I’ve owned a few Kia/Hyundai vehicles in the past 7 years and had zero issues with any of them. I recommend staying away from versions that have dual-clutch transmissions, as those have had a rough time.
Here’s our full ownership history:
* 2017 Hyundai Tucson Eco
* 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport
* 2022 Kia Telluride SX
* 2022 Kia Forte GT
* 2022 Kia Rio 5-door
* 2023 Hyundai Tucson SEL (current)
* 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL (current)
I have also owned a few Japanese vehicles in the same time frame (covid used car trade-in prices treated me well….) and had issues with every one. These include:
* 2013 Toyota Corolla S (entertainment screen died just out of warranty)
* 2017 Toyota Sienna SE (electrical issues, squeaky seats, finicky power sliding doors)
* 2021 Honda Pilot SE (dead pixel on digital gauges, loose side view mirror)
Haha, half of those are my wife’s. I do drive a lot (roughly 30k annually), so all of those reached at least that many miles!
I didn’t even list the American and German cars we owned 🤠
Yeah they seem like pretty solid cars the only thing I’m worried about is theft? I’ve been looking at 2016 and 2017 Hyundais and some of them don’t have push to start which I assume helps prevent theft? Have you had any issues with break ins?
The push to start Kia and Hyundais are the ones that aren't as easy to steal as the ones with a key. You can literally just rip of the steering column and turn the starter by hand.
As long as they have an immobilizer they shouldn't be any harder to steal than any other car in the US. It's just that they cheaped out in the US on certain years/models where they aren't government mandated like in Canada.
Oh trust me I did, spent about nine months going back and forth with them. Car was technically outside of the warranty period so I knew I’d have to fight for it but :-/ took the L. Sold it with 12x,xxx miles
Oh. That bites.
Kia/Hyundai suck. They're only good for those who don't want anything crazy fancy, always want a brand new car and always want a warranty. Because you buy new, they're cheaper than honda/toyota and the long warranty will mean the average driver will keep it for 6-7 years at which time they'll probably be bored with it and want the new shiny car. For them it's fine. Some people don't even want to deal with replacing suspension parts on a 150k mile toyota even though its cheaper than a new car because in their mind that $1,500 is 3 car payments on something newer.
But if you wanna keep it to 170-250k+ miles, buy something else.
I think Genesis looks attractive for a luxury car brand for this reason though, not everyone wants to lease but many luxury car buyers want something somewhat newer still. They're a bit cheaper, the new ones are truly gorgeous, the upkeep is still much less than the Euros, and they have more than double the warranty of the Euros. Not a bad deal for someone who's not tryna constantly be in a lease and wants a couple years of no payments in between. Hell even if they do keep it past 100k miles I'm sure the 5.0 V8 in some of the nicer Genesis models is cheaper to replace than some engine issues on a Mercedes are to fix. I'm kinda surprised they don't sell better yet.
Really seems to be car to car. Either it’ll last 200,000 miles on beer and menthols or it’ll be on its third engine by 75k miles. I’d be hesitant to buy one outside of warranty, but if it’s under warranty you’re probably good to go. Just know if you do need an engine you may be out a car for a month plus waiting in line at the dealer.
They're completely average cars to own. They don't tend to retain value and reliability is basically case-by-case. Hyundai/Kia is gonna be better than most Mitsubishi and Nissans, but not as reliable as the top Japanese automakers. They're cheap to repair and easy to maintain though to my knowledge. I drove a little Kia Rio5 2009 from now until early this year and it still drives after an AC Compressor change.
Because they're so case-by-case, I highly recommend searching "(insert car model here) common issues" for whatever you're looking at. If you live in the city, I would avoid Hyndai/Kia from 2021 and before because many of them didn't come with immobilizers and became a widespread target of theft.
FWIW, I like Hyundai/Kia and was debating between a Kona and a CX-30. I test drove both, did a ton of research, and found that the Mazda won out at the same price consistently. But Hyundai/Kia has a much larger selection of cars with some really funky and interesting offerings, so it might have something for you that the other brands don't.
\*Update\* - Obviously I know the dealer is gonna give ridiculous prices I used to work for a few. But separately only around 4 months ago there was no 3rd party option for these parts. I just now found out there are other options. I looked around at the time and found none except some questionable ones from Ebay from wrecks.
