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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  Lots of Trouble - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Cloudy625 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but trouble with my Santa Fe. Since the day I bought this vehicle, it has been in the shop approx. 15 times. Its constantly a sensor, other problems. It has even slung a rod already and had to have the engine replaced. This is not an exaggeration. ANd the dealership that I have to deal with on service is just terrible. They hate me and I hate them. lol

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  Hard Shifting among other things - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By caz - June 9 - 1:46 am

  I purchased a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe in February of 2010. Since day one I have experienced fast idle upon starting (1500 rpm), hard shifting, A/C that wont work when idling and then no A/C at all and a "thumping" in the cabin of the vehicle (right about center console location). After repeated trips to the service dept. the fast idle still exists, the hard shifting still exists, and the A/C has been fixed. I was horrified when the service dept. told me that the transmission may have to be replaced but they would have to get the car to "relearn" something or other (what??). Im going back to the dealership and I want a new transmission or a new car - simple as that. Totally unhappy.

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  Not worth it - 1995 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jasmine - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because I had no choice - it was the only one available that I could afford. It has given me nothing but problems - the brakes went out (twice), it rattles terribly, it stalls when the a/c is on (and sometimes when its not), and the interior fogs up when the heat is on. However, it does get good gas mileage and it is comfortable. But I will not buy another Hyundai.

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  2 car repairs and only 5 month old - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By mv_mary - May 27 - 9:10 am

  My confidence in this vehicle has just been shot down again...and maybe for good. Ive had it in the shop the first month because of a malfunction in the emissions valve. Then today, only 5 months after I got it, the engineer shut down while driving on the freeway. The car wouldnt start back up. Im thinking twice that I should have gone with a new Lexus instead.

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  Never Again - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Monties - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Rides smooth WHEN it runs right. Numerous stalling, skipping and bucking problems and frequent shop visits. 83,000 miles, 4 transmissions and 2 master computers later, I got rid of this car.

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  cheap built suv - 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By robert caouette - May 14 - 5:20 pm

  does not hold there value at all

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  Very Disappointed - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By tster - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car because liked the styling, mileage, cost and warranty. However, I am extremely disappointed in the car. I have been dealing with a obnoxious rattle near the glove box since I got my vehicle 3 months ago. Sometimes it is loud and continuous for hours and sometimes it only rattles on bumps, and sometimes I can drive it for 30 minutes without any sounds. I have had it to two service departments 5 times for a total of 7 days. The glove box has been replaced, padding has been added to the glove box and the molding surrounding the glove box has been checked and removed. Two times the service department had the vehicle a whole day and they did nothing. Dont buy a Hyundai!

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  Nice to look at, but oh my.... - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Carol - May 10 - 12:40 pm

  Bought new in Aug 2001 and 2 weeks later, leaking evaporator killed A/C during the heat of S. FL summer. At 100K miles, have replaced more major parts than I can recall, including 2 failed alternators, a starter, rear hatch lock, window motor, oxygen sensor (nearly killed me on the highway approach), a fuel output sensor, something major in the steering, 2 front wheel boots; have computer failure that causes radio to repeatedly whine while rapidly switching back & forth from CD player to radio; turn it off and it turns itself back on! Doors unlock themselves. Awful awful mileage (16/20 & I drive moderately). Spent so much in repairs since 2001, I couldnt afford new car. A SUPER LEMON!

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  A great runner but maintinance Mucho $ - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By karloffb - May 5 - 2:00 am

  I loved the look of this car, the warranty and after reading the reviews on this site, how could I loose? After talking to the service personel at my dealership Ithink this car it will be TOO expensive to own.The list as follows: 1. Catalytic converter installed ($800! 2. Timing Belt (required after the first 60K) $400! and at first we were told several months ago $300 + 3. The infamous "o2 sensor" this is a known problem to every website on the internet except for edmunds.com $200 4. Change 4 spark plugs $99 (oh yes they also check a couple of things to, but if anything needs to be replaced extra$$$ 5. Transmission maintainence $169 6. Coolaint flushes $100 +

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  Good car - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rick C - April 30 - 3:07 pm

  Good reliable car at a moderate price. No major issues encountered during the three year leasing period.