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:

• 

  just put in gas and go. - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Bob - November 29 - 8:03 pm

  I am 6 ft. tall and have lots of room to be comfortable. Works fine but have not had it long. Moved jack handle off jack and not a rattle or squeak since. If it stays this way cant ask for any better. One very small crab....mileage indicator hard to read in daytime.

• 

  Great Car - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By sean w - November 29 - 12:12 pm

  Is an excellent point A-B and back car. If concerned about reliability and price it is an A+

• 

  A good car for the price - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By CN - November 29 - 10:17 am

  This replaced a Camry that had too much crash customizing. Overall, the car is well designed. With the rear seat down it holds a large amount of cargo considering the size of the car. There is adequate legroom for people over six feet tall. Sunroof tilts up to open as a no-draft. Less noise than opening a window. Still noisy though. Overall noise with all windows and roof closed is acceptable but not non-existent.

• 

  Commuting is fun again - 2007 Hyundai Accent
  By William McMurtry - November 29 - 8:47 am

  I commute fifty miles per day and this car makes it an event to look forward to every day. It has a very smooth shift and makes driving in and out of roundabouts a real kick. The sound system makes it a veritable "jukebox on wheels". The ride is smooth with catlike response in the steering and handling. The intertor design gives the driver easy acess to all of the switches and knobs.

• 

  I cant stop looking at it - 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By reggie - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I had it for exactly a month and a half. It is great! For the money, I couldve gotten a used BMW, G35, 350Z, etc., but I wanted a new car. Although I have the 2.0T model which isnt the fastest, I can still have some fun. The interior is extremely driver friendly in my opinion. Since not too many people are aware of this model, I get so much attention/comments when I get on or off the car.

• 

  Love it! - 2010 Hyundai Sonata
  By mtck95 - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 2008 Mazda Tribute for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata. I wanted something with better gas mileage and a better interior design- I found it! I love my Sonata and do not feel like I lost much interior space going from the small SUV to a sedan. I ended up with a cheaper payment, better gas mileage, and a vehicle that I believe will be more reliable long-term. It handles well and is fun to drive! Im very happy with my purchase.

• 

  santa FE AWD SE 2011 - 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By rp - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Have been reading Edmunds for years. So, time to give back. Just bought 2011 Santa FE AWD SE (first new car for me : ) I am coming from an old Accord 4 cyl. - Exterior looks are great. Interior is alright. Drive is not nimble (this is not BMW), but i expected it to be tighter on suspension (its too bouncy for me). - Acceleration is responsive. - Overall features for given price is nice (bluetooth, v6, awd, auto dim mirrors, heated seats, roof rack + cross rails, steptronic transmission, warranty, fog lights, driver power seats) - I only have driven 80 miles so far. I will write back again in 500 miles. - Mpg - 22 combined

• 

  Still evaluating but not bad - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By bigdog66 - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought a SE with the Nav and Sun roof Package. The XM radio, Bluetooth, interior and exterior stying are Great. I dont like the traffic locater on the XM nav but the Nav screen and turn by turn is great. The venetian red gets a lot of Compliments and the MPG on Highway is great. City is about average but the car Has plenty of Room. 200 hp is ok but the Steering is Hard to get used too. Electronic assist needs improvement. The steering wheel Height is not good for taller or bigger guys. all in all not bad but still evaluating, 1500 miles so far.

• 

  Not Much Wrong with this Car - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By bmac50 - November 28 - 2:20 am

  Less then 1400 miles, one of the first things I did was change the air filter to K&N, seeing 23 MPG in town, on the road I dont know yet but some mixed with mostly town 26. More than enough pick up to get out of the way and starting in 1st. Very roomy, good seats and driving position, wish the seat bottom was a little longer but on any car I do. Easy to read gauges, very strong brakes and great audio system. Of course the best warranty in the business doesnt hurt. Easy to get the steering wheel where you like with both tilt and telescopic. Wasnt really that hot about leather or the moon roof but Im finding I was quite wrong.

• 

  Diamond in the world - 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  By Jimbo - November 27 - 3:30 pm

  Brought this jewel home with 6 miles on the odometer! And can tell you its a true elite white diamond turbo so far!! Have almost 3500 miles on it already in 3 months already 2 road trips ! I to Sedona Arizona and its fast, quick, sporty enough handling, comfortable and does get a few looks!! Yes some nits are the transmission seems slow to respond probably my biggest gripe but its good on gas.the interior plastics on doors scratch easily. And visibility can be a hidden problem!! But hay for the money 24000 with rebates and fully loaded with the panoramic moonroof!!! I can hang with this diamond!!! Till next review enjoy!!! Im sold so far on the veloster turbo!!!