When Did Hyundai Become Hyundai?

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 07/31/2015 at 14:18 • Filed to: OVERSTEER

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Hyundai today has a very clear thing going — high quality mainstream cars with a robust warranty and impeccable reliability. When did this Hyundai (and Hyundai Man owner) mythos start?

I imagine this is different in different countries. In the US CANADA, we had bullshit cars like the Pony/Stellar/Excel that hammered the brand in consumers’ eyes.

In Kyrgyzstan and Burkina Faso, and Kiribati or Comoros, the timeline has been different.

When did you start to notice Hyundai, and when do you think they sort of formed their modern self?

CB > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:22

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2009. That’s around when people were beginning to see them as a real competitor and not just cheap transportation.

For Sweden > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:22

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Tuesday

MultiplaOrgasms > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:25

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Berlinetta Boxer

Alfalfa > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:25

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I’d say around the mid-2000s. Early 2000 models I hear mixed things about, but the Elantra and Sonata that debuted in 2006 are pretty good.

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:28

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US never got Pony or Stellar, just the Excel.

Margin Of Error > Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles 07/31/2015 at 14:29

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CANADA DID

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > MultiplaOrgasms 07/31/2015 at 14:30

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Lord Palmerston!

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:30

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This is true.

Margin Of Error > Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles 07/31/2015 at 14:32

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Canada was the Guinea pig

Your boy, BJR > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:32

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“impeccable reliability”

My sister’s 2012 Sonata’s engine siezed at 40k miles and my 2012 Sonata (manual) had issues with going into 1st sometimes, I.E. it didn't want to.

Alfalfa > Your boy, BJR 07/31/2015 at 14:43

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That’s a shame. Our 2010 was a former rental and runs like a top at around 80k.

Margin Of Error > Your boy, BJR 07/31/2015 at 14:53

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I suggest sending them a tweet, pretty sure they will lemon it very quickly

Steve in Manhattan > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 14:56

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Test drove the original Excel in the 80s. Atrocious panel gaps, anemic engine, and a transmission that was aspirational at best. And yes, those are not complete sentences, because the Excel was not a complete car. Perhaps the early 2000s were when the marque came into its own. I recall renting a ... Hyundai something that was every bit a Camry.

Bytemite > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 15:25

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When they came out with this...

and this.

Best looking cars of their respective segments. Combine that with better than class average MPG, HP, Curb weight, Cabin room, and a fuck ton of accessories and optional tech and toys. All for less than a base model Corolla/Camry. Then you throw in that 10 year warranty, it’s a no brainer deal. The ONLY thing holding Hyundai back now is the unfair perception it receives from racists and bigots.

jkm7680 > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 15:36

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Early/Mid 2000’s.

The Santa Fe was a decent car. Reliable and not that horrible on the inside, but cars like the Accent and Sonata were complete horse shit at the time. Also, when the Sonata was also a Kia and that garbage minivan that they started to make weren’t good things for the brand. I’d say that the United States market really started to take them more seriously with the introduction of the Genesis and when they started to mature their lineup more than they had done before. After that, they started to take off and were making cars of much higher quality than they had been making in the past.

lonestranger > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 15:52

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I’d say mid-’oos was when they went from a brand to avoid to an acceptable choice. First-gen Santa Fe, second-gen Tiburon, fifth-gen Sonata, etc. None were especially desirable compared to the competition, but they were decent for the price.

bullshit cars like the Pony/Stellar/Excel that hammered the brand in consumers’ eyes

Those cars (Pony & Stellar in Canada, Excel in the U.S.) established the brand here. Before then, there was no existing brand image for there to be hammered.

NoneOfYourBiz > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 18:09

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I use the Elantra as a proxy for Hyundai’s whole lineup; it’s popular and ubiquitous, much like the Corolla is for Toyota and the Civic for Honda.

First and second generation (1990-2000) were really fugly and, IMO, still suffered from Hyundai’s growing pains. They had neither the style nor quality of later models.

Pre-facelift third generation Elantras were solid. IMO, that’s the period when Hyundai started to turn the corner. (2001-2003 here in Canada, code name “XD” aka “Avante”)

Post-facelift, third generation Elantras (2004-2006, codename “XD2”) were the point when Hyundai largely had the kinks worked out. Same basic design as the XD but far fewer recalls for stupid stuff like door seal leaks and so forth.

The fourth generation Elantras (code “HD” - 2007-2010 model years) are the ones people started to notice but if you didn’t see the Hyundai logo, you’d swear you were looking at a fattened Corolla. Seriously, look at this Corolla Elantra:

Fifth gen is “present day.

So, in light of the above: 2001-2003 Hyundai “became” what they are.

2004-2006 they were technically proficient and subsequently they refined their style to become more attractive to a wider audience.

wiffleballtony > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 18:18

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High quality isn’t something I associate with Hyundai now. They are Chrysler like at best. However, the point where they stopped being horrific was the 2005 Sonata to me.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Margin Of Error 07/31/2015 at 18:28

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I’m saying around 2002-ish, around the time of the second-gen Accent.

Alex B > jkm7680 07/31/2015 at 18:50

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Sorry, but the early 2K’s Santa Fe interior is awful.

jkm7680 > Alex B 07/31/2015 at 19:19

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Have you been in one with leather and the Lx package or whatever? It’s fake leather, but everything is nicely placed together and solid feeling. I wouldn’t own one, but I would recommend one to somebody looking for cheap wheels.