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 car, great price! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Trevor Sullivan - December 30 - 7:00 pm

  As a repeat customer of Hyundai, I have to say that I am extremely pleased with my 2011 Sonata! I just traded in my 2006 Sonata GLS v6 for a 2011 Limited Edition, and am happy as can be! The interior design is modern and inviting, yet not overdone; it has an overall blu-ish theme to it, including the primary gauges, and the backlight for the radio controls. The performance is great, with tight / sporty steering, a sporty / quick-shifting transmission, and an sufficient 200HP 4-cyl. The exterior sports very modern, sexy lines, and at first glance appears similar to the Hyundai Genesis (which is why it first caught my eye).

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  Satisfaction - 2017 Hyundai Sonata
  By Sary Tauv - December 29 - 1:14 pm

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  Her name was Sandy - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Bill K - December 29 - 5:03 am

  We owned our Santa Fe for 6yrs. Bought in 2010 for $6000. Had 104,000 miles on it. Sold it May 2016 for $4000, and had 140,000 on it. The only things we replaced on it were the brakes, tires, and ignition switch. Loved plowing through the Wisconsin winters. She was getting a little sluggish before we sold it, but was one of the best vehicles we ever owned. Back in 2013 we bought a 2007 Santa Fe and sold it a year later. We thought it would be like our 02 but couldnt hold a candle to it. Recently purchased a 2012 Chevy Captiva. Hope we have the same luck as we did with Sandy.

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  Well Balanced - Perfect for Me - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By rgrande9 - December 28 - 2:23 pm

  Edmunds and Consumer Reports cover all the great things about this car. We test drove late model Corollas, Civics, etc.-rebates on the Hyundais were too enticing. Though I liked the Sonatas ride, I found the smaller Elantra handled better yet still felt roomy. Its well-appointed with touches that feel like a much more expensive car including the premium audio w/XM. I like the solid sporty feel of the Civic, but as Ive gotten older, I appreciate the higher entry position and comfortable ride of the Elantra (more like American sedans). The SE handled and rode noticably better than the GLS and the better fuel economy was a major deciding factor over the Sonata even with the smaller rebate.

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  My Sonata - 2018 Hyundai Sonata
  By Richard Peters - December 27 - 9:53 am

  Still getting used to the car, but so far its great. A good value for the money, and it has a great warranty.

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  Job Well Done - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By a - December 26 - 9:10 am

  I really like the tastefull and well designed interior. It shows they really worked hard to win over customers. The ride is soft and handly is secure enough. The exterior design makes it look like a baby Mercedes(it might as well pass for one)!

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  BEST SO FAR - 2013 Hyundai Genesis
  By Guadalupe Olvera - December 25 - 10:37 pm

  I purchased this car new in 2014. I traded in a Chevy Tahoe. I was taking a chance going from the comfort of my Tahoe to a Hyundai. In the 3 years that I have owned this vehicle, I have had no problems what so ever. Its awesome on the highway. I have to be careful because everything is so smooth and quiet that if I am not careful I catch myself going 90 plus. And that is with barely touching the accelerator. It has way more power than the V-8 Tahoe. The gas mileage on the highway is great. I got over 27 MPG on my last trip. In town its around 20 to 23. I change the oil myself cause I do not trust strange people working on my car. I change the oil every 4000 to 4500 miles with Mobile 1 and it still runs like new. I have 27,000 miles on it and do not anticipate any mechanical issues. I am very satisfied with my Genesis. I would buy another one but since they branched off to a luxury brand I cannot afford the price. The car still looks great and everything is functioning as it is supposed to.

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  My Hyundai Elantra - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bobby Buck - December 25 - 10:00 am

  My brother recommended this vechicle to me and I purchased it. Well I am not disappointed! This car has done everything I had expected it to do and then some. Plenty of pick-up, GAs milwage id wonderful. and comfort is awsome for a compact car. Hyundai has used quality parts, Fit and finish is as good as my Toyota, I will get one for my Daughter these cars are just to good to let it go by where can I get a well built car for under 13,000 dollars. and a 100,000 mileae warrenty to boot. Keep it up Hyundai, you sold me and I will sell others as well. One happy Hyundai owner

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  Great car - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Paul - December 24 - 6:31 am

  This car is a huge imporvement over the last generation Elantra. It is a much more refined vehicle. Hyundai did a lot of work making this car more quiet, with the use of stronger steel and thicker glass, the driving feel is more hushed and pleasant. The interior is very modern, yet practical. I use android auto and it works flawlessly. I have been averaging over 44 mpg driving mostly highway miles, which is awesome. Oh by the way I forgot to mention, I paid only 17k for a limited model. Overall this is a great car for the money

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  Super Hot Looking and All of the Above - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By burbankmike - December 23 - 3:43 pm

  This is one hot looking car, the style, the features are so neat.