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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  Best Car ever owned - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Westpalmer - April 21 - 7:26 pm

  When I mentioned Hyundai to some guys I get the rolling eyes and the standard remarks, cheap, non performing, low ratings etc. I bought my Santa Fe new after much fighting with my hubby who wanted me to buy anything but that. Well, my car has a 155,000 miles and other than regular oil changes and scheduled maintenance (which I performed faithfully at the dealership), the only out of warranty repair I had was a new battery at 101,000 miles and a broken power steering container at 107,000 miles. Its a perfect vehicle for busy families. Its comfortable in the front and back and the back holds plenty of luggage and supplies. The money I saved was used on vacations with my family!

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  Great car - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By excop820 - April 20 - 6:44 pm

  I first saw the Azera on the road in mid-summer 2006, thought that it was a good-looking vehicle. When the transmission on my minivan failed at 62000 miles I started to shop for another car. Pricing the Camry and the Buick Lucerne along with the Azera I felt more confident with Hyundai and their 10/100000 warranty. The Azera is the most vehicle that I have ever purchased and I have not been disappointed.

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  Fun Car.... Already check engine light - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By smooser - April 20 - 1:01 pm

  My wife and I love this car... Super fun to drive. The mileage the computer was reporting was about 36 average at best. Not bad. After a month and a half the check engine light came on. No problem... My wife took it in and the dealer said they fixed four recalls. (she didnt get a work order from the dealer with the details, a little strange) Now the car averaged 41.5 MPG. I was a little disappointed with the mileage, but that seems to be taken care of. Over all, we love our purchase. Hopefully we dont have a reoccurring check engine light problem. Thats precisely why I leased a hybrid. Wait until the technology has become the norm in the market.

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  Best car I that I have ever owned - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By jhandy - April 20 - 4:46 am

  Excluding the 56 Packard that I owned from 1955 thru 1959 This is the best car I that I have ever owned.

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  What a difference 30 years makes - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By singledad - April 19 - 9:27 pm

  In 1986 Hyundai introduced the Excel. It was cheap. It came with automatic transmission, air conditioning and a radio. Basic transportation for $5k. They were made in Korea and I had to wait weeks to get one. What a piece of junk. That car almost put an end to Hyundai in the US. We take for granted reliable cars today but Hyundai was a junk car and that stigma lasts to this day. No more. First my personal opinion. I dont like Korean cars. They are disposable transportation appliances. As they age they become unreliable. So my daughter wants a new car. After learning on a beater. So we shop. I advised her that this is the kind of car you lease. Its a transportation appliance. So she leases this one and I have to say its a nice car. Roomy and good on gas. Power everything. Quiet ride and engine. The radio connects to her iphone easily and it sounds good. It includes oil changes and washes too, A good deal. Now time will tell if it holds up to a 20 year olds hard driving.

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  Azara Problems - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By Yale Feingold - April 19 - 8:53 pm

  I am really dissapointed in this vehicle It is an overrated car with all the bells and whistles The suspension is terrible and I doubt that I will ever be able to get used to the bumping and knocking. The gas milage is very poor and i dont think I have ever gitten more than 11 miles to the gallon. The front seat sits too high. Should be able to drop lower.

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  Great Car, BAD 30k mi checkup!!! part 1 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By clarose_lapro - April 18 - 9:34 pm

  I like my car I really do. My rear brakes started to make a pretty nasty noise and my check engine light came on so so I took my car in for the 30k check up. Wow it costs $500 to replace the FLUIDS $ FILTER this is required by your warranty contract only fine Hyundai parts are acceptable or...So it just so happens my cable assembly for my parking break "froze" ruining my REAR brakes, Rear Brakes shot @ 30k. Hyundai replaces the cable assembly no problem...but the serv. dept calls me to try an authorize work on my rear brakes which I would have to pay for, what?

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  2 years and still satisfied! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ken - April 18 - 9:31 pm

  I was hesitant to buy this car at the start, but quickly fell in love with it. Price, economy and warranty are just plain unbeatable. I was trying to purchase a 3-5 year old Camry or Honda and got into a brand new Elantra for the same money.

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  I LOVE my Santa Fe! - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By davis - April 18 - 7:46 am

  We bought our car about 5 months ago and have done quite a bit of light off-roading in it and it handles great, and though weve probably asked for it a few times, it hasnt left us stranded. Performs like a champ in poor conditions and I think it is an extremely comfortable ride. Not so fond of the engine rumble between 60-70 mph, but Im assuming that has something to do with either the AWD or the miles on the vehicle. Only problem weve had with it thus far is the accelerator sensor which we replaced for a relatively reasonable cost (and frankly, the same thing went out on our Kia which is two years newer the same week). Its a sexy cute little suv and reliable too :)

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  Regretting Buying This Vehicle - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By tracy55 - April 17 - 12:13 am

  Major problems from the start. Navigation/radio total failure. Gear shift stopped working-froze in park. Recently air bag malfunction. Now the engine failed. Burns oil and rod knock with no warning. Need a new engine but Hyundai is initially refusing to back its warranty because I cannot product every oil/filter receipt (sometimes had private mechanic change). Research has led me to an investigation into class action suit for engine failure by Chimicles & Tikellis. Good to know that I am not alone. Hyundai is like the cable company - once you are a customer they dont care. Should have gone with Honda or Toyota and will do so going forward.