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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  Not sure it will last - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Debbie - June 21 - 5:38 pm

  Purchased after my Camry was totaled. Comfortable, nice driving. Sun Roof rubber seal is off already, passenger window sounds very strange. Took to dealer, charged me 69.00 and says nothing is wrong. HATE the cruise control, it is awful! Will NOT hold speed up or downhill AT ALL. Has to be on FLAT highway to work mediocre.Got pulled over right after I bought it due to lousy cruise control downhill. My Camry NEVER did this. So though we like the car and drive it at 22000 miles in one year, still have reservations on it lasting. Loaded it up to within an inch of its life and drove a 2800 mile vacation in Utah and Arizona, got 35 MPG.

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  Havent bought it yet....... - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Potential Buyer - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Ive read these reviews, and most are rather good, but I read some horrible ones at msn.com. Has anybody had any problems? Especially with the transmission or engine? Im kind of scared to buy one now.

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  Sorry to see it go... - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By S Bianchi - June 20 - 8:50 pm

  This vehicle has been in our family since the beginning I got it as a gift with 130,000 miles on it. Unbelievably reliable car average in comfort...this is not the car for long road trips (your back WILL hurt!) Suspension was average, but you dont buy this car for style and "fun factor" - its an inexpensive, reliable about town automobile. Timing belt broke like clockwork every 80,000 miles. It was still running strong this week when I sold it for $1,100 and 191,849 miles on it. Gas mileage was exceptional at 28/35. Didnt want to sell but couldnt keep showing up at client meetings with a rusty car. I was so impressed with this car that I replaced it with a 2008 Hyundai Elantra.

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  Life Saver - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By snbeavers - June 18 - 5:43 am

  I knew the safety on these vehicles were good but now I would make safety my first choice in buying a new Sonata. I havent even owned it a month and I will be buying another. My wife and I was just t-boned by a Durango going approximatly 40 mph, and yet here I am the next day leaving a review on edmunds. The durango driver blasted me on my side and totaled the car. I had to be cut out of the car. Thanks to the curtain side and seat airbags, I have only a few bruises and a craked rib. If you could see this car, you would know that its an unbelievable blessing from God and Hyundai that my wife and I are alive not to mention walking around normally with only bruises and a cracked rib.

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  A Pretty Good Experience - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By grapemanca - June 17 - 11:40 pm

  Weve had our 05 Elantra for 4 years, and weve been pretty pleased. After testing many other cars in its class, we were happy to purchase the Elantra. It has a quieter and smoother ride than the 05 Corolla, and more power than a 05 Civic. Its nice and wide inside, with good head room. After 4 years its still solid and tight.

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  Doing great so far! - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By frostie_troll - June 16 - 4:55 pm

  I bought this car to replace my aging 98 Saturn just under a year ago, and it has been a great car so far. I was looking for basic transportation with a couple of extras, and thats exactly what I got. With the Accent, I get good gas mileage, reliability, freezing cold A/C even on the hottest Texas days, good looking body style (girls tell me its "cute"), solid feel, excellent warranty, crazy tight turning radius, XM radio (LOVE the XM!), ample room for my 58" self and all my camera equipment, and I can almost pick it up and put it in my pocket after I reach my destination. My only complaint right now is the poor visibility in the hatchback when checking lanes before a lane change.

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  My 2 cents - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By for_now - June 16 - 10:00 am

  Theres not much more I can say that hasnt already been said. The Santa Fe is very nice. Its only bad points are that it is under powered and that gas milage is bad. Im sure anyone that buys one will be happy with it.

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  Its the little things..... - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By Lars - June 15 - 10:08 am

  Awesome car when it comes to horsepower, handling, and comfort. Sketchy when it comes to overall integrity of the car. Little rattles everywhere! One major metal to metal noise under the car that I can hear through the console that is driving me nuts and my dealer cant seem to hear it! Checked a TSB and found that mine had a "fix" for such a noise but it didnt help it at all. My dealer seems lost and now wont agree that there is a noise! Taking it to another and it gets fixed or it goes.

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  Great City Car - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Millertime - June 15 - 1:54 am

  This is by far the best city car- for the money - I have ever owned. I still get 28 MPG combined even with 69k on it. There is plenty of power to hold your own on the freeway, or get around that annoying person with his turn signal on for miles. Turn on the AC and its a different story. The power flat lines, and the gas mileage heads to the basement. The interior is roomy - better than my wifes 08 Civic -but pretty plain (O CD player in GLS). And you cannot seem to ever find a balance between having the steering wheel at a comfortable hight, and still see all of the instrument cluster. The trunk is huge, and will hold several full sized suit cases. All in all its a great car.

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  I am satified with my investment - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By TucsonFan - June 12 - 12:56 pm

  I have driven my Tucson for about 1300 mils now and I am fully satisfied. Fuel economy is a bit low in city but itÂ’s a V6 so I am ok. Every thing is standard so what I feel that its value for money. No need to pay around two or three grands extra for Honda or Toyota.