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:

• 

  Awesome, awesome, awesome! - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By telayla - June 15 - 10:06 am

  This is an amazing little car, it is beautiful, sporty and definitely turns heads. It is the kind of car that will get you into trouble, cause it likes to go FAST! The performance is great. By far the most fun car I have ever owned. A couple of things to mention, the voice command leaves something to be desired, it only does what its told if I yell at it in my "mom voice". Be sure to check if your cell phone is on the compatible list, my phone is not compatible and when connected the phone constantly rings (phantom caller). Also have had some issues with the passenger seat clicking into place after someone sits in the back or gets out. There are only two cup holders.

• 

  Great car! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Amy - June 15 - 4:06 am

  This is definitely a car to have! Very underrated in the public - its wonderful!!!

• 

  love at first site - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By rebecca - June 14 - 3:00 pm

  It took a few days to get used to the handling but now it is a joy to drive. Love the rear window shade, easy to park, turning radius a surprise, excellent trunk space, great car!

• 

  NICE CHANGE - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Stephanie - June 14 - 12:43 am

  I used to be a van owner. I was ready for a smaller car. I test drove many cars, and found for what was standard on the sonata, the ride, and price the sonata cant be beat. I remember when Hyundai first came out and they used to be compared to the Yugo. Hyundai corp. has made great strides and changes to the point when I look for cars I will be looking for more Hyundais. And lets not forget about the warranties what a selling point. I intend to keep my Sonata for a while.

• 

  look out hyundai is here to stay!!!!!! - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By rkelley - June 13 - 4:20 pm

  this is one fun ride talk about class all are friends cant belive we got this much car and did not have to sell a kid to make it happen.. we where the first in arkansas to buy and boy are we glad the ride is the best handles like no other and the power of the 3.8 is unreal and this thing is so quiet you cant tell its running unless you look at the tac, and i can get in the third row and fit with out getting a neck cramp, room is the key for third row seating and hyundai did it.. this is my third hyundai and the way they are going not my last if they come out with a pick-up truck look out!!!!!!

• 

  Great SUV - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Bronxboomer - June 12 - 6:20 pm

  I love my new 07 Santa Fe handles great. Very smooth ride and enough room inside for me and my family

• 

  Great Hyundai - 2008 Hyundai Veracruz
  By mrfred - June 12 - 7:46 am

  Got 10000 off, it was a new left over Rides very quietly, handles well, I was really shocked how well built it is, how much conveniences you get for the money(paid 29300, 22 miles on it), came with the navi system but unable to get rear dvd system with the nav (strange)

• 

  Satisfied Customer - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By Susan Mastroianni - June 12 - 6:10 am

  I enjoy my 2002 XG350L model Hyundai. I only wish I had more room on the side pocket area. Very narrow; does not hold much of anything.

• 

  Love my Wht-Roc. - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Kenneth R. Sciba - June 12 - 2:00 am

  After driving the Honda Accord, the Mustang, I took the Tibby, for a test drive. I was very excited about the total experience. I love the new ride, Ihave named it Wht-Roc. I look forward each day to the most amazing experience.

• 

  From an Explorer - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Mike in NC - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Overall so far a good experience. The Santa Fe is very quiet, and the features (for the money) cant be beat. Excellent pickup from a stop, passing power when at 60 takes a while to get there. Mileage could be better. No regrets from buying it. Traded in a 1999 Ford Explorer (purchased new originally), the Santa Fe rides much better than the Explorer ever did.