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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  long term hyundai vera-cruz limited 2007 - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By bernard edwards - August 14 - 4:43 am

  Hello every one, just wanted to share my fellow Hyundai Veracruz 2007. I now have 10,000 miles on my car and it continues to impress after one and a half years of ownership. My Veracruz is black diamond and saddle interior, and it still is drop dead beautiful, and as I approach the car I just thank god that I have such a beautiful car and drove it to my college at Florida state and got 26 miles per gallon with the air on driving 65 mph, so continue to be very impressed with the Veracruz and I highly recommended to Hyundai that they at least offer the v8 engine, and offer the full 375 hp engine and not de-tune it like its brother the new borrego with only 337 hp, or offer the 290 hp 3.8 engine

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  hmm - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By tiburon - August 13 - 3:50 pm

  I drive my tiburon REALLY HARD. and for the last 8 months its been taking it great. ive gone thought 2 sets of tires and tones of gas but i love the car. the V6 dose sound a little under powered when you hear 175 hp but it can do a hell of alot with that 175 deff a great car looks geat and very easy to tune up. stage 2 assains supercharger with ice box and exshust plus a few other things can push you up in the 500 hp area.

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  The commercial was right! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jon L. - August 13 - 8:23 am

  The commercial says this is a Hyundai like youve never seen before and let me tell you, that aint no joke. Ive driven Accords, Camrys and, Altimas too. This car handles like a dream and is as smooth as butter. An all new, all aluminum 235hp V6, traction control, stability control, 4 wheel disks with ABS at all 4 wheels. Are you sure this is a Hyundai? If you buy an Accord, Camry, or Altima and you dont drive this car, You will be missing out. A V6 with duel exhaust! I love it! It truly is a Hyundai like youve never seen before.

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  Fantastic - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Cathrine Smith - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This car handles great in the snow, as I live in the east and we have had qquite a few snow storms. The inside in very quite and the car runs like a dream. I get 270 miles to a full tank of gas but that is both Highway and city driving. Teh car comes with electronic wondows and door locks as well as keyless entry.

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  hyundai sonata - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By udd - August 12 - 2:00 am

  it is a great car it looks like it is more expesive than it is. it drives very smooth.

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  You should BUY THIS CAR!!! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Robert - August 10 - 6:23 am

  Only 1000 miles but I am very pleased. Camry/Accord didnt have enough room for my long legs; Sonata does. Plenty of room for my family of five and I find the front seats to be quite comfortable. Stable and secure ride, sure brakes, fantastic acceleration and very acceptable milage for a V6 as long as you dont try to red line the tach each time you take off; 32 hwy and about 20 city. I think the refinements and quality of the car may not quite match those of Accord and Camry and only time will tell how well it holds up, but the price makes this car an excellent value. Hyundai has come a long way in the past ten years. Ill post again after a few more thousand miles.

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  Superb! - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By Rdaniels - August 10 - 2:53 am

  Having owned Hondas and Toyotas, we did alot of research prior to buying. Hyundai did not let us down - quality is excellent and you wont find a better buy out there.

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  holy moly! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By viotto5872 - August 9 - 12:13 am

  I am a "Ford for life kind of guy." I did some research and found a vehicle by the name of "Hyundai" I remember growing up, thinking "Hyundai was a piece of crap." But, I just bought a 2012 Sonata Limited for my wife. Now i think, "Holy Crap." What a vehicle! If you think Honda and Toyota are the best in the west, well you got to test drive this thing. I was so Impressed!

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  Value for Money - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By es - August 8 - 5:33 am

  This car is unbelievably smooth with raw power and exquisite handling not to mention the awesome design and looks. I could not have asked for more for the value that I got compared to the base model of other car makers, this car is without a doubt more than a base model. It has leather seats, fog lamps, power remote trunk, alarm, remote keyless entry, electronic stability control, abs, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, 18 inch alloy wheels, satellite radio, automatic headlights, automatic air conditioner, bluetooth, etc. The ride is not punishing but stable as it glides through the wind. Two extra seats in the aft section for petite passengers.

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  college car - 2001 Hyundai Accent
  By joec - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car as a college car for the economy, and it has yet to stop impressing me.