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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  Im surprised! - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By Shambooey - July 30 - 8:46 pm

  This is a neat little car! I got a base GS with A/C and the upgraded stereo as the ONLY options. First time I have had crank windows and manual locks since college! The A/C blows COLD in the sticky MN summers and the stereo is great! Its a peppy little city car and it eats up the miles on the freeway with ease. Noisy above 3500 RPM. Takes bumps well for a little car, too. Top gear acceleration with the A/C on takes a little planning, but I knew what I was getting when I bought it. Driving with the drivers window down on the freeway results in amazingly little turbulence. First tank resulted in about 30 mpg in combined driving - looking for more once broken in.

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  Elated with Elantra!! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Shantay - July 30 - 2:50 pm

  I went to the dealership in hopes of grabbing the Mazda3 i-Sport, that is until I stumbled upon this cute, stylish, sporty little Hyundai. I test drove the i-Sport & several other cars in its class & I know I made the right decision. I am thrilled about all the bells & whistles that are "standard" with this car: curtain airbags, anti- lock brakes, power windows & locks... I have a 7 month old & I feel confident that he is safe while we are driving around town. I actually look forward to my commute to & from work! This is my first car & Ive only had it for a week- I absolutely love my Elantra! My boyfriend drives a Lexus GS300 & he wants to drive my car over his!!

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  Great Experience - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Brian - July 30 - 1:30 pm

  After looking at the Honda Pilot, Pontiac Torrent, Chevrolet Equinox,I found the Santa Fe to have all they offered and more. Plenty of airbags, XM radio, 3.3L V6,large cabin, great fit and finish, but above all a dealer experience like no other. Nice people, no push to but and when they did not have the vehicle with the options I wanted, they went to another dealer and got it. Great car, great dealer, great experience.

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  great car for the price - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By MILDOC - July 30 - 10:00 am

  So far I really enjoyed the car. I have so many people ask me what kind of car and that it is nice sporty car. Back seat space is very limited especially if you are tall.

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  great bargain - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By bill14sun - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I drive a lot for business and this car makes it so much more fun ten any car Ive owned.

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  What a Surprise! - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By ssvc - July 30 - 3:40 am

  I bought a 2008 Veracruz Limited FWD in August after thoroughly researching mid- size SUVs. When I test drove the Veracruz, it totally impressed me. It is smooth, quite, luxurous, well designed, high quality, etc. The engine and transmission are wonderful. The gas mileage is great for a mid-size SUV - I get 23 mpg with highway driving. I have driven 5000 miles so far and have not had a single problem. I never owned a Hyundai before but I HIGHLY recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a great mid-size SUV.

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  great car - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By J Charles Hailes - July 29 - 11:58 pm

  Very stylish car and very comfortable to drive. Quiet ride with good entertainment features. Love to drive this car and my kids want to take it every chance they can.

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  Great Value for an SUV - 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By jerseyan - July 29 - 11:02 pm

  I have the 2009 GLS 2.7L AWD. I went from a 4wd Silverado to the SUV with no regrets. My major construction days are done, and driving around paying a fortune for fuel with an empty truck bed 94% of the time seemed like a good reason to let it go. I wanted a new vehicle, without breaking the bank. I opted for the GLS vs. the upscale version not because of affordability, but it had all I needed, why pay more for the more expensive model? It came with the hands free Bluetooth and I added a trailer hitch for those occasional trips to the home centers. The roof racks and crossbars came with the vehicle, but if I had to purchase them, how often do you travel with items on the roof? The 3.3L engine to me wasn’t worth the added cost. The 2.7L has more than enough power, and with the AWD and autoshift, it is excellent in the snow. I have averaged on the highway anywhere from 18 to almost 24mpg. For a vehicle this size I feel it is pretty good. The newer models claim to get 28. Some reviews have said the cabin noise is loud with the windows down. I think most cars at 70mph with the windows down have a lot of cabin noise. Adding air deflectors / vent visors around the windows helps keep the air noise to a minimum when the windows are open. Financing all those add on items over time adds up. When you buy a vehicle you are paying a ton in interest for the mud flaps, fog lights, cargo cover, etc. being somewhat handy, I buy the aftermarket items as I can afford them, or get them on e-bay at a reduced price. As far as resale, after five years it’s a moot point after that, and if you plan on keeping a vehicle 7 to 10 years, who really cares about resale? At 26,000 miles, I have had no major problems, and have not been back to the dealer for any repairs. Changing the oil, filters, rotating tires at regular intervals for any vehicle, along with regular maintenance is key to longevity of any vehicle. If you’re looking for more power, heavy towing, or going from 0 to 60 in 30 seconds, this isn’t the vehicle for you. The Santa Fe is a great all around vehicle, quiet, comfortable, elegant and has plenty of storage, with the seats down it is more than adequate. It handles bad weather like a walk in the park. Hyundai is underrated, and is a very versatile all-around vehicle. This SUV is very capable of handling rough, gravel, dirt, muddy and off the beaten path roads. It will hold your camping gear, ski’s, golf clubs, kids, soccer gear, and is able to tow your ski doodles, motorcycles or trailerable items such as moving furniture for your kids. If you are looking to cross over 12” streams, boulders, tow a 40 foot Chris Craft, and drive across the Appalachian Trail, go purchase a Jeep or adequately equipped pickup. Or if you want to be gone in 60 seconds the minute the light changes green why are you looking at a Santa Fe?

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  Horrible car - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jennifer - July 28 - 7:47 pm

  This car was a mistake to purchase, but I have had it for a year and a half. Between transmission issues and constant problems. Do not buy any hyundai.

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  Car is as good as you take care of it - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By Chris B. - July 28 - 7:18 pm

  I bought this car 4 years ago. I use it to go to and from work. Ive had 1 problem (sensor) in 4 years, 50K miles. The person who owned it before me regularly seviced the vehicle, I have done the same. I did not expect a lot out of this car given its history. I cant believe its still around. Sensors go in any car w/age. You can buy this car now for <$3K. If you know the car has been maintained, Id give it a try. I took the risk and still have it several years later.