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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  2011 Hyundai Sonata Noise Problem - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By wipdl - September 3 - 7:52 pm

  We purchased the 2011 Hyundai Sonata in Feb 2011. We love the way it drives, the interior features, comfort and looks. However, we are extremely unhappy with a groaning noise that occurs with decceleration or braking to a stop. We have had the car in to the dealer 4 times, had numerous emails back and forth with Hyundai Customer Service and have only been told the noise is coming from the A/C compressor and "it is operating as designed" so there is no repair for it. They have said it is in all of the 2011 Sonatas but I doubt that since I have seen no other posts or articles about it. Needless to say, I cannot recommend that anyone purchase this vehicle until Hyundai addresses this problem.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By SRG - August 9 - 7:00 pm

  Read the warranty close;youll need it. Stranded twice for massive power loss on highway. 3 times to the dealer for elec. glitches like alarm system malfunction. Warranty only allows for two roadside rescues per 12 month period; we needed more. Amazingly, if their vehicle breaks down more than twice in any one 12 month period, you have to pick up the towing fees to get them to fix something thats under warranty! You have work hard to get over 20mph in this car. Around town in gets 17 or so if you keep your foot out of it. If you drive like its a 4 cylinder, you can get 22 on the highway (with a tailwind). If we could rewind the clock we wouldnt buy this car. Pay the extra $ for a Toyota.

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  2012 Sonota 2.0 purchased on 12/31. Very poor MPG - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By 123111buyer - August 5 - 10:13 am

  Have only been averaging about 20 mpg suburb and highway (In the epa mode which was suppose to get 6mpg better) and took car back after 2weeks. Told by service area this is normal and I need to drive about 5k before it improves. Have been in contact with H HQ serveral times and they refutes 5k claim, but also will not explain why mpg is averaging so low. Pushing it off on boilerplate responses (EPA sets mpg, load in car (Only me) tire pressure, blah blah nothing that is what I am doing. In a nut shell it not the car it is me. Also have been having bluelink issues that havent been resolved. Again cant get a straight answer.

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  Most Worthless Best Built Vehicle - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Disgusted - July 26 - 11:56 am

  If youre looking for a vehicle that will get you 8 - 12 MPG City and no more than 21 Hwy (at 60 MPH), a concealed cargo area of no more than 8.4 cubic feet, tepid acceleration and a slow shifting transmission, the Tucson is for you. This is one of the most useless vehicles I have ever seen. You cant carry anything over 15" tall under the parcel shelf (or 24" deep with the back seats up). Four people can not take a Tucson on a trip and hide their valuables. In real world driving, a 350 HP Escalade gets better gas mileage than this underpowered piece of crap. It is however, extremely well built. If you want great build quality with no cargo space and pathetic MPG, this ones for you.

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  Not a fan of it - 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By henryh_ - July 21 - 6:57 pm

  I drove one of these as a rental car for 3 weeks while my Volkswagen GTI was being repaired from an accident. I should qualify my review by saying that Im a small car guy and generally do not like SUVs. This is what was available for me to rent. Theres wasnt anything remarkably bad about the Santa Fe. It just didnt impress me or have any features that stood out. Im not sure why anyone would pick this over the Tucson, which is smaller, less expensive, and has better styling inside and out.

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  Fun to drive but costly to own. - 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Handsombill - July 14 - 10:06 am

  I have owned 4 manual cars in my lifetime and have never had to replace a clutch until now. I have had to replace the clutch on my 2008 Tiburon 2 times already and it has come out of my pocket. Hyundai says the clutch is a normal wear and tear item and is not covered under warranty. My alternator went bad a month ago and hyundai took care of everything. If you buy this car get an Automatic or you will be kicking yourself later. The car is truly fun to drive and the redesigned headlights make it look great.

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  Engine failed 72K, no help from Hyundai - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By wv_mazda - July 11 - 5:47 pm

  The lower end of my 2.4 L Sonata failed at 72500 miles under normal driving conditiuons. It has had an oil change every 5000 miles. Because I am not the original owner, the warranty did not apply. The dealer was very nice and sold me a used engine at full price. Hyundai USA declined to help me in any way. No care should have this type of engine failure at this mileage unless completely neglected.

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  never again - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By cowboynfr - July 11 - 8:00 am

  I bought this car and was fun to drive but as soon as the car hit 60k all the problems started. The cars alignment is perfect but if I let go of the wheel in less than one second its in the ditch dealer says alignment issue even though there is a recall. Now tires need replaced every 10k, intake messed up had to replace that, tranny went out then clutch then clutch master cylinder then clutch slave and now ac is broke. all this in the last 12k miles and all i do is highway driving and gentle driving. I have spend several thousands on this car fixing it and it keeps breaking so just consider this review.

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  Lovely Lemon Poor service from Hyundai - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By nightingale2u - June 28 - 12:40 am

  We ordered our van and its been down hill every since. The van is beautiful inside and out, with many extras. Unfortunately we also have a van that engine brakes everytime we take our foot off of the gas. We brought it back 2 days after purchasing and 7 weeks later we are still getting the run around. This is my first new vehicle and I am terribly disappointed with this. The service manager and the district manager are making us wait further so that he can test drive the van. This problem is evident with just the feel of the vehicle and also is visible on the tach... the transmission is not releasing. Poor service!

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  I expected more for the price!!! - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By CLG - June 27 - 10:43 am

  I was really looking forward to this model coming out but must say that I am now disappointed in the overall package. Paid MSRP which is a crime itself but I was eager to buy. So far gas mileage is a dismal 19 mpg city/hwy mix. Suspension is flimsy and floaty, doesnt handle corners very well. I should have paid a little extra and bought a TL instead. Live and learn, live and learn.