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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  A Good Buy!!! :-) - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Josh Hopkins - April 3 - 10:06 pm

  This car has been increadible! I have no problems with it. It drives realy good and its reliable. The car is comfortibul and roomy. With the hatchback I can fit a 32 in. tv in the back and still do more shoping with out haveing to go drop it off!!! :-) It need a biger engen and more power but a few upgreads can change that. All in all its a great car and fun to drive.

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  Genesis - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By bernie ruddock - April 3 - 8:20 pm

  I ordered the Genesis 3.8 (V6) with the level 2 package (sun roof, Lexicon radio, 18" wheels etc.), not the Tech package. I love the car! I changed the Hyundai logo to the Genesis "wing" on the rear, wheels and front hood. Have 2500 miles on the car after driving from Florida to New Jersey.

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  New Believer - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By m2kapp - April 3 - 6:23 pm

  I inherited this Accent from my father with 36,900 miles on it. He bought it new. He had previously ONLY driven Toyota/Nissan. He has always raved about how flawless the Accent has been. I have since put 10,000 more miles on it in a span of 3 months and would like provide my experiences. I am 61" and find the front seats extremely comfortable and surprisingly roomy for the size of this car. Standard multi-adjustable seat with lumbar. Visibility is great all around (important in this size of car). I drove from Maryland to South Texas in 2 days with minimal discomfort and the car performed flawlessly. It can cruise at 70 mph+ all day long, literally, and return 35mpg doing it.

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  Hyundai Touring GLS - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By CandyRee - April 3 - 8:53 am

  Fun car to drive. Nice to have a sporty hatchback again. Great on gas and I get alot of compliments on the car. 2 complaints: seatbelts in the rear do not extend out far enough to hook the seatbelt. Very difficult with a car seat. The second complaint is the power steering motor burnt up at 20,000 miles. Very frustrating on a new car and dangerous.

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  Great Ride just hard to get in and out!!!!!! - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Joe - April 3 - 8:36 am

  This is a great all around car!!!!!! It does have an issue with hard to get in and out of due to the low roof design. Great for people five foot eight and less.

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  I love this car! - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By EugeneK - April 3 - 7:16 am

  Before I bought it I test drove Infinity G35, M35 and Acura TL. I even brought Infinity M35 to Hyundai dealership, parked both cars next to each other, opened all doors and trunk and almost compared each inch of the cars. I am waking up every morning and thinking: "I will be driving Genesis today again!" Incredible car!. Some previous reviewers seems like didnt read car manual. Side mirrors reverse tilt down can be switched OFF, trunk has push button right above license plate (slightly to the right).

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  not sporty, but great buy - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By kalmanzar - April 3 - 4:13 am

  Engine and transmission are great. Ride can be noisy (thinks its the tires) and hard sometimes (se package), but mostly ok. Pack full of features, price is great. Car does not like to get pushed hard, steering doesnt have much feel. But for most regular driving is very good. Do recommend.

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  treat it like a honda - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By punjabi boy - April 2 - 6:36 pm

  never thought I would enjoy a Hyundai, I am sold on its performance and reliability

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  Accent - 2005 Hyundai Accent
  By dabber - April 2 - 5:13 pm

  Bought it for a metro car to leave our full size truck parked. Work in sales and needed an easy to use (and park) car and good gas mileage. My last tank combined mpg was 39!

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  Hard to learn this car. - 2005 Hyundai Accent
  By Daphine LaBarge - April 2 - 1:14 pm

  This is my first "foreign" car and it is VERY complicated to learn. Too many things to turn and push-pull on levers on steering column. My warning lights were on, and I had no idea where to turn them off or how they got on. When driving it is hard to pull over and read the manual - too much to memorize. Switches and knobs have no names on them for what they are for. Like warning light - not even a clue! Too small of gas tank. Too many adjustable levers and knobs with no name for what it is. My manual is well-worn already. Hard to lock or unlock seat belts when arm rest is down.