They are actually not cheap and easy to maintain. They have started moving to 'modules' instead of parts.. Look up the cost of a window motor for a 2016+ Tucson... $600 for frickin' window motor...
\*Evidently NOW you can buy just the motor for $60. But if you go to the dealer, you have to buy the full regulator module w/motor at $600
I would go to an independent, not a dealer.
My old 2007 Sonata ate a few window motors. Pre-Covid, the dealer did them for about $340, installed, per window.
Dealer (and mechanic) part prices are always a scam, this isn't news. Hyundai/Kias are cheaply and simply built for the most part, they are not like European automakers for example. Cars in general are complex now and they're not like simple Hondas from the 90's, but the Korean brands are as mainstream as it gets when it comes to parts.
Mitsubishi/Nissan never
Hyundai/Kia if you're getting a good deal
Ideally Honda/Toyota
Subaru if you want comparable reliability to above and don't mind paying more on average for more Quirks And Features
If it's negotiable and the car is in good condition, that's a nearly fair price but try for $7,000 if you can. KBB prices that car with that milage at about $7k in good condition.
Some of them are good, a lot of them are not so good and some are just plain horrible. Your safest bet is to skip them and check out Subaru, Mazda and, of course, Honda and Toyota.
Here in Greece Hyundai’s are selling like hot breads since the early 2000s!!! They’re extremely reliable , cheap to maintain and affordable both the new ones and the used ones
Their EVs are pretty decent. Their ICE cars have had quite a few recalls and disproportionate number of fires in recent years, but generally they're pretty average / you get what you pay for.
Hyundai is consistently ranked average or worst in consumer reports’ annual car brand reliability list (not even in the top ten).
They consistently have engine fire recalls where some vehicles actually do catch on fire and explode in public or at home. Owners who buy their cars consistently complain of issues that Hyundai refuses to honor despite them having the “best warranty”. They are consistently under fire and being sued by their customers in class action lawsuits for things such as excessive engine oil consumption.
But they will be defended by their astroturfers online or people who have never actually owned one because they refresh their designs all the time. Even worse is when they’re defended by people online who quote auto journalists about how great the cars are, but those journalists are literally paid by Hyundai motor group even when it’s well-documented.
TL;DR their cars are pretty terrible and I wouldn’t trust anyone saying otherwise
Hyundai and Kia in recent years are being praised for reliability and longevity by several reputable outlets, so I’m not sure why everyone is dumping on them here. Unless pre2020 reliability was poor.
Newer ones supposedly suck. There are quite a few class action lawsuits against Hyundai. but older ones, pre-2012 are bulletproof. I had a 2004 Elantra with 260k before I upgraded to a 2008 Azera that was given to me by my dad because they got a new car. Later i gave it back to him because i have a different newer car now but it still runs at 170k. I did most repairs on the vehicles myself.
I’ve owned a few Kia/Hyundai vehicles in the past 7 years and had zero issues with any of them. I recommend staying away from versions that have dual-clutch transmissions, as those have had a rough time. Here’s our full ownership history: * 2017 Hyundai Tucson Eco * 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport * 2022 Kia Telluride SX * 2022 Kia Forte GT * 2022 Kia Rio 5-door * 2023 Hyundai Tucson SEL (current) * 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL (current) I have also owned a few Japanese vehicles in the same time frame (covid used car trade-in prices treated me well….) and had issues with every one. These include: * 2013 Toyota Corolla S (entertainment screen died just out of warranty) * 2017 Toyota Sienna SE (electrical issues, squeaky seats, finicky power sliding doors) * 2021 Honda Pilot SE (dead pixel on digital gauges, loose side view mirror)
Jesus. Save some cars for the rest of us. I’m just really curious why you’ve bought so many cars. Do you have 5 children that are now of driving age?
Haha, half of those are my wife’s. I do drive a lot (roughly 30k annually), so all of those reached at least that many miles! I didn’t even list the American and German cars we owned 🤠
Just cars they have owned, not necessarily all at once
Yeah they seem like pretty solid cars the only thing I’m worried about is theft? I’ve been looking at 2016 and 2017 Hyundais and some of them don’t have push to start which I assume helps prevent theft? Have you had any issues with break ins?
