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:

• 

  2011 Hyundai Sonata - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By shaun peens - December 10 - 6:20 pm

  Ok ,You will all think i am crazy but I traded my 2005 E55AMG IN FOR A 2011 Hyundai. My Merc had 73k and got 13mpg around town. I bought the SE version which has the sporty feel after and after a lot of neg i got the white SE with tinted windows for 21k even. I have had it for the weekend and put 300m on the clock. Comfort good,fuel economy great,looks perfect ,just not sure if i am going to be able to deal with the wimpy engine,so far so good! Would recommend this if you were looking to buy a mid size car. oh yes ,traded my E because i was tired of the $ huge bills every time something went wrong, Total rating 8/10 for me. $21000 for this car is great value.

• 

  Great During the Daylight Hours - 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
  By conr2286 - December 9 - 6:00 pm

  The Veracruz has absolutely the best 3rd row seating available in a crossover suv. And if youre filling those seats, the fuel economy per passenger-mile is great. But, our vehicle has averaged only 16 mpg in mostly city travel. And at $4.00/gallon... A hybrid might be worth the extra cost.

• 

  It goes and goes and goes... - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By Lisa - December 9 - 2:58 pm

  Purchased this car brand new in summer 2002, it was my first new car. I was young, didnt shop around a lot and basically got it because it was in my price range. Ive been pleasantly surprised with it. Very reliable. Has been in the shop only for minor issues (the power windows, the rear wiper and a problem with the idle), all of which were covered by warranty. Great gas mileage on highway (av. 36)...only okay "mixed" (av. 26). I love my little car, though Im thinking of trading it for something slightly larger that would be a little more comfortable on road trips. (I will miss the MPG if that happens!) Has been a reliable car that got me through college and is still going into adulthood.

• 

  As they say "Driving is beleiving" - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Hyundai driver - December 8 - 10:00 am

  After driving a BMW 325IS for 5 years I decided that I needed to upgrade to something with 4 doors with the ability to carry cargo. I drove numberous other SUVs mini and mid sized. None of them could complete with the feel, drive, design, and space of the Hyundai, not to mention the warranty. The Hyundai Santa fe is the best in its class hands down and as they say "Driving is believing" beacause once you drive the new Hyundais you will agree.

• 

  This car is a blast to drive. - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By inuvik - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market to replace my worn out, trusty Metro (258k) and frankly was shocked about how it was nearly impossible to get a base model commuter car for less than $13000.00 I looked at Saturn, Honda, Toyota and by the time I added air, cd player, power windows, door locks I was in the neighborhood of $15000.00+ I was pleasantly surprised when I drove the Hyundai Accent GS. The DOHC is smooth and with the 5 speed tranny is really fun to drive. It rides, handles great and air conditioning is a standard feature. So I ended up with GS with the Option 3 package (power windows, mirrors, door locks). Factor in the warranty and it was a no brainer decision. The total cost was $10400.00

• 

  Defintely not a gas sipper - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By bargain hunter - December 7 - 4:33 pm

  I only have the Sonata since October and I am very pleased with the interior of the car. However, the gas mileage is significantly lower (18 mpg) than what I was led to believe by the sticker (26 mpg). I feel like I was duped by the posted info. This car will never average 26 mpg.

• 

  Just Another Car-- Feeling Un-American - 2005 Hyundai XG350
  By Aaron - December 6 - 2:00 am

  Bought new. Bought for the looks, price, and warranty. In the end; the transmission was replaced. $900.00 timing belt plus brakes at 60K. Armrest latch and cruise control button broke. Mysterious air bag light/sensor in seat that took no less then five or six tries to fix, and just out of warantee... main wire harness had a meltdown. So in the end it is just another car. Read the comments below; they are all on the money. (Hope all those transmissions got replaced?) Biggest let down...availability of parts. Nothing like waiting a week for your parts to arrive from Korea. And darn it if I just feel un-american driving it around. Wish I had given my money to an American Co.

• 

  True Hyundai Review - 2002 Hyundai Accent
  By J - December 5 - 1:14 pm

  Purchased new and drove 90000 miles. Most of the issues occurred in ownership year 3 or 4. Exterior: perfect with the exception of peeling hubcaps and rusty wiper arms, interior the lights in the heater area would go on and off. 2 Warranty issues. Codes Check engine required sensors and through-out bearing replaced the whole transmission under warranty. Great car low cost to maintain, insure, fuel.

• 

  Great Car - 2006 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Bros - December 5 - 8:06 am

  I owned first generation Tiburon when it came out in 97 and I still own it. I now have the 2006 Tiburon GS model and love it even more everything about it, is great.

• 

  Not Happy - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By John - December 5 - 7:26 am

  Just wanted to let anyone interested in buying a 2010 Santa Fe Limited to know the problems that we have had. The first problem was a hard shift from a slow start. The dealership tried to tell us that it was because of a new electronic transmission and that we would get used to it. Well, it became so bad and after taking it in several times they replaced the transmission. Big surprise the problem went away. Next, the A/C went out and their service department said they could find anything wrong and it miraculously started working again. The latest is the satellite radio, it has stopped working and they will now have to replace it as well. Never again will we buy a Hyundai vehicle.