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 buy!! Great Car!! - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By New Fan - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Have the Sonata LX for a month and it is truly a wonderful car. the value in this automobile in fantastic. Drives great, looks great and has good performance and features. One of the best "bangs for the buck" that is out there.Actually drives like my Acura 3.2TL yet was $12,000.00 less. My friends still comment on how nice it is from the outside and inside. If it holds up over time, then I have certainly hit a good find.

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  Very Satisfied - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By ThomS - November 24 - 10:00 am

  I told my wife, "You can have a Lexus or a BMW or whatever...you decide." She stated matter of factly, "I want a Hyundai!" Now I know she likes to save money, but this was her present from me! She originally said a Sonata, which in itself is a heck of a nice looking car, but once I caught a glimpse of that brand new gold XG350L, I had to drive it. I have but one word to describe this car... SMOOTH. And whats this malarchy about the "shifting problems" I keep reading about? This tranny does no hunting... my wifes favorite victims to date? RX7s and Hondas

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  What a great SUV - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Michele Manzi - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Not only was this my first new car, but my first SUV. I never road in a SUV with such a smooth ride. You forget its a SUV because the ride feels like a car. My mother had the Jeep Liberty and hated it because of the rough ride. When she drove the Santa Fe, she feel in love. Everything about this SUV is great. The style, performance, gas miles, ride, etc. I would recemmend it to anyone.

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  BEST VEHICLE EVER!!! - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Love my Santa Fe - November 23 - 4:06 pm

  This is our 11th time buying a new vehicle and the first time buying a foreign vehicle. The Santa Fe is our favorite vehicle ever. It is fun to drive and very easy to handle. Even though we live in snowy Minnesota, we opted for the FWD and have had no regrets. The FWD handled beautifully in the snow and ice last winter. This vehicle cannot be beat in terms of quality, safety, warranty, price value, and cost to insure. An added bonus is the great dealership where we purchased it - St. Cloud Hyundai. Well be back there the next time we need to buy a vehicle.

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  Elantra Over Civic? Yes - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jim - November 21 - 5:56 am

  Decided to try the Elantra over Civic based on general good feel of Elantra in test drive and about $3,500 less cost than Civic. Get as good or better millage and the only complaint is that I felt the wiper blades were not right - dealer replaced on drive in to service in about 25 minutes. So far, I love the good feelings of saving $$ and gas and overall performance is A+++++. Great radio also. Highly recommended.

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  VALUE! VALUE! VALUE! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By HAPPY IN CHARLOTTE - November 21 - 2:00 am

  HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT 30000. OTHER THAN THAT CAR IS GREAT! YOU CANT BEAT THE QUALITY FOR THE PRICE. HYUNDAI HAS LEARNED THEIR LESSON FROM THE JUNK THEY USE TO PRODUCE. WE HAVE 3 HYUNDAIS IN THE FAMILY AND THEYRE ALL GREAT...ESPECIALLY THE 2003 V6 TIB.

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  excellant - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Cyrus - November 20 - 6:20 pm

  I had purchased this car exactly a year ago and completed 28000Kms so far and have no problems yet.I used to own a merc before and am totally satisfied with this one and will always recommend to friends.I love to drive and always find reasons to drive.Other than the steering being a bit slippery, everything else cannot get better. The performance on highways, the silent ride and the space inside is great.

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  I would buy it again - 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Houston, TX - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the vehicle new. Three years later I have 91,000 miles. I have had to replace a fuel pump and seven headligh bulbs (problem with the manf of the bulbs - not the car). The dealership has been super and the car has been the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. I get 22 mph in the city and up to 33 on the highway. I was involved in a serious accident shortly after I purchased it, the car I hit was a Honda Accord who ran a light. I "T- boned" their vehicle and it was atotal loss. The Tiburon had to have the bumper assemply replaced - Total cost $880. Yea, I like my shark.

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  XG350L Eval. - 2003 Hyundai XG350
  By coalcracker - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I have about 5,000 miles on the car and I have driven it locally in suburbia/interstate roads and a 1,600 mile trip. It has enough pickup when you need it.On the trip it was very comfortable riding. I enjoyed driving the car in all situations on the road. My wife absolutely loves the car in all respects.I have the car for only 6 months, but from the driving we have both done with the car, it gets good grades from us in most categories. I dont know anything about reliability. I would recommend to put this car on their list for evaluation.I feel that you get a lot of car for your money.

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  GREAT CAR! - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By Sal1f - November 18 - 10:00 am

  The overall features are great. The only option which is not available is a navagation package. This should be offered in the 2005 model. The car offers much for your investment. If you didnt know you were in a Hundai you would think its a much higher end vehicle. (BMW etc)