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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  Definitely give Hyundai a look - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By dbsocal - July 1 - 7:30 pm

  I still get insulted by others making fun of my car being Hyundai. But I am quick to inform them that my own experiences and continued positive reviews make Hyundai a formidable competitor in the auto industry. Hyundai is advancing so quickly that the Sonata is already behind in relation to other Hyundais. Even still, this vehicle is similar to Honda and Toyota in every sense and surpasses Nissan and most American builders. I owned a 2002 Altima which was a nightmare. I plan to be one of the first to test drive Hyundais new Genesis sports sedan. If youre looking to save money but still want a quality, stylish, dependable vehicle. At least test drive a Sonata.

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  Exactly what I need. - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By JeffGuidry - July 1 - 2:09 pm

  I use this car as a daily commuter in Houston and for about once monthly trips home to Louisiana. Gas mileage averages 27/28 mpg in combined city/highway driving, and mileage on the highway varies depending on how much speeding up/slowing down I have to do for 18 wheelers and slower traffic. I have gotten as good as 40 mpg on one trip setting the cruise control on 70. The car is remarkably comfortable and quiet for a compact car. The OEM tires have nearly 40,000 miles on them and will soon need replacing (strangely, the rear tires wore down sooner than the front tires, having never been rotated.) I am a very heavy man and the car is quite comfortable, even on my 4 hour road trips.

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  Excellent starter car - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Strawb3rrygash35 - July 1 - 10:17 am

  My parents bought me this car as my first vehicle. A lot more reliable and fun to drive than my sisters Mitsubishi Mirage. This car was bought with only 33,000 miles this past May for only 5,000. Ive had no huge problems. This car is still under warrenty. Good gas milage, never under 30 mpg. Peppy on take off, but doesnt accelerate too great on hills. Tires worn almost out on 35,000 miles. A bit shaky when you hit 65, I think because it needs new tires. The tape player doesnt work and isnt covered under warrenty. Great feature of door handle in the trunk, so if someone is stuck in the trunk, they can open it.

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  hmmmmm, jury is still out. - 2008 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Salem Boicot - July 1 - 9:53 am

  So far, I like the general conservative styling of the vehicle. I have the black interior which gets rid of a lot of the tackiness and cheap feel. Audio is great. Handling is brilliant for a car in its class. A few blind spots, but otherwise vision is good. Space is well used in car, although question to the depth of the dashboard, could be smaller so that the interior is forward with larger boot. Fuel economy and engine performance is rubbish. Thus far have got no where near what the dealer claimed, transmission is horrible, it needs 5 gears with better ratios, and it loves a drink. You watch the fuel gauge more than the road. Dont get this if you want an economical car.

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  Impressed so far. - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By scottybpga - July 1 - 6:43 am

  I have had my Sonata Limited for 2 months now, and it has been perfect so far. Great MPG. 35 hwy, and 27 to and from work. I love the navigation and xm data package. Not one rattle and the ride is getting better as the car breaks in. I currently have 4300 miles on the car.

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  New king of mid-size - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By soulquarian - June 30 - 12:58 pm

  Other than reliability, everything about this car beats my previous ride - the 07 Accord. And the only reason the Accord scores higher in reliability is because Ive only had the Sonata for a week and a half. Time will tell. Prior to purchasing to Sonata GLS, I test drove the 2011 Accord SE and Fusion SEL. How did I go from mid-level trim to base? Well, the base level Sonata offered everything, and at times more, the mid Accord and Fusion came with. The Accord had the smoothest ride but the Sonata had the best all around package. Ey-catching styling, peppy acceleration, overall smooth ride, amazing standard features, and excellent mpg. This has got to be the car of the year.

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  The 2016 is even better... - 2016 Hyundai Azera
  By Woods46 - June 30 - 12:33 pm

  We had a 2014 Azera(base model) and were quite pleased with the car...but there were a few features that were not on that vehicle - mostly safety related - that I would like to have. We found a 2016 Limited with everything that we wanted. The drivers information and NAV systems have been significantly upgraded. Safety features like blind spot, rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control are a real plus. The 2014 is a good car, but we like the updates and the upgrade to the 2016 Limited model...well worth the value to us.

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  Better than the Accord - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By miamitraveler - June 30 - 2:30 am

  Just traded my 2010 Honda Accord ELX for the 2012 Hyundia Sonata GLS. I had considered the 2010 Sonata but I found the interior too cheap looking and then purchased the 2010 Accord. Well what a difference two years make! The 2012 Sonata is a thing of beauty inside and out. The interior is nicer looking than the Camry, Altima, Audi, and BMW. While not as roomy as the Accord particularly for rear passengers, it still offers plenty of leg room. The ride is super smooth and has much better pick up than the Accord. I got all of that in a car that was thousands of dollars less than the 2012 Accord. The Accord is a good car but its looks, interior and exterior, are just plan boring.

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  For the souless. - 2007 Hyundai Tiburon
  By pukklepopper - June 29 - 11:20 pm

  This car is a good runner, as long as you dont want to run fast or in comfort. Never had any mechanical issues with this car, but it feels completely underpowered and lifeless when on the road.

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  My Tucson - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By j altimus - June 29 - 10:00 pm

  Excellent, beautiful leather interior, attractive body style, drives like a car, comfortable as a expensive auto.