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 for the money - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By AVIBobcat08 - February 27 - 11:47 am

  My little 2006 Elantra is a great car for the money. It has great acceleration in fact some of friends get fooled and think it has a V6 when it is only a 2.0 L engine. I love this car it gets 37 mpg on the freeway and 26 city not bad for this car. My only complaint was the tires they only lasted 33,000 miles but for the price of the car I cant complain it out lasted my cousins more expensive corolla which left her sit a few times so all and all its a great car

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  Great in the sun not in the snow - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By junelle fisher - February 26 - 7:38 pm

  Car is very Nice love the comfort and design and very sporty not very good in snow and paint starting to chip near wheel Wells tires not good in rain or slush or very little snow steering wheel wood grain finish coming off like is chipping

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  Hyundai Review 1 - 2002 Hyundai XG350
  By bluepig7 - February 25 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a Hyundai XG350L for my daughter. Excluding "luxury" cars, I compared some domestic cars, all of the Japanese cars and a German car to the Hyundai XG350L. All were significantly more expensive, and warranted for much less time. None were better in workmanship, quietness, standard features, acceleration and braking. As for styling, thats too subjective. You have to make up your own mind. Im well aware of what Hyundai has given us in the past, but do yourself a favor and just look at this car! Drive it if you think it merits a drive after you see it. Im telling you, youll be amazed. BTW: Im on my 7th BMW, I believe I know cars!

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  Extra Cash - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By jrl - February 24 - 11:10 am

  Car is a great vehicle for highway driving. Very comfortable rides smooth. Suggest 6 cyl motor. No real maintenance problems. ALERT: Save some EXTRA CASH for the 60,000 mile maintenance schedule. At 60,000 miles The Timing Belt must be changed $450 - $500 change spark plugs $350 schedule fluid changes (tran cool oil) $300.

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  fun and unique - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By alexthesock - February 23 - 6:33 pm

  I purchased my tiburon used only a few months ago but I have wanted one since I first laid eyes on one 5 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised with most aspects of the car. Most notably the 6 speed manual is a lot of fun because of the gear ratios. Clutch is both intuitive and fun (very important to me). The front end lines of the car give you a great idea of where your car is but the back end is a little hard to judge. Labeled as 4 seats but really only two really comfortable seats. Im 6,2" and enjoy the driver seat very much. Mine was purchased with custom sound and exhaust so no comment. Fuel economy could be slightly better. **no car is as unique and low-key at the same time as this car**

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  good but not perfect - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By mely - February 22 - 10:00 am

  i have had my baby since my birthday last August. it drives well i live in denver and i went to the mountains it handled good up but when going down it was a little scary. i hate the paint quality it easly damages. but it is very realable i drive about 100 miles a day to and from work and with out i don;t know where i would be

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  sweet buy! - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By numusic - February 22 - 10:00 am

  u know, i gotta tell ya... i have owned a mercedes c320, a bmw 328ci, a mercedes ml320 and a vw beetle in the past 6 years- this is one of the strongest, most comfortable, most care free car, i love it. i had BOTH of my mercedes in the shop CONSANTLY! i had so many issues with the c320 i ended up getting rid of it 6 months old! i havent owned this suv long but i have to tell u there is not ONE thing i can gripe about, never been to the shop, always purrs like a cat-

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  Great Car-Great Price! - 2008 Hyundai Accent
  By ddrake - February 21 - 12:39 pm

  My husband and I bought our second Hyundai Accent about one month ago. Our first one we purchased in 2001 and it is pushing 95,000 miles and still scampering along (we never had any major problems with the car!) I have been driving the car approx. 62 miles each day for my commute to work and just love it. Even for a smaller engine, it still has pep. The interior is actually bigger than our 2001 and I like the outside styling much better. The only downside is the quality of the plastic interior Hyundai should use better plastics. Our side panel did not fit correctly and that needs to be replaced but no big deal (dealership has been great!) 27 miles gas mileage round town highway 33+!

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  Good Value - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By egg - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought mine about 4 months ago and cant say that Im disappointed. Yes, it could use more ponies, and some of the interior trim is cheap, but for the money it is an outstanding value. Exceptionally fun to drive, good gas, great service at the dealership. Nothing else in the price class is even close. Warranty outstanding. Get the leather and rims, its worth it.

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  Impressive! - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By OLOOK34 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I are loyal Subaru owners, but when we were in the market for a new family car, we thought we would give Hyundai a shot. When my wife drove this vehicle for the first time, she basically said forget the Subaru, I want this Santa Fe!! If the word "Hyundai" makes you think of an old 86 Excel, well its definitely time to change your thinking. This is a well-built vehicle that offers great utility in a very bold, unique looking package, of course backed by an incredible warranty. If you are in the market for a small SUV, dont let the name Hyundai fool you..... check this vehicle out!!