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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  Hyundai Hyundai *so good to me* - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By slycindi - August 18 - 10:00 am

  A+ on price, quality, warranty, and drive. Could not wait to get enough miles on it to take it on a road trip. Extremely impressed - Must have started a trend in my town. A friend has already bought one. Might write another review down the road - once trailer hitch is put on and I see how it performs towing a boat.... Wish me Luck! Would love an extra one .... :)

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  Proud owner of 2001 GLS and 2002 LX - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Sadler - August 18 - 10:00 am

  I drove the 2001 Santa Fe AWD GLS for 18 months and found it 100% reliable. Gas mileage was 18MPG highway. A bit less than I was hoping for. It was a solidly built vehicle. howver I would suggest adding a little round mirror to the drivers side to cover the blind spot inherent in most cars.

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  Great SUV - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By barresq - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle; The only problem is with the lumbar support for the passenger seat; Hyundai will probably shed its negative image with this beauty.

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  great car - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By greametaylor00 - August 18 - 10:00 am

  best car I ever owned!!!!

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  THATS a Hyundai????? - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By giddykid - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Wow! No one can believe its a Hyundai and most people havent even heard of the Tiburon! Our daughter just bought hers today and as I looked back at her following me in the Tiburon she had the biggest smile on her face! Magnificent styling, unbelieveable warranty (big selling point) and just plain eye-catching. Its the only one that Ive seen in the area; I think my husband is envious and he should be! It IS a head-turner. One of the reviewers said that its fun to see the faces of disgust (when you mention Hyundai) turn to shock when they see it--you got that right! Id never thought Id see the day when I felt a Korean car would steal the show.

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  The greatest car Ive never owned... - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By iwishitweremine - August 18 - 10:00 am

  I love this vehicle, unfourtunately it isnt mine. I have driven my Aunts car for a couple of days now, and all I have to say to anyone looking for a new car, but not looking at the Hyundai just beacause of the name....is GO AND DRIVE ONE...OR MAYBE EVEN THREE! I went with my Aunt to get this car and also drove the GLS and a Sonata. She bought the GT and it is a fun thing to drive!! Go and drive the others, then Drive Hyundai and compare prices w/STD equipment...I think youll be pleasently surprised!!!

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  Very pleased with car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By PAUL ROB - August 18 - 10:00 am

  I only have the car a week, so more will follow as time goes by. It was a fun expericne dealing with the dealer. (A tip of the hat to Jim & Woody.) The car with the automatic is a lot better then I thought it would be, I cant wait to get by my self imposed break in time, so I can open up the engine more. Fun to drive, I have the ABS with traction control, moon-roof, car came with spoiler, which was listed on the sticker, not a dealer add on. Check Carsdirect.com also, they had the spoiler listed to see invoice & MSRP. price, edmonds did not list it. C.D. plays well, just an enjoyable car. Will update info as I have car longer.

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  A luxurious sedan - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By Greensander - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Lease deal was $473/Mo. $2199 upfront. I am quite satisfied its styling and convenience. Platinum Gray Metallic has edge at every corner, awesome color. I really enjoy tight and rich should of Lexicon. A Hyundai, youve never seen before.

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  Sell before warenty ends - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By ChandlerSunDevil - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Gas mileage getting worse as car ages, expensive to repair, rubber and plastic parts already crumbling from the heat here in Phoenix. Had to replace front strut mounts @ 60k due to rubber rot. Very poor quality materials. Lots of rattles, paint on front bumper oxidizing badly from sun despite lots of wax. Car aging very fast. Good college/school car but get a real car fast afterwords. Once bumper to bumper warranty expires the depreciation of value and cost of repairs make car a very bad choice. Long wait for parts for major repairs such as bodywork.

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  Great Warranty, but needed it too often! - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By talie - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because of the price and the warranty and those were the reasons I liked it. Until sensors started going out, the airbag light was on, rotors went bad, and I had to have it hauled to the dealer too often for my liking. Dealer was great, they repaired it nicely and really stood by the car, but it hasnt been as reliable as I need a car to be. Its at the dealer now. ANOTHER sensor went out at 53,000 miles. This is the last time Im doing this. As soon as I get it back from the repair shop Im trading in before the warranty expires because this particular car really needed the warranty to make it worth keeping.