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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  NF Sonata Rocks! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By BK - January 28 - 1:40 pm

  After owing Elantra for 12 years I bought NF Sonata (Korean Name) and TOTALLY LOVE IT!!! BUT!!! THERE ARE SOME FEATURE WE DONT GET HERE IN UNITED STATES!! Some features we dont get in United States but in Korea are: adjustable accelarator and brake pedal position, blue or orange speedometer (dash board) light, 5 different interior colors, standard front heated seat for all models, Naviagtion, DVD player, Cable tv system, many more...

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  Who would have thought? - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Vince - January 28 - 9:03 am

  If you had told me even 3 years ago I would own a Hyndai, I would have said youre nuts! After doing all my research for a new car everything kept coming back to the Hyndai. The reviews, the price, the equipment, everything. Well I coundnt be happier! Got the LX with the sunroof & sound for $19.8K...Wow! Nothing on the market comes close at that price.

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  2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AW - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Paul Melkus - January 28 - 7:00 am

  This is my Wife and I first SUV and so far we are loving it. We look at some of the other smaller SUVs and the Hyundai won us over. The engine is a bit underpowered and has a little lag from the start compare to other SUVs in this class but the trade off for better gas mileage may make it seem right. The ride is firm but not overly harsh and the steering is precise with very little under or over steer. The sound system could use some work the speakers lack range and depth. Overall we are happy and cant wait for our first long trip.

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  Budget Sports Car! Live your dream - 2005 Hyundai Tiburon
  By tilbbylover123 - January 28 - 4:43 am

  own a 05 Hyundai Tiburon GT Ultimate Sports Package with sunroof and Infinity Sound system. When bought, had 13000 miles, now 40,000 love the pick-up and the mild roar through the muffler. looks are stunning, everyone who see my car for the first time love it! comfort for the driver and passenger is good, not for the people sitting in the back since not enough space for big and tall people. Id call it a two-seater. Ample trunk space, better if back seats are put down. still suspension makes you feel all the potholes only problem Ive had so far is the car pulling towards the right because of alignment issues. Also, when I jumped my car battery last winter, the sound system got damaged.

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  Road Noise - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By GLS 4dr SUV w/Automa - January 27 - 4:20 pm

  Have had what I would call excessive road noise especially at highway speed. This problem continues even after wheel alignment check, which was negative and tire rotation. Bridgetone tires may be the culprit. A very minor issue is the front license plate screw holes are just part of the plastic grill area and now have stripped which will probably create a loose front license plate.

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  Best Value Deal - 2007 Hyundai Azera
  By John - January 27 - 10:06 am

  Ive had the car for two weeks now and it remains a pleasure to own and drive. I rated performance 8 out of 10, with lost points for brakes that take a lot of foot/leg effort and a suspension that just asks for thicker anti-roll bars and stiffer shocks/springs. Hey the car is incredibly comfortable and I scored it 10/10. Fuel economy is not great; but if I nurse it around town...it is reasonable and in fact holds up to the manufacturers claims. Still, the car IS fun to drive if quiet comfort is what you seek. And the engine and transmission are wonderful...all-in-all, a wolf in sheeps clothing that looks British if you ask me. If it had a British badge...you could add 15k to the price.

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  IF I ONLY COULD AFFORD THE V6 VERSION - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By MOMOSTITCH - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I BOUGHT THE TIBURON WITH 13 MILES ON IT AND WAS THE FIRST IN MY AREA ,NOW I SEE THEM EVEYWHERE BUT THERES ONLY ONE VERSION OF MINE ,YOU SEE I DID AWAY WITH THE FACTORY BADGES AND MADE IT A MOMO EDITION WITH THEIR LOGOS,THE INTERIOR I DID IN RED IM TALKING PEDALS SHIFT KNOB,E BRAKE HANDLE SEAT INSERTS,STEERIING WHEEL,ALL MOMO, AND I CUSTOM PAINTED THE MAP LIGHT HOUSING, DOOR HANDLES,GRAB BARS DOOR PANEL INSERTS ETC.ALL RED IT LOOKS HOT,AND IM DEFINITELY GETTING THE CREDITABILITY FOR IT. IN OTHER WORDS I LOVE MY CAR TO DO THIS TRANSFORMATION TO IT AND WILL NOT PART WITH IT.

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  Undiscovered Gem - A Winner! - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By RCartr - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This GX350L is a undiscovered gem by consumers! It is loaded with all the creature comforts that more expensive cars have and many at huge up-charges. This car has it all. It is fun to drive, settles down on the highway as smooth as silk and handles bumps with ease. Id recommend it to anyone and I do, every chance I get. Its a "Eye-Catcher" too... Most who see it cant tell if its a Contential, Acura, or Mercedes as it looks very similar. I dont know whats wrong with Edmunds Editors in their ratings, but they are all wet...

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  Very Happy about Purchase - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By a_happy_camper - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Very satisfied with this car. Have owned many new cars, American Motors, Olds, Buick, Mercury, Lincoln and this rates on the top. Had only one minor problem after delivery, and it was fixed with a one half hour visit to dealer. At 8000 miles, Im very happy. Handles better than any previous car Ive owned.

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  e connell review - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By elc707 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  first 1000 miles was terrific