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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  great little suv - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By bg8031 - October 20 - 10:00 am

  fuel economy is right where the sticker said it would be, comfort is great. handles better than my other vehicle( 2002 camry). highly reccommend this suv.

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  After months of research, glad I bought this car - 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By Karen - October 18 - 7:51 am

  So I agree with previous reviewer, so wish I had the features and hybrid stuff with a small suv (this is my first sedan!) but having said that, quite pleased with this car. Will come back and add to this review as have only had the car for a day, but I agree that controls (and there are LOTS of them) are laid out well and intuitively. My only problem? Being able to tell whether the car is on or not, keep trying to drive only to discover the car isnt on all the way. We have a 2007 hyundai sonata in the family, and the 2016 hybrid makes it look sad and forlorn. Bigger than the 2007, an unbelievably roomy rear seating area, trunk is crazy big for a hybrid, and how can you not love those LED running lights? So spiffy looking, feels like driving a luxury car for a whole lot less money. So glad I got the limited (WITHOUT the ultimate package, I dont like sunroofs), ventilated seats are so nice and looking forward to the heated seats in winter. Just a great car all around. Okay Hyundai, lets give the Tucson way better visibility out the back and hybridize it, and Ill buy that next!

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  More car than the Civic, for less $$$ - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By talldean - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I went out and intended to buy a Honda Civic, or something similar. I bought the 2004 Elantra, and Im *very* happy with that choice. 2/3rds the cost of a similarly-equipped Civic, I have no complaints after 15k miles. It also has 130 hp, instead of the 105ish that seemed to be the standard in this size/cost class.

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  top suv - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By dim75 - October 17 - 6:40 pm

  Just buy it. It competes equally every other model Japanese, European or American get a test drive immediately.

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  fun to drive - 2005 Hyundai Accent
  By fjd1955 - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Great handling good mileage

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  Nice! - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By Craig Pelz - October 16 - 3:43 pm

  This vehicle has the looks and ride of a $40,000.00 car. Could use better sound system.

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  Great Value and good looking - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By flashman - October 15 - 2:00 am

  After owning a Toyota Celica and Mazda 626ES, was talked into looking at a Sonata, and finally test driving a Soata. I was very impressed when we began to talk price I was really Impressed. So much for so little. It is every bit as good as the Mazda, and although not as sporty as the Celica it is every bit as nice as a Camry but for thousands less. I would highly recommend buying one. I was hesitant while reading reviews of poor gas mileage but doing predominately highway driving I get 30mpg.

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  Great Car - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Rick - October 14 - 1:40 am

  Ive had my Sonata for 5 months, no problems. This car is great.

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  I like it !!! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By wesren - October 13 - 10:00 am

  Elegant, excellent, reliable...fun to drive. She has also a "look". I have noticed other drivers turning their heads..what is that? a SAAB? The car runs great and if you know how to use the shift, even with autotran, you can pass others if you need to. I like it, and my wife likes it. Its loaded with the features like leather, sunroof, cd player, etc.not to mention 4 disc breaks, heated side mirrors, rear wiper... I like it..

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  More for the Money and then some! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By redswd - October 12 - 12:30 pm

  To start with its beautiful has a V6, 5 speed automatic, Electronic Stability Control, 4 wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, traction control, Etc.,Etc. But these and the other standard features would be ho hum without the thunk when the doors close, the quality feel as you operate levers and switches, the supple ride with almost no wind noise. Then kick the V6 in the butt and the grin widens as you remember you bought all this for so little!