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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  A CONSUMERS BEST BUY - 2001 Hyundai XG300
  By BIGTACO - July 24 - 10:00 am

  WE SPENT A MONTH LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR LOOKED AT GM HONDA TOYOTA NISSAN AND OTHERS WHAT A WASTE OF TIME WISH WE HAD WENT TO HYUNDAI FIRST PRICE $12000 TO 16000 LESS THAN THE OTHERS MORE FEATURES LONGER WARRENTY A LOOK OF CLASS WE HAVE 12000 MILES ONLY ONE MINOR PROBLEM A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT PLENTY OF ROOM GREAT SOUNDS RIDE AS GOOD AS THE MAKES I LISTED ABOVE WE DID TEST DRIVE ALL THE ABOVE SAFTY FEATURES ARE BETTER THAN MOST WHEN TOYOTA AND HONDA FIRST CAME TO THE USA THEY WERE JUNK THEN THEY TURNED AROUND WELL HYUNDAI DID NOT TAKE AS LONG THEY HAVE A GERAT LINE UP OF CARS AND THEIR SANTA FE IS MY NEXT PURCHASE YOU CANT GO WRONG BUYING ONE

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  nice car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By guppiechic - July 24 - 10:00 am

  Great car for the money. Expensive looking fit and finish. It has been mistaken for a Saab and a Lexus! I have driven 17000+ miles in the past 9 months without any problems. It does have a few interior rattles, but I live in an area with terrible ruts and pot holes everywhere. All in all, I am very satisfied with my purchase.

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  I Love MY Tuscon - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Love my TUCSON - July 24 - 3:40 am

  The overall looks, price, and warranty on the SUV makes it very affordable. I researched others and this was the best for the money I cant say thet I have ever enjoyed any other car or SUV better. I enjoy driving it.

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  Awesome - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Happy Baker - July 23 - 11:00 pm

  Have the for about a week now, put on about 800 miles. average 29 mix miles per gallon. Handles well and one the best interior I ever saw in a car.

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  Never thought I would own one - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By dride9 - July 23 - 5:16 am

  All I can say is this thing is freakin awesome. I have been looking for 10 months and have test drove everything under the sun. Car handle better than the Maxima and Altima I drove. Looks better than the Camry I looked at. Out performed the Accord. Blew the doors of of Sebring and was better built that the Fusion or Milan. All I can say is the Sonata is awesome and Hyundai has come a long way.

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  Best Crossover SUV built, period. - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By thomas - July 22 - 3:23 pm

  Before buying the Santa Fe we test drove the honda CRV, Toyota Rav 4, Saturn Vue, among many others. This car was far superior in EVERY category. Just listening to the doors closing, ring a sound of quality. Very happy with mileage, which is 21 in mixed city driving and 24 on the highway. Vehicle handles very well, road and engine noise are almost non-existent. It is very fast, shifts and brakes flawlessly and is extremely comfortable. We have had absolutely no problems since purchased last year and 20,000 miles ago. This is my wifes car, but I use it every chance I get as it is a much more fun to drive than my gas guzzling F150!

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  The Quiet Blue Storm - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By racchi - July 22 - 3:20 pm

  I formerly owned a 2013 Sonata dubbed Blue Storm. After 55,000 miles of hard commuting and three bad drivers hitting her, she was still a rock solid car although cursed with attracting bad drivers. Hyundai was offering aggressive incentives so I decided to test drive a 2015. But after using Edmunds price quote service and running some numbers, I took a 2015 Sonata home. And the improvements are very noticeable. Particularly with the interior, ride, and noise levels. Overall it drives more confidently and feels more solid than my 2013. A 2.4 Sport with premium package or 2.4 Limited with few options is the best model to get to match this cars persona, 2.0T not worth the extra money.

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  Great Buy - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By deca75 - July 22 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle handles well quite and very fun to drive.

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  THIS IS A HYUNDAI? - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By Paul - July 21 - 4:03 pm

  I have had multiple BMWs, a 300E and 3 Acura TLs and a 2006 Acura RL. This car hands down is better in almost every category than anything I have driven. They built a first ever rear wheel drive car that is quiet, has an incredible sound system and everything you would expect in a $60,000 car except that it cost 40. I realize that this is a first year model but as of now,Hyundai hit it out of the park

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  Luxury - 2013 Hyundai Genesis
  By Kathleen Pritchard - July 20 - 2:25 pm

  Love it