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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  Sure beats a van - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Paul - August 3 - 8:40 pm

  Outstanding alternative for those who want seven passenger seating without having a truck feel/drive. Its as elegant as the high priced Acura and Lexus SUVs without hitting your wallet. Very roomy for 7 passengers and the amenities and fit and finish are excellent. Very quiet, smooth ride with a V6 that has good kick on the highway.

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  First SUV - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Linda Green - August 3 - 8:06 pm

  Saw the Tucson at an auto show. We had just purchased a new Elantra for my husband and were picking it up when I sat in the Tucson to see how it felt. Really liked it. I traded in my 2003 Sonata GLS that was wonderful for the Tucson that I fell in love with. It handles well and is a pleasure to drive. Roominess is great. Im 6 and my husband is 63".

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  Just Outstanding - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By Mike Simonds - August 3 - 12:20 am

  I saw this car during the Super Bowl and fell in love, then I went to drive one and I was sold. It is amazing and the power is great and the look is even better. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking at the more expensive coupes

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  The best deal around! I love it! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Clint - August 1 - 7:33 pm

  So far the car has been excellent in the 3 months I have owned it. In my opinion it is the BEST bang for your buck out there. If you are looking into buying an Accord, Camry or any other "midsize" sedan, do yourself a favor and test drive the Sonata. Its a better car for less money. The engine has plenty of punch to it for a 4 cyl and it gives a very quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride. I love the way the car looks too. It truly is "a Hyundai like you have never seen before".

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  Best Car for the Money! - 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By scot58 - July 31 - 7:11 pm

  I recently purchased a Santa Fe Limited AWD in Black Forest Green with the beige leather interior. It looks and runs like a dream. I considered the Toyota Highlander Limited and the Murano SL with leather, but those cars cost several thousand dollars more, get worse gas mileage, and the Santa Fe is their equal, if not better, in every way-- looks, ride, handling, etc. With the V6 it has excellent acceleration, and the electronics-- Bluetooth, satellite radio, HomeLink, etc. all work flawlessly. I have been waiting for something to rattle, break or go wrong, but the car is absolutely solid. I am very pleased with my purchase, and strongly recommend the Santa Fe.

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  Please Fix Brake Pad Problem - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jane - July 31 - 1:16 pm

  I live in New England and purchased 2009 Sonata.Great winter performance. With only 15000 on the OD my Service Mgr. told me the brake pad backer plates are rusting and the corrosion is reducing the space between the pad and the rotor creating a potential safety problem of possibly glazing and having a brake loss or dragging and locking or burning. With the bumper to bumper warranty expired the the repair cost me $160 out of pocket. I was told the problem could re-occur. The expense is a minor irritation but the Prospect of losing my brakes on the Interstate or having them lock-up on an icey road is terrifying. Whats the big deal about a re-design of the pad. An alloy that doesnt rust.

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  tiburon - 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
  By kysheniuk - July 31 - 12:21 am

  i buy this car when it has 10K miles now it has 18K and alternator went off...Hyundai is cheap car and parts is piece of...... my friend mechanic say that hyundai use plastic parts in their engines....

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  Love this carZ - 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  By Sandi - July 30 - 7:31 pm

  Replaced 2014 CRV that was wrecked with 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport...considered it after we were given this car for rental after wreck. Immediately noticed the difference in seat comfort. Seats in CRV were kind of ok, but the seats in Santa Fe Sport were great...(hits pressure points in back and neck just right, depth of seat much better as well as leg room and overall roominess of car. Ride was quieter and smoother. Gas mileage has been pretty similar so far to CRV, not much difference. Purchased this new car for just a little over what we were given for settlement cost of CRV. Consider it a very good value. Bought base model, but the base model had everything on it the CRV EX (mid model) had on it. Very pleased with this car. Hope it has good reliability, as we have been Honda/Toyota owners...but my sister has had Hyundais and has had excellent reliability with them.

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  So glad we purchased the Santa Fe - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Joseph Gentile - July 30 - 10:00 am

  We went with a friend to the dealership not expecting for us to buy a new car. We were so impressed with the Santa Fe that we ended up buying one to. We got it in blue and our friends got it in white. Unfourtuntly, when the car was 2 mths old my wife got rear ended boy this car doesnt only ride great it also takes a hit well. She was hit real hard the other car had major damage and ours just minor. We have 25,000 mile on it now and it still runs like when we took it out of show room. We havent even brought it back for service all i do is change the oil on a regular basis.

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  Santa Fe - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tipper - July 30 - 10:00 am

  For quality, cost, performance and warranty, the Santa Fe may be the best car I have ever purchased (out of 15 over my lifetime).