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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  Worst driving Position for Six-footers - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Tony Merante - October 28 - 1:40 am

  Guides show driving position leg room of 41.5 inches but it is nowhere near that. Actually found that it is 39 inches - 2 1/2 less than the smaller Santa Fe and Tucson. Painful driving position for anyone six foot or more. Driving seat back intrudes into drivers back and constantly feels like a rod across the back. After less than two months, am looking to dump it for something more comfortable. Ride is very rough over road joints or any potholes, minor or otherwise. Feels like a rattletrap over normal roads. Otherwise, a great SUV.

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  in love this car - 2016 Hyundai Genesis
  By sd - October 27 - 9:17 pm

  This is the best car Ive ever owned.

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  my favorite car - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By JennyB - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I did a lot a research before I bought this car. I had been pretty well decided. Then I test drove it, bought it the same day and have never regretted it. Most of the problems Ive had have been very minor and taken care of to my satisfaction by the dealer. The only bigger problem, and I use that term with hesitation, is something called a TCM. I dont drive much and according t the service people that causes the TCM to "learn" to shift sluggishly. Ive taken it in and had it reset a couple of times. It works fine after that for a while. It does not affect my driving experience in a huge way.

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  New owner - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ed_r_11954 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  HAve owned Hyundais since 1990; the Santa FE is by far the best model. Hoping the Santa Fe out performs the other two we have owned (Gonna take some doing as we drove the Sontata all over Europe for three years with no problems). Milage is running in the 21/22 MPG range for city driving.

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  I love it! - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Nutaskeet - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I love how it handles, Love the sound system, and all the room. I love the auto air and the feel of driving it. And all at a lot less than most other comparable SUVs. And it is good to have the Roadside Assistance.

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  Nice litlle car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Andy Justin - October 25 - 10:17 pm

  Nice little city car. Very good interior space for its class. A powerful engine under its hood for its class. Good mileage in city and highway. Overall its a good reliable car.

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  Excellent SUV - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Gopi - October 25 - 10:06 pm

  Excellent SUV. We went on road trip a week after,we bought this car and we had a nice & pleasant drive, we ever had with any other car/SUV.

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  Best Purchase of my Life - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By sp0502 - October 25 - 6:15 pm

  I bought this car when I got my first job out of college. Being a hotshot, I wanted to buy a car that I couldnt afford. Came to my better senses and purchased this car. Thank God I did! With the leather, interior space, exterior design, air bags, moonroof, etc... I was given every luxury I wanted (w/ the exception of a Navigation option and ironically, no cassette). The gas mileage is decent too. The only problems I had were replacing the lights (head, tail, and fog CONSTANTLY... mustve replaced 8x between them all and it hasnt been 4 years). Rear spoiler was coming off but warranty covered it. Service department is terrible but thats not the cars fault.

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  Nice car way to many problems - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By bk79 - October 25 - 4:59 pm

  My first car. Wish it had more power and zip. Live the way it handles. Love the way it looks. When it is actually working I love the car but at 100k miles it all went down hill had to replace power steering pump, fuel injectors both front axles and both front abs speed sensors, rest carrier bearing, the transfer case and the transmission. Between the fuel injectors and the transfer case and transmission all going out with in the last year and a half it was a between $6,000 and $7,000 and the ac broke twice. Would not but another one or recommend the first generation Santa Fe to anyone who doesnt have deep pockets to keep it on the road. All that being said I am sad that I have to get rid of

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  One of the Worst - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By andrea - October 24 - 3:43 pm

  This car is loud and had tons of work on it. WHile it was under warrenty, it had many parts replaced. THen 2000 miles after warrenty was expired, the trans had to be replaced. It is loud, rattly, and it drives like it is ten years old. It has been driving this way for the last 50,000. Gave this to my sister and bought a honda, much happier.