thing for me. Our other car is a Mercury Sable, and we have found that the quality of the Hyundai is head- and-shoulders above the Sable. There is no doubt in my mind that our next car will be a Hyundai.

• 

  Not a cute ute! - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By syd91098 - August 8 - 10:00 am

  Owned the Santa Fe for 14 months. Purchased for my wife but I fell in love with it too. Had it only a few months when a cross country move happened. Crossed the Rockies in December... We passed all sorts of other 4WDS on the side, but the Santa FE kept right on truckin. I averaged aroung 24 mpg on the trip, so not bad at all. Could use a little more passing power, but you just cant beat the value and dependability of todays Hyundai. Definitely not the Hyundai of old.

• 

  Happy with Hyundai - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By bratsche - August 8 - 10:00 am

  What can I say? This car has it all! Every feature you could want, for an unbelievable price. I cant speak for the long term yet, which is my only trepidation, but Hyundai has the boldness to offer the best warranty in the business. Ive had my car for about a month now, and I can personally vouch for the quality of construction and engineering. This is a truely well built car. Under the hood there is plenty of room to work with, which means maintanence and repairs will be easier to do. (Read: cheaper labor costs at the shop) Compared to the Civic Si, the GT has got it beat in almost every statistic available! Continued in "Favorite Features"

• 

  One Year review - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Gary D. - August 8 - 4:43 am

  I have now owned this vehicle for 1 year with 20k and it hasnt had so much as a hiccup. What originally sold me, apart from the price and warranty was the interior and trunk size, (large), and the level of comfort, usually only felt with leather upgraded interior. I love all the thoughtful little upgrades which are standard, such as the 3 nozzle window sprayer, the above visor lit vanities lights, and beautiful interior stack. I have been averaging 31 mpg on regular, and honestly, I hardly miss my G35(only off the ramps and when I feel a little crazy), or its 20 mpg with super. My wife now likes to take it whenever she can and everyone who rides with me is quite impressed.

• 

  Sonata review - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Billy Wehunt - August 8 - 1:36 am

  Suspension is a noisy especially when hitting bumps. Allow car to "bottom out" struts too easily. Other than too much noise from suspension and noise coming in from an uninsulated trunk mat, the car drives beautifully. Passenger area of car is noisy and difficult to use "bluetooth" with cell phone, end up having to hold cell phone, unsafe move!!! Gas mileage not as good as I thought it would be especially on the highway (for its size and make of engine - V6).

• 

  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patrick - August 7 - 3:33 pm

  I love my 07 Elantra, is interior and handling is amazing, I drive all over and its fun to drive. My wife owns an 01 Elantra and the improvements over the models are noticable sitting next to each other. I bought the manual, and it takes a second to get used to but the 07 is very refined compaired to the 01 manual. The Elantra is a very powerful car and for the size of the car. And the gas mileage can not be beat, with 328 miles to the tank, I go two plus weeks on one tank. This Elantra will be with me for a long time.

• 

  Good SUV for the money - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Daine - August 7 - 10:03 am

  Only had this car for a week now and I Like it alot. Smooth ride, engine is very quiet and a nice design. Love the sportronic transmission which was one of the main reasons I got this suv in addition to all the safety features. Cant beat the price. Hyundai has definately come a long way.

• 

  Hyundai is the new Volvo - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By DlFlyer - August 6 - 9:31 pm

  First of all, how can anyone complain about the mileage when you know exactly what youre getting? Always amazes me. And for the size, weight, and acceleration of this vehicle, what were you expecting? This car continues to amaze me. Excellent fit and finish. Extremely thoughtful design all over. Reserved finesse.