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 Car with a couple of annoyances. - 2012 Hyundai TUCSON
  By drjc3 - September 11 - 8:52 pm

  6 months & 4000 miles later ... All around performance is great. Gas mileage is a bit off the stickers EPA estimate, but not by much. I wouldnt hesitate in buying another Hyundai.

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  Luxurious Vehicle at Great Value!!!! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By n8dogg8305 - September 11 - 4:46 pm

  I just bought this base model vehicle and felt like i bought a loaded model. Toyota would never be so generous in a CE. Hands-free bluetooth is a great feature. Includes cruise control, and trip features. I got 30 mpg on my first tank of gas. It cruises like any other 4 cyl., but performs like a 6 cyl. when acceleration is required. Hyundai stepped its game up big time.

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  2002 Pitts SantaFe - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By dankohut - September 11 - 10:00 am

  In my 30+ driving years nothing has psyced me up like the Santa Fe. The ride is smooth like a car, and not like a truck. The sound system is excellant.

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  Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By BryanSevanaEric - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought the SAnta Fe GLS AWD on April 5, 2002. I have been looking for a Great SUV that has good gas mileage and stylish. Even more important cost!! I have had no problems with the Santa Fe yetr and dont forsee any problems in the future. I have taken out the desert and to the mountains for a little off- road action. It handled AWSOME. felt like I was in a Lexus, smooth, yet rugged enough to handle everything I thru at it.

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  Joeys review - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By CarGirlJo - September 11 - 10:00 am

  WOW! Hyundai has a winner here

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  Fantastic Car no matter what the price - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By ppniemann - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I researched cars for several weeks and test drove several, including a Mitsubishi Galant. I have to tell you, I was extremely impressed with the Elantra GT on paper and even more so after the test drive, and felt it to be better than cars thousands of dollars more. Inside the car feels like a million bucks, and i think the styling is terrific (many have noted it looks like a saab). Test drive this car-- you wont be disappointed. I drove an eclipse previously (which cost 3000 more) and gladly traded it in.

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  hyundai elantra: poor mans luxury car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By luvnmyhyundai - September 11 - 10:00 am

  The Hyundai elantra GLS is a very good deal for the money. its like driving on rails of steel. with the option of the abs, remote alarm and cd youll be chilling like a villian. i love my car and i aint kidding. the only problem i got is parking it out of my sight. i may just sleep in it. BUY THIS CAR, OR AT LEAST TEST DRIVE IT.

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  What a Car! - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By J.Williams - September 11 - 2:06 am

  Love this car overall. Drives really well. Gets about 24 mpg. Have had no problems with it. Hyundai dealership has been exceptionally nice to deal with.

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  Never Again - 1999 Hyundai Accent
  By former Vermonters - September 11 - 2:00 am

  There are only two things that are good about this car, the gas mileage and it is excellent plowing through snow. Since 25K, we have had a problem with the transmission sensor. We lose the high and low gears but I learned that if I turn the car off, I can reset the sensor. Most often, it works but if not, I start in 2nd gear and upshift to D, no highway traveling with this one. It has been replaced once already and is due for another. There is almost no headroom in this car and if we wear more than a heavy sweatshirt in the car, there is barely enough room for two people in the front.

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  love my tucson - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By ellen s - September 10 - 7:10 pm

  had the santa fe 1st..traded in for the tucson as soon as i saw it in the dealership...love this vehicle,can use it as 4wd but handles like a car..cant say enough good things about it