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.....Better than Camry - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Robert - March 28 - 12:53 pm

  I bought this car for $15,700 last December. I have driven to Florida twice from Maryland (About 6000 miles) I normally put around 12,000/year in my commute in the DC Metro area. I want the readers to know that I was also hesitant to purchase a Hyundai. I did substantial research and for the price this car is the best deal for the price. I have had Camrys and Accords and I truly cannot see any difference in the ride and hopefully reliability. I am 110% satisfied with my purchase and would strongly recommend this car to anyone in the same boat I was in last year. Another aspect to consider is the 10yr/100,000 power train warranty..I guess I will have this car until at least 2019... Bob

• 

  Best Value In Price Range - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By frankiewainkie - March 28 - 1:53 am

  Its a pure pleasure to drive. Oh so comfortable! Definitely sufficient power. Unbelievable sound system with the navigation option. I only have a few minor complaints. 1) IPod connection should be "compartmentalized" to keep it out of view. 2) no outside temperature display when navigation map is on. 3) cannot select your destination using just a phone # as with Honda. 4) I dont think it recognizes voice commands for phone call. These are not major issues, however, & they did get everything else right. And of course they blow the competition away with their 5 year/60000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. They HAVE TO BUILD THEM BETTER!

• 

  Nice car but do have some issues and 1 I will soon - 2013 Hyundai Genesis
  By one1carfan - March 27 - 11:48 pm

  If it is wet I have to be care full not to pen trunk all the way or water will run off trunk lid into car.I find my self wiping the bottom of lid if wet when I want to use trunk. I never had a car with this problem.I am finding a discoloration on the rubber below the trunk lid running above the trim like there was a problem when they painted the car.It is a Satin Pearl White that color they no longer make! Has anyone else had these problems ?

• 

  the truth - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Hyundai Santa Fe - March 27 - 9:41 pm

• 

  Better choices out there - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By sunstormreview - March 27 - 10:45 am

  Never owned a Hyundai product, I was smitten by the high style high feature content at a competitive price. My first Santa fe was so riddled with problems Hyundai gave me another. The second has less than half the problems as the first with one common issue that botheres me most, the vehicle randomly shuts off! This has only happend four times in 9 months but its very serious problem in my opinion. Its very random- the suv loses all power and just stops, it restarts straight away. So far two dealers cannot figure it out. My other two gripes are terrible fuel economy, and interior rattles. Overall Im much less than happy here. There are other owners who feel the same way Ive spoke to.

• 

  Second best car Ive owned . Feels luxury ! - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By Edvark - March 27 - 2:52 am

  Very comfortable and smooth car styled for the older , upper middle-class . Often mistaken for a Lincoln of similar vintage , very classy . Great safety features and amazing warranty . Only car I enjoyed better was a Lotus Europa during my wasted youth .

• 

  My 2001 Hyundai Elantra GT - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rebecca - March 26 - 1:03 pm

  I have owned this car since 2002, with 4000 miles on it, this car has been reliable and fun to drive, great for a 17 year old or an adult, and comes fully loaded I would definatly reccomend this car to others that are looking, and GREAT on gas, as I drive all day for my business.

• 

  Premature transmission & engine failure - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By TD - March 25 - 11:13 pm

  This car was good for the first few years then fell apart! Transmission started ti disconnect & buck. Took to dealership at 85000 KMS when this happend-and they just changed the fluid, told me the car would be fine. But it wasnt! Hyundai didnt want to fix the car at all! Had to fight to get them to cover just the part (paid labour). Then the timing belt went prematurely at 91000 KMS, and did almost $2000 damage to the engine. Hyundai insists there is no problem with their vehiles even though there was a TSB announcement on the 2002 Accents transmissions! The sensors had to be replace on my car too at 80000 kms.

• 

  Accent killed the Yaris - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By hatchbackfreak - March 25 - 8:46 pm

  I ordered an Yaris LB with the color I wanted, accessories alone are $4,400. Got the 18" TRD Sport wheels + Sportivo suspension and rear spoiler. It cost like 15,700 w/o power windows, no keyless entry, no 60/40 seats. Luckily, they couldnt find it. For the same price, I took the Accent SE. Bigger engine, bigger space at the back, 9 airbags, Tachometer (really helps save gas) since I took 5 speed stick, sunroof, 6CD in-dash player, keyless entry, 16"alloy wheels, 8 position adjustable seats, 60/40 folding back seats, accent matting and with spoilers and fog lamps. for the SAME PRICE.

• 

  A loyal Toyota owner switches to Hyundai - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By rjm727 - March 24 - 7:50 pm

  My wife and I shopped for her new SUV for six weeks. We thought we had settled on a new Highlander until a friend told us about their experience with Hyundai. We stopped at the hyundai dealer at 6pm and left at 8:30 in her new Veracruz! What a great vehicle! It looks great has every option under the sun and drives smoothly and quietly. The first thing I noticed was the fit and finish (both inside and out). The next thing that caught my eye was the incredible amount of standard options. The salesman then told me about the unbeatable warranty and we both felt like we had found our new car (and we hadnt even driven it yet!). Bottom line - great experience, great vehicle, great price!