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 Car for the price - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By nuclearian - July 20 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle since October of last year. I get "double takes" because they either think it is a Jaguar or Mercedes, initially. I have a problem with the blower fan that draws on the engine, and makes a vibrating noise when put on 3rd setting (speed). Other than that, this car is awesome!

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  I Love this car! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Puddles027 - July 19 - 10:20 pm

  I puchased my Sonata after hating my Saturn Vue. I made sure I drove every car on the market-Altimas, Galants, Malibus, Impalas etc. I always came back to the Sonata for the interior space and the look of the car. I like how it took turns and it was very comfy.

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  WORST CAR - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By nicolemarija - July 19 - 7:04 am

  i bought this car full out from a girl at 106,000 i didntt pay much for it and its such a gorgeous cars, the girl took care of her and only took her out in summer, she said that hyundais have alot of problems and shes had to replace so much stuff and sold it to me for cheap, 4 months later shit started happening, brakes gave out.. i dont ever use my brakes inless i have to I gear down with my standard, then everything seem fined then my brakes nnow are giving out AGAIN, and sos my clutch, my car burns oil like CRAZY but when i bring it in they say theres no leak. then today I got home from work pulled my ebreak and then all of a sudden my check engine light camee on & wont go away, worst car

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  Only buy one if you have a large dealer that has serviced a hybrid - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  By bagman17 - July 18 - 8:07 am

  These cars are so new and different from anything out there I would only buy if my local Dealer sold Premium versions,which means they are a large volume dealer and their service department has seen a hybrid before,because if they havent seen one you will probably know more about than he/she does. I took mine,a Blue Premium to the dealer because we are only getting 27.2 to 33.6 mpg,and yes we are hypermiling.Just because yours is getting 40+ mpg,doesnt mean we just fell off the turnip wagon,feel blessed.And Im talking mpg @ the pump,not what the computer is telling me,color me skeptical.It was also starting up not in EV,but firing the engine,wouldnt go over 20mph in EV,crawling

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  Thought itd get great fuel economy - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ryoung11 - July 18 - 7:21 am

  Dont believe even the revised fuel economy numbers that Hyundai says the 2013 Santa Fe can get. I bought my Santa Fe assuming I would get very near the (at the time) advertised 33MPG highway, god I was wrong. I have owned the vehicle for 1 month today, it is currently in the shop to find out why my mileage is soo terrible (21 MPG) mixed use. Mind you I drive the car very economically to get better mileage. NOW Hyundai says OOPS we goofed, we lied about the numbers, turns out your car is a gas guzzler, here is a $65 visa gift card for your trouble. HA! $65, thanks but no thanks! Also, the dealer checked under the when I got there the car was almost out of coolant after 1100 miles.

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  Class of Its Own - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By LBOCEAN - July 18 - 5:16 am

  After a year of searching... Needing something larger for my business, switching from a 4dr Corolla to an SUV, my searches for something with equal or better quality for a price that wasnt going to bust my bank account, the Tucson gives me everything the others do, at close to half the price. A Highlander equally equiped had a sticker shock of 34K (not kidding either), was quickly xd off the my list once I got into the Tucson. The interior has that roooomy but cozy feeling. Its solid and drives great. My neighbor is envy.

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  skeptical customer.. - 2013 Hyundai TUCSON
  By ozone88 - July 17 - 4:02 am

  As the professional reviews stated, the limited version engine may not be as smooth a ride.. or sound as quiet as its competition. Yet, Im in love with my car. U cant best this price.. and they hold their value.. the look is stunning, the options are fabulous. People tell me it looks like Im driving a Lexus.. and I definitely feel like I am! (minus the road noise, I blame it on the 18 inch tires) I have a 2001 Hyundai sonata with almost 200000 miles, I wanted to try something different and the last brand I looked at was a Hyundai, and look what I ended up with! Almost bought a subaru.. so glad I didnt! I Will update in 3 years!

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  False Mileage Estimates - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By MsB - July 17 - 12:16 am

  This is a fun, fun car to drive, but no matter how conservative I am, if I am driving on the highway at or just below the speed limit, this vehicle has not averaged more than 20.8 mpg. This is extremely disapointing. It was one of the reasons I went with this model. The Tucson was rated at 20 city and 26 hwy - I really thought I could average at least 22 mpg - it makes me wonder what else was misrepresented...

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  Driving really is believing! - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By SRI - July 16 - 7:33 pm

  A great car. Hyundai has hit a homerun with this car, no question. Forget the over priced, frequent visits to the dealer for squeaks, rattles, wind noise and misc. other problems we had with our Volvo S80. This car is much quieter and rides equally as good as the S80 for $10+K less. With the introduction of this car, I am certain there will be more Hyundais on the road. The car inspires confidence in the overall appearance, both exterior and interior and the warranty backs that confidence up.

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  My New 2006 Tucson - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Mary Garner - July 16 - 9:53 am

  Just bought a new 2006 Tucscon, Alpine Frost. Love it! Other drivers stare at my cute new car. Drove my baby grandson, daughter & son-in-law up to visit my elder daughter & family in the Tri-Cities area two days after I bought it. The Tucson drove great! I am very impressed with its stability around curves and the way it holds the road. Very comfortable drive. I havent had a brand-new vehicle since I bought a new 4-dr Datsun in 1965.. This little Hyundai is so sturdy and so well made, I know Im going to love it the more I drive it. Im retiring this December and look forward to traveling between grand-kids... even in the winter! I just dont think you can go wrong with this car.