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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  10 - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Moira - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I love this vehicle. I was in an accident and although the vehicle was totaled I walked away unharmed. It is a smooth, fun drive and I am now buying another Elantra.

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  Read My Lips...NO NEW VOLKSWAGENS - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Peter R. LeVan - June 1 - 10:00 am

  My silver 2002 Elantra is an all-around winner. The 5-speed is a blast, beautiful fit-and-finish, great ergonomics...seems custom built for me. Inexpensive AND turns heads at the same time. Best of all...gas mileage. With apologies to Edmunds and Consumer Reports, I am consistently getting 38 to 42 mpg with the A/C turned OFF while driving 80 all day. This is one beautiful car, no matter the price.

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  Reliable - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By LuvMy Hyundai - June 1 - 2:08 am

  I am in real estate and needed safety and style. The leather seats, traction control, side impact are bags, under seat air ducts and anti lock breaks werent afordable elsewhere.

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  Love my car!! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kristine - May 31 - 7:56 pm

  fun to drive, has get up and go for such a little car, has awsome turn radius. Had a recall,was notified promptly, and was takencare of quickly. it was the brake line.the leather seats are so comfortable, and easy to take care of, the leg room lacks a little for long legged gals for long trips, but not bad on the whole.

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  Genesis Coupe 2.0T - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By Ed - May 31 - 4:10 pm

  Just picked up at the dealer yesterday, traded in a 2009 Sonata, the Sonata is a well made luxery family sedan but when my new Genesis Coupe turned the corner I said to my wife this is a Hyundai? From first glimpse you can tell this car is special. Turn the key and the motor purrs like a big cat. It handles like a dream and stops on a dime. This car is for anyone who ever wanted a nice sports car without the big ticket price. Hyundai has scored a winner here!

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  2006 Elantra review - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Eric - May 30 - 5:10 pm

  Very sound car. Good fuel mileage. For the money, better than Honda/Nissan or Toyota. Would recommend this car for anyone looking.

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  Good Car for the money - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Russ - May 29 - 8:22 am

  I traded in a toyota pick up for this car in an effort to save gas on my long 45 mile one way trip to work. i was very impressed with the gas mileage which is about 10mpg better than what i was getting in the truck. not exactly a luxurious car but gets you from point a to b. roomier than i thought at first glance. fits 2 adults and 2 kids comfortably. great trunk space. for only a small 4 cylinder, car has good get up and go power. i prefer driving this around town over our smooth riding mini-van.

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  Hyundai Sonata - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Don Ast - May 29 - 3:07 am

  I travel about 4,000 mi a month in the NW, a lot of back roads to farms and ranches. The car handles very well, excelent fuel milage (30 MPG) I can drive 600 Mi in a day and not be overly tired, extreamly confortable. My car has the 2.4 L 4 Cly engine in it and i am pleased with the power. I plan to buy another hyundai when i need another car.

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  Great little runabout - 2012 Hyundai Accent
  By john carrozza - May 29 - 1:33 am

  Great little car for the money, awesome for around town.

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  Great car, bad manufacturer - 2006 Hyundai Accent
  By car_em - May 29 - 12:09 am

  Even though I am aware that I should not be talking about the purchase process, I feel I must point out that I originally ordered a specific package and color (premium/d. sapphire blue) and the dealerships kept leading me on about how I was to get it within a week, until a month later it came, in which they had to order it, ranging in more of a wider area. Very aggravating and annoying (that the manufacturer chose to charge 800 extra for a/c and did not make enough cars with the premium packages available in the area. Anyway...it has been a great little car, love the exterior, interior and almost everything in it. A little road/wind noise, not many cons.