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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  Overall a good small/midsize SUV - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kwacha - January 8 - 8:35 pm

  Its really my wifes SUV although Ive driven it more than she has on three trips. The first trip was 1200 miles and the second was over 1400 miles with a shorter trip of 800. The Santa Fe Sport is very tight and its snow white appearance/color makes it very attractive with it’s the beautiful 17 in. mag style wheels. Also, it’s really not that small and the exterior and interior are both well designed. The Nav is great except for the stupid step of having to agree to safety rules every single time you get in the vehicle. Like that is going to make you drive more safely or something. Also the Radio/Stereo is also very good. Interior coverings and amenities are of high quality.

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  Classy inexpensive quality car - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Don Vogel - January 8 - 6:00 pm

  Ive driven the car for about a month and a half now and am very happy with its performance. The cloth bucket seats are roomy and comfortable. I normally do a lot of short stop and go driving back and forth to work and Im averaging around 23 mpg. Ive got nothing but good things to say so far, so Ill leave it at that.

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  Great Car for the price - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By lexigirl - January 8 - 9:56 am

  Have only had a little over a week. Love the way it drives and looks. Paid $14,990 with sunroof package. Only complaint is the alarm system goes off for no reason quite often. Brought to dealership & was told its fixed, but when we arrived to pick up the car, alarm was going off in parking lot. Made another appt to bring back. Had to have the brakes looked at as it was vibrating when braking. This they easily fixed by shaving the rust that had built up sitting on lot. Brakes are fine now. Warranty is outstanding! Looking to sell my SUV & get another one.

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  Best kept Secret - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jim - January 7 - 4:01 pm

  This midsize sedan is highly underrated due to the earlier history of Hyundai automobiles. Ive owned 2 Chevrolets, 2 Plymouths, 1 Rambler, 1 Dodge, 1 Mustang, 2 Pontiacs, 3 Buicks, 1 VW, and 3 Oldsmobiles. My company cars have included 4 Chevrolets, 2 Fords, and an Oldsmobile. My Hyundai Sonata LX V6 is as good or better than any of the new cars mentioned above, and at a fraction of the price. Sonata has been a well kept secret, but the cat is out of the bag. Like the ad says, "Drive it and youll buy it!"

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  1 week rental left us very impressed - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By mouse n lkwd nj - January 7 - 2:00 am

  while on vacation we rented a elantra and were pleasantly suprised by its all round performance. we put over 1100 miles on it with 4 adults and it made a great impression on all of us. we all found it comfortable to drive and the rear seat is very roomy, it had multiple seat adjustments, a/c, power windows etc. it drove very smooth and was more refined then cars costing thousands more. we averaged about 28mpg with mixed city/hwy driving w/4 aboard

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  Great value, great styling - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By DoctorPhil - January 5 - 9:36 pm

  Very nice car with a lot of standard features. Huge trunk for golf clubs. I especially like the center console and how it doesnt restrict my right knee as I am 6-2". This car is well crafted although there are some annoyances. Even with Mercedes, you dont approach perfection until you cross the 50K mark. Strong engine. Lack of little issues like mysterious rattles and squeaks, etc. Also, there are not 10 of them next to you at the stop light!

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  great car! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By VP - January 5 - 2:22 pm

  This is an excellent car for all around driving... does well on the highway and great in urban traffic situations. I originally was leaning towards getting a Civic but now love the Hyundai and urge all my friends to get one too. And getting an average of 29 miles per gallon is nice too, considering the price of gas lately.

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  Love My Tib! - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Joan - January 5 - 1:53 pm

  Bought my Tib new in early 04 to get a good deal on the 03s they were trying to unload. Researched the car for a couple of years before buying. Tib has been excellent! Definitely a head-turner. People always think its a fancier car & cant believe it when I tell them its a Hyundai. Forever have Porches, BMWs, etc. revving next to me - ha! My Tib is a blast to drive. Minor problems (passenger window stuck) covered under warranty & the dealer was great.

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  Great value and superior vehicle - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By Mike H from SI NY - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my wifes 2005 Toyota Sienna which had been brought back to the local dealer 5 times for a sulfar odor.After the last time I got it back with the same issue I decided enough was enough and traded it in for the Entourage.What a great minivan it gets 19 mpg compared to the Toyotas 13 I was getting along with heated leather seats 17" aloy rime 4 wheel disc brakes traction control vsc fully power operated doors and trunk tri zone heat electroluminesent dash fog lights auto headlights and not to mention front side and curtain airbags.If you add all these features up on a similar Toyota or Honda be prepared to spend $40,000,What a great car I highly recomend to serious buyers.I am happy

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  Dennis Toy - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Dennis B. - January 5 - 7:16 am

  I never thought I would own a foreign car. But gas prices drove me from a luxury van to a more practical sedan. I chose the Sonata over all the other foreign brands. And I couldnt be happier. It runs good with a surplus of pep. The interior fits me. I cant remember taking so much plastic off of a new car! Kudos to Hyundai!