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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  Sues Car - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By Ted Melonas - January 1 - 12:56 pm

  We owned a 03 Nissan Murano. The Veracruz has more room, better ride, and is less noisy. May not have the name, but I think the Veracruz is better

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  Economical - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By I bought it used - January 1 - 12:56 pm

  I bought this car because I needed a cheap, reliable, high fuel economy car. In the 21 months I had this car, I took it to the dealership two times for check engine light, once for flex hose on exhaust, strut leak and brake line leak and replaced the front brake pads twice. Needless to say, it fails in the reliability catagory. Considering the price, I should have suspected as much.

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  Worst Car I Ever Owned In 48 Years Of Driving - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By BJE - January 1 - 11:46 am

  I hated this car from day 1. I have had it since new and only has 46,500 miles on it. It pulled to the right. After bringing it back to the dealer 4 times, they kept telling me they aligned it. 7 years later, it still pulls to the right. After driving for more than a 1/2 hr, you feel like you are fighting to keep it on the road and your fingers get numb. Uncomfortable front seats. Horrible suspension and gas mileage is only 27 mpg. Poor in the snow. Electrical system issues with the back up lights (I hit it to come back on) and brake light issues. The moon roof does not work (after 4 years). Extremely uncomfortable ride.

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  Secret sport coupe - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Tiburon love - December 31 - 10:16 pm

  People are constantly poking fun at my "hyundai"! But it is by far the step child of sport compacts and the moxt under estimated, it handles just as weel if not better than its competitors and on it "on days" it can out accelerate any sport compact with equivalent performace talking about the motor... Its seems a little temperamental at times depending on weather and road conditions, it may not perform as well but still thrills me every time I hit the accelerator and throw it through a hard curve!

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  First Glance - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By justme - December 31 - 4:30 am

  Whats this poor gas mileage? Got 26.3 mpg on the first trip of 320 miles! Sound system is great - cruise control is tight and the ride is solid. Its just fun to drive and Ive been doing that for over 45 years. What used to be extras are included - heated outside mirrors, fog lights...and what a warranty that includes roadside assistance. Seems impossible to beat or even come close!

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  Lovein My SantaFe - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By SantaFeMan - December 31 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about my 4 cylinder SUV!! I have recommended the vehicle to 3 other friends and they all have bought them as well!!!

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  Hyundai 350L - 2003 - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By armby - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought a demo w/5000 miles. Great limo/road car Rolls too much, but holds the road! Audio is top notch. Fit & finish is up there with the best. Runs better/mileage better on 89 octane. Will keep it for 100,000 mi if it stays reliable. Great family car!

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  Santa Fe More Room for 6 people PLZ - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Florida Guy - December 31 - 2:00 am

  This is very good or the money,the model does not seem from year to year. For people over 6 a litle more head room or lower the seat. Can not beat the price of arong $22k loaded.

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  SANTA FE - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By MSNICKY - December 31 - 2:00 am

  iT WAS NICE BUT I WOULDNT DEAL WITH THE SAME DEALER SHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM

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  Go for it - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Tom1949 - December 31 - 2:00 am

  No question about it. So far this is a great vehicle at an even better price. The finish, trim, and fit are more than what one would look for in a higher priced vehicle.