Hyundai History

Overview

Facing years of payments on a depreciating asset, it is not surprising that companies like Hyundai continue to conceive clever ways to allay the fears of new-car buyers. First it was the 10-year powertrain warranty and then it was the Hyundai Assurance plan. These programs have helped make Hyundai a well-known brand, but a growing array of desirable vehicles has been equally instrumental.



Representing a 180-degree departure from the days of the Hyundai Excel, the current crop of Hyundai cars showcases genuine value, plenty of safety features, and desirable styling and amenities. To varying degrees, these attributes are evidenced by the entry-level Hyundai Accent, the Toyota Corolla-fighting Hyundai Elantra sedan and Hyundai Elantra Touring wagon, the Hyundai Sonata sedan, the Hyundai Azera, and the attractive Hyundai Santa Fe, a crossover sporting an available third row seat. You'll also find room for several passengers in the Hyundai Entourage minivan and the Hyundai Veracruz, though less so in the small Hyundai Tucson. For a bit more excitement, check out the Hyundai Tiburon, the turbocharged Hyundai Genesis coupe, or the V8-powered Hyundai Genesis sedan.



Prices range from about $10,000 for the Hyundai Accent to more than $37,000 for a Hyundai Genesis sedan.





Hyundai History

Hyundai Motor Company has been in existence for more than six decades, though it has only been selling cars in the States since 1986. More than 100,000 Hyundai Excels were sold during that first year in the U.S., giving this Korean manufacturer a foothold in the American car market. However, the Excel was not recognized for outstanding quality, and despite monumental gains in the years since, that lasting impression has continued to stigmatize the marque. In an effort to turn things around, Hyundai not only built better vehicles but also began backing every model with an outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty to demonstrate its confidence in its products. That was followed by Hyundai Assurance, a plan designed to help recent buyers keep their cars in the event of unexpected unemployment.



After the launch of the Excel, the Hyundai Sonata arrived in 1988, and then the Hyundai Elantra in 1992. The Sonata and Elantra live on, albeit in more impressive forms, while the Excel stepped aside and made room for the small Hyundai Accent in 1995. That car, too, continues to populate dealer lots, due in large part to a $10,000 price and long-term warranty. Offering more room and features, the Hyundai XG300 and XG350 marked Hyundai's first attempts at pseudo-luxury, efforts that paid off to a greater degree with the subsequent release of the Hyundai Azera. Unfortunately, the Hyundai Genesis essentially shattered the Azera's hopes of stardom with its available 375-horsepower V8 engine and luxurious look and feel.



Not content with building only compact cars and a variety of sedans, engineers and designers worked on new ideas. In 1996, the Hyundai Tiburon coupe made its debut, and more recently, the rear-wheel-drive and turbocharged Hyundai Genesis coupe had people looking at Korean cars with renewed interest. On the opposite end of the spectrum reside less exciting but more versatile models such as the Hyundai Entourage minivan and a trio of crossovers: the Hyundai Tucson (cousin of the Kia Sportage), the Hyundai Santa Fe, and the large Hyundai Veracruz.



Looking forward, Hyundai will continue to focus on making its vehicles more fuel-efficient by expanding use of a six-speed automatic transmission and direct injection technology. Styling, a measure by which Hyundai has shown regular improvement, remains integral to the company's future products, as evidenced by the Hyundai ix-onic concept vehicle.