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 value!-minor gripes. - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Izzy - September 18 - 5:40 pm

  Have this car for 1 year and this is my first review. Very smooth and brisk 4 cyl. Powertrain. Like the shiftronic feature. Interior is beautiful and comfortable. Controls feel like quality and work flawlessly. Body design is classy in my opinion. Highway mpg exceeds epa, can average 34, mixed driving is around 22. In all fairness I do lots of driving in an area with poorly timed lights, lots of heavy traffic and idling - that alone yields an mpg of 14! Hence the 8 rating. Minor misalignment of few body panels. Creaking from interior parts and yes, the distracting suspension noise that doesnt mar a smooth ride too badly. Still, lot of car at a great deal. Pleasant ride. Couldnt do better.

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  03 Santa Fe - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Glenn - Las Vegas - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new Santa Fe GLS 6 cyl. Fun to drive, fuel efficient, good ride. Only complaint is that when I purchased from Planet Hyundai in Las Vegas they had over 100. Every one had a tow hitch and mud flaps installed at the factory which most people dont want. However, none of the GLS models had ABS which saves money on insurance....had to up one grade and take a moonroof in order to get ABS....every vehicle sold in US that has ABS available should have it installed at the factory.

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  Replacement Elantra - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Crazyboy - September 18 - 2:00 am

  After losing my 2000 Elantra to a wreck in which it was totaled; safety features worked like a charm. We walked away with just bruses. We looked at other cars in this class and none could be had with these features even for alot more money. I had 96000 miles on the 2k Elantra and had no problems at all and it still ran like new until stupid me ran off the road and front- ended a telephone pole, witch I snapped off.

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  Buy this SUV - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Roadturtle - September 17 - 6:36 pm

  This SUV is great. Good gas mileage, rides like a very expensive car, awesome 6 cd stereo, heated leather seats my wive loves, plenty of head room, six air bags, stability control, abs brakes. This SUV has it all for only $ 20,000. I truly recomend this SUV

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  Poor mans Lexus - 2007 Hyundai TUCSON
  By William - September 13 - 11:06 pm

  Shopped for a resonably priced small SUV, to replace my wifes aging Cadillac, She wanted to sit higher with better visability, and fuel economy The Tucson fit the need very well, only having it for a short time though- so cannot make a determination as to reliabilty--However it sure is very well appointed, and the build quality is nice--terrific feature set for the bargain minded

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  Love my Sonata - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By Seannas Mom - September 13 - 2:00 am

  This is possibly the best car Ill ever own. She has been totally reliable, beautiful and fun to drive. As small as it looks, this car was big enough to accomodate me, my 10 cats in their cages and their supplies for our move from New Jersey to Florida. Illmiss her when I have to trade her in.

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  Excellent!!! - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By kfessler - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Talk about Bang for you Buck!!! This car has it. Bought for $16k before taxes and I dont regret one penny of it! I didnt think it was possible to get this much car for such little money. I put 2400 miles on it within the first month, and it didnt give me one lick of a problem...even in 90° bumper to bumper traffic. I LIKE IT!!

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  great car - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By lila stewart - September 13 - 2:00 am

  SUPER CAR ..CANT BEAT IT FOR THE MONEY!! ITS LIKE DRIVING A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE CAR.

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  best for the dollars - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Duke 16 - September 13 - 12:10 am

  Almost 12 months old,not back to dealer except for oil changes.

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  Great Car! Great Price! - 2013 Hyundai Sonata
  By tuscarorausa - September 12 - 9:06 pm

  Bought a new 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.4L 4-cyl, 6-speed Automatic. Got black exterior with chrome accents. Under $22,000 delivered with HyundaiÂ’s PresidentÂ’s Day incentives (which was about $6,000 off MSRP). Need to drive from around Gettysburg, PA to Virginia twice a week for work. Need a car that is good on the Interstate, stop & go traffic, and curved roads along the Potomac River. The Sonata has more precise steering and more power than my 2007 Camry LE. The 2007Camry has more of a luxury ride. Both average 30 mpg. 2013 Camry doesnt have luxury feel like my 2007. 2013 Altima has quality problems. 2013 Ford Fusion needs 305 hp Mustang V6 and better discounts. Sonata wins!