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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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Biscuit-Eater - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Tib new in 2000 as a cheap, fun car to drive to work. It has been a pleasure to own and drive. (More comfortable in town and on trips than my wifes Accord.) Im planing to trade it in on a 2003, now that the dealers are more reasonable about their pricing.

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  OUTSTANDING VEHICLE - 2004 Hyundai XG350
  By TONKA-PETE - May 24 - 10:00 am

  IVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR A SHORT TIME, BUT IM VERY HAPPY I SETTLED ON THIS MODEL. ITS A 2004,NEW DESIGN MODEL FROM THE PAST YEAR, AND ITS EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE LOOKING THAN THE 2003 MODEL. OVERALL, ITS THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. I TESTED THE OTHER CARS OF EQUAL SIZE, AND THEY DID NOT COMPAIR TO THE XG350L IN "OVERALL" DESIGN,AND PREFORMANCE

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  Practical - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By joe_smuckatelli - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car for about 4 months. This is a very practical car. Considering that a car depreciates about $3000 per year, you can throw this car away after 5 years and still have done well. Like the old Chevette, but much more appointed. If your looking for more than basic transportation for a great price, this is it.

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  an excellent choice - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By rob - May 22 - 3:00 pm

  our experience so far has been excellent. we were looking at minivans such as the honda oddessy and the toyota sienna, the entourage offered more standard features for much less. the v6 is very powerful, it gives the van a very sporty feel. the suspension allows the van to ride like a four door sedan. the warranty really caught out attention, it is one of a few vehicles that we could payoff before the warranty runs out. features such as power rear doors, rear windows that go down, captains chairs in the middle row, electronic climate control, and the 60/40 third seat are very conveinient. the standard feature of electronic stability control gives you that extra feeling of safety.

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  The Best Compact SUV - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By e_man_88 - May 22 - 1:10 pm

  Ive droven probably all of the compact SUVs out there, and this car is probably the best of the best, beating Toyota, Honda, and Ford. It has the best ride, best quality (interior and exterior fit&finish and well as materials), best design, and best handling. It rides very well, is quiet and very refined.

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  The best I ever had - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By sammyp203 - May 22 - 10:13 am

  I am a bit mystified by the disappointing mileage achieved by the in-house reviewer. I have taken three road trips in exess of 2,000 mi. in my Sonata, each with two adults and luggage (sometime golf clubs too). The worst overall mileage Ive gotten on these trips, which includes city driving, idling in parking lots, one hour delays on the interstate for accidents, etc., is 28.7 mpg and the worst was 31.4. I dont think the onboard computer would lie to me. In everyday driving, it never has gone below 25 mpg. Anyway, the V6 is really powerful, it corners like a bat, stops on a dime, is roomy, comfortable and has never had a single thing go wrong...what more could you ask for?

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  New and its a jem - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By John R - May 21 - 2:16 pm

  Nearly perfect sporty commuter with room for the toys on the weekend. Fantastic value for the money. Gives 30 mpg in very mixed driving. Nothing seems cheap. Its very well done. Its the most car you can put around a 2000cc engine. Not a rocket ship, but more than enough go for a great daily driver.

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  Where is that buzzing noise coming from? - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Brian K - May 21 - 1:23 am

  I traded a SAAB 9-3 for my Santa Fe, and I couldnt be happier. It is very comfortable for long trips, and I average around 24 mpg on the highway. I have been getting around 19-20 in city driving. My only complaint is a buzzing noise from the rear whenever the engine hits 2100 rpm. I am sure it will be taken care of when I have my next service. This is my fifth Hyundai, and it is by far the best. Im looking forward to buying a Genesis when my Santa Fe is paid off!

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  WOW - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By windycity7 - May 19 - 5:50 pm

  Love these forums. i was looking at the Lexus ES330 or Toyota Avalon when these boards highlighted the problems with the Toyotas and kept comparing it against the Hyundai Azera. After driving it against the Lexus and Toyota, it was no contest. I am the very happy owner of the Hyundai Azera Limited after being a Loyal Volvo owner. This car is so luxurious, too bad people still perceive Hyundai as low quality - but I expect that to change very quickly in the next few years! Also, buying was so easy and no high pressure salesmen - i had an internet manager (woman) and a salesperson (woman).

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  My First Car, but shes a beauty - 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By inate71 - May 19 - 2:29 pm

  Its my first car, and I LOVE it. Its so much fun to drive, I enjoy the performance, and I simply love the way it looks (I got Silverstone). This thing is incredible. It handles like a dream. It gallops like a stallion, and she is gorgeous to look at--even sounds good. ;)