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:

• 

  Hyundai experiences of a large man - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By WallyJr - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I am a large man. The Elantra was one of the few small cars that would fit me with head room to spare. For a small car it has been surprisingly comfortable. But long trips require that I stop every so often to stretch.It has good pep when merging on the freeway and in California that is important. My only complaint is that the brake pedal depresses to the same floor level as the gas pedal.Because of my size and large foot (size 12),I have more than once hit both at the same time resulting in my car lurching forward when I was trying to brake.An older person might lack the ability to size up the problem quickly enough to avoid an accident.

• 

  Watch it fly! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Valerie Mintz - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Elantra in July 2004 and have been delighted with it. The only thing I wish Id done is upgraded the handling package. Living in the mountains the extra traction would have been nice. But boy, does it ever fly up that hill!

• 

  very good car- - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jack Miller - October 6 - 2:00 am

  like this car- roomy and good to drive

• 

  Hyundai Tucson LX - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By lernerh - October 6 - 12:16 am

  I have been a car owner since 1952. This is the most fun to drive of any car I have had. The front wheel drive is adequately powered to make the steering delicious, especially with a small turning radius. This gives outstanding control. In other words, you go very clealy to whereever you point the vehicle. You have to try it to feel it! The interior is "vanilla" in good industrial esthetic taste, but for this price, considering every other luxury feature, I cant complain.

• 

  my suv - 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By mike rawn - October 5 - 7:13 pm

  very fun to drive my dealer was friendly and knowledgeable about all car

• 

  Sonata beats them all! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Angie - October 5 - 5:53 am

  This car is amazingly fast, agile, and comfortable. And, the car is so smooth and quiet that you forget how fast you are driving. I have driven the Accord and Camry before, but they are not even close to this Sonata. In fact, they look and behave cheap, compared to Sonata. Best yet, the better and higher class Sonata costs less than the Accord and Camry.

• 

  overal very good - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By toyunki - October 4 - 10:46 am

  I had 2000 sonata . and test driver burgandy Sonata LX with fully loaded with sunroof. the cars engine is most improved part. it is so much quieter than previous model. and acceleration is just incredible. But insulated inside is noise with when the car over the bumps "thump"...the 17" wheel make sonata more athletic but noisier. 16" wheel should be more suited for family sedan.

• 

  Best Car in Class - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Adam - October 4 - 7:00 am

  This car is amazing and for the price is the best bargain available. The V4 is more than enough power. If your looking for a Mid-Sized Sedan give this one a look and you will see it drives just as good if not better than the Accord or Camry.

• 

  Hyundai Lover - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Deborah L. SImenson - October 4 - 2:00 am

  It is a fun car to drive. It hugs the road well. It is very easy to set controls and make adjustments for different drivers to use. Love the pockets in the doors for cds. The style of the car is awsome. I have the silver and love the way it does not show dirt. You have sold me on this cute car. By the way my last car was a buick, park avenue and I love this one more.

• 

  Could be better - 2006 Hyundai TUCSON
  By Robert Peck - October 3 - 1:06 am

  I am pleased with the overall value of my Tucson ,but the mileage it is getting is a big disappointment. But besides that, I am very happy with my decision to buy the Tucson.