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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  1 - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By gym - April 3 - 2:00 am

  it is a fantastic beautiful style smooth running hellava deal out there with a top rate stereo system and all accessories to boot strong buy

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  2 XG in 2 years - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By Robert Bobo - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I have purchased 2 XGs in 2 years the car was a surprising success with me. I have owned Mazdas, Porches, Toyotas and Hondas the XG is a sure winner.

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  Sonatas rule - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By TonyP - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome I love it 10 years 100,00 mile warranty great handling beautiful easy to keep clean.

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  love that car - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By tipndale - April 3 - 2:00 am

  when i brought my hyundai i took a trip to the west and it really handled very well and the gas mileage i got was great. the ride was very comfortable. never did i have trouble going or coming back home. thank you hyundai for making a wonderful car.

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  Great Value! - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By VLORD - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I was able to buy a nice sedan, with all the bells and whistles I wanted, for way less than I expected. This car is SHARP! and practical. No problems yet. The engine is kind of knocky (4 cyl) but I dont care.

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  great commuter car - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By ajacques - April 2 - 11:17 pm

  A little too wide for a city car, and slightly sluggish on acceleration (it is not meant to be a muscle car, though). Otherwise, a great commuter/travel/hwy car. Never had any real problems, very dependable.

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  aww the amount of roominess is NIIIIICE! - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By merled - April 2 - 7:55 pm

  I am 6ft 230 and have a large build. Test drove the Yaris. Yeah its a toy but no i didnt fit. Next was the kia LOL nonono again. Then i test drove a accent and VAROOOM VROOM ! Fast Styling Sounds Stick And i havent put gas in sice i bought and have drove 200 miles already. From Cheerleader to Football players this car would suit anybodys needs. I love driving it and like the attention i get from it its good times for sure Just say Yes to Accent and no To overpriced Yaris! Only thing i would change is damn cant think of nothing.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

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  Nine years and 150,000 miles later..... - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By cshaw22 - April 2 - 6:16 pm

  I bought my Santa Fe new in 2004. After 150,000 miles, it has spent more time broken than any car I have ever owned. Since new we have replaced the crank sensor 6 times, the throw-out bearing grenaded taking the clutch with it, the radiator disintegrated, the cat converter burned out, the power steering pump shaft broke, etc,etc. The tranny has been solid as many times I was able to restart by downshifting and popping the clutch which made the tranny scream but got me to the house. I bought an extended warranty which paid for itself many times over. It rides and drives great but breaks down too often. No longer my daily driver, but still my beater as it hauls a lot of stuff, when it runs.

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  Its about time - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By houdini - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Ever since I rode in a friends turbo charged Mitsubishi Eclipse back in the late 80s, I have wanted something fun to drive. Finally a car has come out for under $20000 that will not make you wish you would have bought something else. Would have been nice if they had a turbo or all wheel drive available but in a few years.. maybe they will. I also think the engine has more horses than they have specified since they took the same net horsepower specs from the Santa Fe.

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  Almost perfect - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dan L. - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I researched cars in this class for months before taking the plunge. I bought the Elantra GT to replace my wifes Neon Sport. We both have past racing experience and realy enjoy driving a good-performing car. The GT has most of what I was looking for and is the only car out there that offers so much for so little.