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:

• 

  Just brought home a 2012! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By 2012firstlook - June 29 - 12:41 am

  My wife and I were finally in the position to buy a new car. We were shopping for crossovers when my mother called me to tell me about the hail damage sale at the Toyota dealership. Thinking we may get a deal we drove a BRAND NEW Camry with hail damage that (white too, looked like a golfball) the air conditioning was inoperable on, was still priced out of our range. Disgusted, my wife and I decide "What the hell, were our lets look at a Hyundai" We were greeted and shown to the lot and just as the doors opened, there was a Sonata. We were in love at first sight. After driving the golf ball, and the Sonata within 15 minutes of each other, I had to have the car.

• 

  Love my Santa Fe - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Happy1 - June 28 - 10:00 am

  All I wanted was a utility vehicle to carry the things you usually cant fit into a sedans trunk, like furniture, large boxes, garden equipment,etc. I got a lot more. This little SUV has plenty of room for people and cargo. It has a good looking, comfortable interior with all the necessary bells and whistles. It handles and rides like a sedan. Im a 225 lb six-footer, and Ive got plenty of room. Even with my drivers seat in a comfortable position, an adult can sit behind me with ample legroom. The vehicle was built very well, with absolutely no defects.

• 

  my-tibby - 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
  By sideoffice - June 28 - 10:00 am

  good car for the price. fun to drive. never had a problem with the car except for the read defroster. the dealer replace the rear defroster/rear glass. good dealer service

• 

  Easy to own - 2010 Hyundai Sonata
  By CTgal - June 28 - 9:14 am

• 

  My Baby Tucson - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Jammer - June 27 - 10:16 am

  I allways wanted an SUV and I test drove alot of them. The first reason I decided on the Tucson was because it drove and handled like a car. The second was it just fit me and my life style. LOVE MY TUCSON

• 

  2006 sonata gls v6 - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By johnnyo - June 27 - 10:00 am

  I am shocked at the quality of this car. I have gone from bumper to bumper inside and out and have found not one flaw in workmanship, paint, or fabric. This is my first car in my 53 years to have this kind of quality. The V6 is unbelieveable...tons of power! Gas mileage is great..higher than the sicker on the window said it would be. I always bought an American designed and built car. The Hyundai is made in the USA, but I can tell the quality design came from elsewhere...too bad Detroit, Hyundai is gonna sell a ton of these! John

• 

  Sonata GLS 4 cly Auto - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By JohnC - June 27 - 3:56 am

  WOW after test driving one for two days. I was sold...So I grab one and the 1st day I am having fun driving it. Great deal got it for under invoice and then 3k rebate A steel. Best buy for the $$$. You cant go wrong 4cly has plenty power.

• 

  Love this car! - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By Aura - June 26 - 8:20 pm

  This is my first passenger car, IÂ’ve always had SUVs, and so far I love it. The drive is fun and sporty and very comfortable to drive everyday to work. The quality in the feel and drive is great and the features are second to none. Highly recommended!

• 

  great - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By michael buswell - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I love my new car I got in Augest of 2003. The best car I ever had.

• 

  Hyundai = Fun day - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Stacy Romele - June 26 - 10:00 am