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 Ride - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Sensei Thom - September 17 - 11:06 am

  I didnt want the Santa-Fe at first, I was looking for a reasonable suv and I wasnt sold on the Santa-Fe. Then, I drove one and I was sold! I suggest the 6 cylinder model and a sunroof. I love the ride, the cd changer and Monsoon sound system. The Sanfa-Fe has everything except the price. People that have ridden to work with me are now interested. One, who owns a Lexus SUV likes my Santa-Fe LX as much as his Lexus. As a matter of fact, When my friends lease is up, he is trading for an LX too. He said he was tired of paying so much for the Lexus in lease and gas when the Hyundai LX I have does better for less! I agree ... for me ... this one is a "Keeper!"

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  Am I Dreaming - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Loupach - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Sonata for a week. Im still looking for something not to like. Performance, handling, an styling are beyond description. The options (bluetooth, XM, power driver seat) just make it too good to be true. Then theres the Hyundai warranty; my dealership also threw in free car washes (twice per wk). I had been looking at the Sonata for years. With this years new styling and revamped engine it was easy to make the move.

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  Lot of car for a little money! - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Bluto - September 17 - 2:00 am

  We have already put on over 60K miles with no problems. This is our daily driver and we love, we will buy another Hyundai product.

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  My white 2003 FWD LX - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jayson - September 17 - 12:40 am

  I thought that after living with a car for 5 years since being purchased brand new it would be a good assessment of how it would perform day in and day out. In one word "excellent". The only things Ive done besides normal maintenance were to change the battery & the license plate lights! Even the BF Goodrich tires managed to hold up with tread left at 77,000 but I figure it was time to replace them with another set. I managed about 25mpg overall but admit not to being a fast driver. The only wear and tear was the paint for some reason coming off of all the 5 doorhandles. I would guess the paint is on the thin side. Would I do it all over again? Without a doubt, I love this car!

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  2001 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 gold package - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By JTMix - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the gold trim package, V6 Sonata GLS.I have been very pleased with this vehicle since the purchase date and I have never recieved so many complements from my co-workers and friends about a vehicle. Its just like the 2003 model except for the different grill. I dont know why the 2003 model supposedly gets 1 less mile to the gallon. Maybe because of its automatic climate control feature. Look out Toyota, theres another quality import in town now.

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  I LOVE My Tucson! - 2011 Hyundai TUCSON
  By tswank24 - September 15 - 11:12 am

  I just bought my 2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS two days ago. I went to the dealer, not really looking to buy, just to test drive. I looked at the Tucson and the Sante Fe. Utimately, the final selling point on the Tucson was the EPA ratings. I traded my 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee (which I really loved, but it got terrible gas mileage at 17.4 mpg combined) for the Tucson. The dealer was wonderful, and gave me top dollar for my Jeep. I walked away with a fully-loaded Tucson, and my monthly payment only went up by $15. So far, I have put about 150 miles on the Tucson, and it says I am getting 25.6 mpg combined. I am so happy considering gas mileage was my deciding factor.

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  Lots of bang for my buck - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By luvin it - September 15 - 2:00 am

  My hubby drives the Tiburon so I figured I give the Sonata a try. All I can say is, "wow." The body and the style makes the car look more expensive than it really is! I feel like Im in a true luxury car. People cant believe its a Hyundai.

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  My favorite car so far - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By suvdave - September 14 - 3:50 pm

  I have been watching the 2007 Santa Fe much of this year and have been impressed with the reviews, with Hyudais company performance, and with the assembly plant in Alabama. After seeing one live and driving it, I was sold. My criteria for a vehicle was safety, comfort and quiet, looks, and lastly fun to drive (in that order). The Santa Fe satisfies all of these quite nicely. Our other vehicle is a Lexus RX350, and the SF holds its own against it. The ride is smooth and it is extrememly quiet. Power is more than adequate for my needs. The fit and finish are great. The third row seats are much roomier and more comfortable that I had envisioned. They are super easy to get in and out of too.

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  nice! - 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By happy - September 14 - 6:40 am

  we just purchased this sante fe used with 4500m. on it. So far it is a great ride. Hopefully all the warranties transferred because we were very inpressed with the warrantties.

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  Exactly what I wanted/expected - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By vmotion - September 13 - 8:45 pm

  I wanted looks, and MPGs. Thats what I exactly what I got. You want power, then get the turbo. If I want fast, Ill take the 66 Mustang for a spin. This car looks hot, handles great, and is everything I expected. Powered by a 1.6, I didnt expect a pace car. My previous car was a non-turbo Mini Cooper, and I find this one to be just as much fun.