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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  Great SUV - 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kjr2492 - November 11 - 9:20 pm

  I just purchased a used Hyundai Santa Fe limited with 4WD and the 3.5 V^. It is fully loaded from leather seats to heated seats and moon roof and 6 disc changer. So far I love the ride even though it is used still drives like a new vehicle.

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  Great except for 1 rattle - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By Minou - November 11 - 7:16 pm

  Got my 08 GL (Canadian model) manual transmission in late June. Car has been great so far except for a rear parcel shelf rattle that I cant get rid of. It is comfortable, smooth riding, roomy and peppy with the manual. The engine is very easy to stall with the manual though. Mileage is also good. Wind noise is fairly noticeable even at normal speeds. Big car feel for a very good price. Overall, I bought a drab but well equipped and competent intermediate for the price of a compact with a good waranty to boot in case of issues.

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  More than impressed - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By cmhdiamond - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Very happy so far. Bought 03 GLS in Jan w/Pkg 5(moonroof,ABS,Trac Ctrl). Didnt want roof, but wanted TC, so took pkg 5. Very comfortable quiet ride, stereo good (not great), performance good, V6 plenty powerful (not as much as Hond/Toy, but better than their 4cyl and still less $), Shiftronic is fun (and contrary to some opinions, useful). My 1st month got ok gas mileage (20 mpg) in mixed (60% hwy/40% city) driving. Now avg 24 mpg. Best was a 600mi trip in Apr. that netted a very respectable 28 mpg avg (~ 80% hwy/20% city).

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  I love my new SUV! - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By theone - November 11 - 10:00 am

  The car is perfect. I was upgrading from a Ford Escort and was worried about the Fuel Mileage of a SUV. I was shocked with the gas mileage I got. I would like a few things better on the interior because Im a smoker, but Ill get over it.

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  Impressed - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Ivashie - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I would never have thought that I would by a Hyundai. That changed 3 years ago when I purchased a Sonata, and just recently traded up for the Santa Fe. I am equally impressed with both of them.

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  Why would you buy anything else - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By cdb - November 11 - 2:00 am

  As soon as I saw the updated Sonata with the Jaguar-ish front end I knew I had to have one. Who can afford a real Jag? Not only is this a beautiful car but you get some many features for a reasonable amount of money. Even the plastic wood-grain trim is nice. And I also got abs and traction control and still kept it under $20k. Ive had the car for 19 months and just hit the 50k mark. Its only been in a shop for its regular oil changes and its 30k tune up. I have had many compliments on my car. I loved it the day I bought it and 19 months later I still do.

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  Not bad, but could be much better - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By Dinerokid - November 11 - 2:00 am

  I have only driven the car 1,000 miles. Miles per gallon are 12.8 on my last fillup. I have the LX-6 Cylinders. Car handles well and it is quite comfortable, exterior design is very striking and modern. Interior design is quite pleasing and ergonomically correct. Cannot attest to reliability since the car has only 1,000 miles.

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  Great value - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sproutlorian - November 11 - 2:00 am

  Weve had the car almost 2 years and it is a very dependable car! Gas mileage isnt the greatest, but for the size has enough room for us to travel around in. Pick-up is a little lacking on onramps to highways, so more horsepower would be an advantage.

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  My Second Gen Coupe - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  By briten88 - November 10 - 12:55 pm

  I had a 2012 GenCoupe auto that I was disappointed with and traded for this 2013 2.0T Manual which is a huge improvement in performance, economy, interior fit and finish. Having owned 5 mustangs I was ready for a change. With its modern look both inside and out, better suspension, and value for the dollar I am happy I switched.

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  Made The Switch! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By sackc26 - November 10 - 1:12 am

  Coming from a 2010 Nissan Altima SL 2.5, I needed to get out of my lease (I just got a new job that requires a 35 minute commute each way). I researched Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra. To me, it wasnt a tough decision. I opted for the GLS base trim and although I missed out on power seats, chrome interior handles and alloys in the GLS Option #2 package, it boiled down to what was important to me. The base still has bluetooth and XM (my Altima SL didnt have them both), and the performance is the same on all trims. The car drives well also - fluid steering, nice acceleration and great MPG.