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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  What a ride - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Ken - September 8 - 8:46 am

  This is a wonderful vehicle. It has as much room for the driver as my Expedition. Drives like a sports car. The all wheel, 4 wheel drive option is quite surprising. Had the vehicle in the snow, no problems. The sound systems is very nice.

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  Not a pocket rocket, Not a fuel hog. - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By Chris - September 7 - 6:00 pm

  With todays struggle over fuel costs, consumption, and supplies. It is a great value to have ownership of one of these little cars. The Accent has good lines and really good airflow which allow it to move down the road with very little wind resistance, making it feel as though youre barely moving while you fly down the road. It has the capability to corner on a dime, although it would not be recommended that you do so at speeds higher than 25mph as the narrow wheel base makes the experience feel a bit unstable. The fuel economy of this vehicle makes a drive from Illinois to Virginia still seems reasonable even with our current fuel crisis. The ride is a smooth one. I would recommend this car.

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  Extreme Awesomeness - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Davepq - September 6 - 6:43 pm

  The car overall is great. It definitely stands out from the crowd of comparable vehicles. My wife and I love it. The small details and sum of its parts make it seem so much more expensive than it is. I purchased it for business, where I need to make a positive impression on clients. It reveals style, class and at the same time economical sound judgment (especially during this tough financial climate.) It costs THOUSANDS more for the Accord and Camry to match the features of even the base Sonata. Another note, I am 64 and have ample room in the front and rear of the vehicle. One last piece of advice: read the reviews here of the competition and you may become a proud Hyundai owner

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  so far, so good - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By flamangrove - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Researched this car extensively. Compared it to others, and drove several competing suvs. This one lokks like a winner, and so far drives like a winner.

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  Car Has Poor Review - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By jent - September 6 - 2:00 am

  My transmission fell out of the vehicle 10,000 miles after i bought it. I have had nothing but problems with it. DO NOT BUY ONE...THEY SUCK.

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  Car Has Poor Review - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By JenT - September 6 - 2:00 am

  My transmission fell out of the vehicle 10,000 miles after i bought it. I have had nothing but problems with it. DO NOT BUY ONE...THEY SUCK.

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  A look at my car - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By Robert Cross - September 6 - 1:36 am

  In general I am quite please with my hyundai gx350. One thing that is troublsome is the poor gas mileage.The other problem is the lighting on the temp. gauge is impossible to read. It is a fun car to drive and it give a very smooth ride. I hardly recomend this car

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  The finest car you will ever own. - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By msm8221 - September 4 - 4:08 pm

  i have literally had 15 new cars in 18 years. Lets just stop there. This is the finest, funnest, head turner you will find without the Euro snob appeal and repair rates at 120.00 per hour. Just buy one. I read the finicky naggerlers of negativity with their minor peeves. They simply havent owned enough cars to know a winner.

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  Best small SUV for the MONEY - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By moomomish - September 3 - 5:23 pm

  Great small SUV. GREAT gas millage for an SUV. i do 50/50 freeway and city and my overall MPG is 20. i get 22-25 on the highway depending on my speed. around 27 if i drive 55mph, but couldnt continue very long at that slow speed. GREAT PRICE i got mine for $16,500 with 10,000 miles on it. it kbb at 21,500 privet party when i got it. now its at 17,500 after a few months. so i know theres no way im going to get my money back if i decide to sell so most likely i am keeping it until it dies. Great car for the price, i drive alot and it has been very trust worthy. lots of room for long trips, and 4wd is nice to have in the snow.

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  Better than the TA - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By ronsaat - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Traded in a 2001 Trans Am with all the goodies. Had been looking at the Hyundai line of vehicles for some time and noticing their vast improvement. Took it 1000 miles on a 4 day trip and no problems. Very comfortable ride and good road manners. Drive it 35 miles each way to work and back in the Boston area. Makes the traffic a lot easier to manage.