We all know that Hyundai has made significant progress in the last six years.
But how do their products stack up against Honda, Toyota and others?
Accent:
A cheap, affordable car, but with standard features aplenty. Includes SIX standard airbags, 15'' wheels, heated dual power mirrors, Power windows and door locks, and more. A better alternative to Yaris and Aveo, and starts at $10,415 USD.
2007 Elantra:
A cozy, comfortable econo car. Better styling than before, along with more features.
Has a 138 hp inline-4, standard ABS, Six airbags, opt. 220 watt stereo w/ 6 cd changer, and on Limited power locks, windows, heated leather seats, AC, and trip computer. More interior room than Corrola, Civic, Focus, or Sentra.- Looks like the Civic has some competition!
2007 Sonata:
Truly a great value, the Sonata comes feature-packed for $17,000. Standard with ABS, ESP, and, you guessed it, six airbags. A 234 hp V6 makes driving a bit more fun. Not ready for the Accord, Camry, or Altima, but can take on the Malibu and Fusion.
Azera:
A gorgeous design IMO, (In black, atleast) sets the Azera apart from the dumb-looking Avalon. More interior room than a 760i. (Not quite as fast, though). EIGHT standard airbags, power folding mirrors, LED brakelights, and 263 hp V6. Gives the Avalon and Lacrosse a run for their money, but desperatly needs interior refinement.
Tiburon:
The ignored model in the Hyundai family, the Tiburon is actually kinda good. Four airbags, 440 watt audio system and a 172 hp engine power it. Nowhere near Mustang, Eclipse, or anything else. Needs a redesign.
Tucson:
Bad handling, bad exterior design, bland interior design, and a smallish engine plague this otherwise smart cute-ute. Still a good value, but not up to CR-V, Escape, or even Equinox standards.
2007 Santa Fe:
No longer an awkward and confused SUV-thing, the Santa Fe has grown up. A lot. A much more stylish design, bigger dimentions, and more fearures are all new. Tons of airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD, a stylish interior, and a 3rd row seating make this a strong competitor to Rav-4, Grand Cherokee, and Explorer. Only $20,945.
2007 Entourage:
At first people didn't think it would be made, but then Hyundai quietly announced the Entourage, a Kia Sedona twin. A gold safety rating from IIHS, 17'' wheels, power doors, climate control, trip computer, ABS, ESP, heated leather seats, and a power liftgate, all for under $30,000. While no sports car,(but 250hp) it is still a better value over Sienna and Odyssey. But who would be proud to say they have a Hyundai minivan?
As you can see, Hyundai has "almost-there" cars, and if they put some more effort, they could top Toyota! (Eventually)
While not perfect at all, Hyundai has gone way up since it was started in 1947.
Hyundai means "Modernity" in Korean. It is properly pronounced as " Hyun-dae"
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So now you know.