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:

• 

  LAG is terrible and fuel mileage NOT even close - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Chaz - May 6 - 10:52 am

  The lag when you accelerate is not only annoying but DANGEROUS. Several times I have tried to pull out into traffic where I really needed to pick up speed quickly. Hit the gas and the car sits there for a few seconds.....and THEN darts out into traffic when you have another vehicle coming up on you. Also, forget about using the ECO or even regular setting. If you want any pep AT ALL, plan on having it in Sport mode all the time. And even then you arent getting much. Fuel economy not even close to what they say. The most I have gotten in city is 17 mpg and it has been as low as 12.....yes 12!!!! This will be my last Hyundai.

• 

  early failures - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By ghahn - May 3 - 2:51 pm

  I have had (have) the following problems with my 2007 vera cruz: 1) at 70k - valve cover gasket leak which allowed oil to spray on the alternator - alternator failed causing a breakdown on a major highway in rush hour 2) back up warning sensors no longer work 3) auto door lock for drivers door fails to activate 80% of the time. this applies to locking or unlocking 4) one of the air bags has failed and i have an indicator on all the time 5) cruise set/ resume buttons do not activate the cruise 50% of the time 6) steering column volume control problems have recently surfaced - does not work and volume up turns down the volume 25% of the time

• 

  Yuk! - 2010 Hyundai TUCSON
  By brando - April 26 - 5:06 pm

  I bought the 2010 ix35 thinking it would blow my mind like the reviews say but I must say am disappointed. The car came with just two airbags and wait for it, A 4 SPEED TRANNY. The ride is rough, at idle and on the high way. Depress the accelerator and the car lags before picking up. Own a sonata 2.0 which is sluggish. will not buy another Hyundai

• 

  3 Days on the road. - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By KurtM - March 28 - 1:55 pm

  I am looking for a new vehicle and rented a Sonata for a 3 day business trip to Florida. I drove close to 800 miles in the car and came to the conclusion I would not entertain buying one. The ride quality is an odd mix of harsh on bumps, yet floaty and vague. Handling is slow and heavy. The interior is nice looking, but not enough legroom or headroom. Dash and switch gear has high quality feel, but then you find corners cut on a plastic fuel filler door. For ride and space I would choose an Impala or Buick Regal over this car. OR for a sportier ride, the Mazda6 or Honda Accord.

• 

  Disappointed - 2007 Hyundai TUCSON
  By rxc - March 1 - 10:06 pm

  Overall, the vehicle is decent but weve had issues with water leaking through the seal of the sunroof after a modest rain fall or through a car wash. Also, there is an associated whistling sound from the sunroof at speeds above 60 MPH. Have seen other Tuscon have this same problem by making the dealer apply a garden hose over the sunroof. Hyundai claims this is this designed to happen. I dont believe their claim and I did not spend money on a brand new vehicle that is supposed to leak into the interior. Very disappointed and will take my business elsewhere in the future to more reliable auto manufacturers.

• 

  Long-time Hyundai customer has a LEMON - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jon Thomas - February 19 - 3:33 am

  PLEASE be careful when purchasing this vehicle. I am a long-time Hyundai owner, previously owning a Sonata. I recently purchase a brand new 2007 Elantra. I have had nothing but problems with it since I bought it. A week after the purchase the transmission was acting up, jerking and stalling. The service department said it was a manufacturing defect in the seal. A week later now, STILL having major transmission problems, and still stalling. Also, the left turn signal wont cancel and the service department said it worked find. I am truly disappointed in this vehicle and regret buying another Hyundai.

• 

  Stay away from the 2.0T - 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By nwillingham - January 31 - 10:59 am

  have the 2.0T premium coupe. Ive had it for almost 5 months. Beautiful car, fast car, love the navigation (hate the ipod interface), comfy car in the front seats, BUT The sticker of 20/30 mpg is a complete lie. You would have to be going downhill all the time to come close to either of those numbers. When I drive like a grandpa I MIGHT get 16.5mpg in town and 24mpg on the highway. The 5 speed doesnt seem sufficient. ALSO, the T in 2.0T is for Turbo and Turbos use supreme gas only. Personally with the trash gas mileage, slow to shift paddle shifters, crap iPod interface, and supreme gas, I hate that I bought this car and wish I had gone with another.

• 

  Second Hyundai and Last - 2017 Hyundai Sonata
  By David Brownell - January 29 - 2:28 pm

  I love driving and allow drivers the right to drive the speed limit., Im almost 60, have owned many none luxury vehicles. I buy cars to drive and hope I have nothing but minor non performance issues. Nothing is absolutely perfect today or ever. But I would like a few basis, decent acceleration, comfortable highway ride, good braking, and reliable front alignment. My 2016 Tuscon ECO with 1.6L and 7 Speed transmission was absolutely great, except for 1st gear. The dual clutch transmission which did have a recall due to safety issues seldom responded the same way twice in a row, you never knew how it would respond. Some times like a bat out of hell, others like a deer caught in head lights. I didnt trust lending it to anyone a cared about, I owned it for 17 months, I learned how to drive it, I have owned a few vehicles with standard transmissions, its like driving a standard and no control of the clutch. I traded it in for a 2017 Sonata Sport 2.4L drove it 10 miles and discovered a issues talked about on-line for years. When vehicle is in gear stopped at red light, there is a vibration felt in drivers seat. Open the hood of the engine, place your hand on the plastic cowling covering the engine and you will immediately know where its coming from. Its not just your car, try telling your dealers sales manager that. Its seem like denial rules over respect for owners experience and opinions are the acceptable norm for doing business today. Most of us buy cars to enjoy, not to be a critic, since most of us are not paid to criticize or endorse. We just want to think we made a good decision and can share it with friends and family who care. Its a 2017 Sonata Sport not a 2015.

• 

  Falling apart, but still only costs $10 to fill up - 2005 Hyundai Accent
  By Karen june - January 23 - 12:49 am

  I bought this car just under a year ago, and since Ive had it theres always been something wrong with it. Tranny slips, all interior lights are out, a/c went out, and burns oil. Just always something wrong. If it wasnt for the gas mileage I would give it away. Paid a good price, but wasnt told how much was wrong with it. Driving it was a lot of fun before the tranny really started to slip. And a/c blew snowflakes before it went out. I hate stock radios so I have my own radio and 6x9s in it.

• 

  airbags - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By sue - January 21 - 10:40 am

  i purchased this vehicle with the assumption that if the vehicle rolled over that the side airbags would deploy......did not happen. car flipped 6x and not 1 airbag deployed. just want to save someones life....dont count on them to save you.