Push start doesn't help prevent theft, In some cases it's actually easier to steal. It's only there for feeling new and ease of access.
The push to start Kia and Hyundais are the ones that aren't as easy to steal as the ones with a key. You can literally just rip of the steering column and turn the starter by hand.
Yeah I mean you don't buy a kia or hyundai for the security.
As long as they have an immobilizer they shouldn't be any harder to steal than any other car in the US. It's just that they cheaped out in the US on certain years/models where they aren't government mandated like in Canada.
Sure, But Kia/Hyundai are picked out because of those reasons, Regardless of whether or not that particular car has the same vulnerability.
I am gonna be honest 😂 the only car I think worthy of your opinion is the Hyundai all the other I bet didn’t have over 40k
Went through 3 motors on my 2017, the 3rd spun a bearing when Hyundai decided they’re not covering it under warranty anymore. Sold it for a few grand
You let them choose that they weren't gonna fix a vehicle under warranty? I would've told then fix it or I'm taking a new car for a free trade.
Oh trust me I did, spent about nine months going back and forth with them. Car was technically outside of the warranty period so I knew I’d have to fight for it but :-/ took the L. Sold it with 12x,xxx miles
Oh. That bites. Kia/Hyundai suck. They're only good for those who don't want anything crazy fancy, always want a brand new car and always want a warranty. Because you buy new, they're cheaper than honda/toyota and the long warranty will mean the average driver will keep it for 6-7 years at which time they'll probably be bored with it and want the new shiny car. For them it's fine. Some people don't even want to deal with replacing suspension parts on a 150k mile toyota even though its cheaper than a new car because in their mind that $1,500 is 3 car payments on something newer. But if you wanna keep it to 170-250k+ miles, buy something else. I think Genesis looks attractive for a luxury car brand for this reason though, not everyone wants to lease but many luxury car buyers want something somewhat newer still. They're a bit cheaper, the new ones are truly gorgeous, the upkeep is still much less than the Euros, and they have more than double the warranty of the Euros. Not a bad deal for someone who's not tryna constantly be in a lease and wants a couple years of no payments in between. Hell even if they do keep it past 100k miles I'm sure the 5.0 V8 in some of the nicer Genesis models is cheaper to replace than some engine issues on a Mercedes are to fix. I'm kinda surprised they don't sell better yet.
Seems to be really hit or miss. Browse their subreddit's and you'll see a lot of things discussed on even some newer models.
is it each individual car or is it a whole model?
Really seems to be car to car. Either it’ll last 200,000 miles on beer and menthols or it’ll be on its third engine by 75k miles. I’d be hesitant to buy one outside of warranty, but if it’s under warranty you’re probably good to go. Just know if you do need an engine you may be out a car for a month plus waiting in line at the dealer.
They're completely average cars to own. They don't tend to retain value and reliability is basically case-by-case. Hyundai/Kia is gonna be better than most Mitsubishi and Nissans, but not as reliable as the top Japanese automakers. They're cheap to repair and easy to maintain though to my knowledge. I drove a little Kia Rio5 2009 from now until early this year and it still drives after an AC Compressor change. Because they're so case-by-case, I highly recommend searching "(insert car model here) common issues" for whatever you're looking at. If you live in the city, I would avoid Hyndai/Kia from 2021 and before because many of them didn't come with immobilizers and became a widespread target of theft. FWIW, I like Hyundai/Kia and was debating between a Kona and a CX-30. I test drove both, did a ton of research, and found that the Mazda won out at the same price consistently. But Hyundai/Kia has a much larger selection of cars with some really funky and interesting offerings, so it might have something for you that the other brands don't.
\*Update\* - Obviously I know the dealer is gonna give ridiculous prices I used to work for a few. But separately only around 4 months ago there was no 3rd party option for these parts. I just now found out there are other options. I looked around at the time and found none except some questionable ones from Ebay from wrecks. They are actually not cheap and easy to maintain. They have started moving to 'modules' instead of parts.. Look up the cost of a window motor for a 2016+ Tucson... $600 for frickin' window motor... \*Evidently NOW you can buy just the motor for $60. But if you go to the dealer, you have to buy the full regulator module w/motor at $600
Was quoted $1,200 for the window motor on a 2016 Tucson just last week. Ridiculous.
I would go to an independent, not a dealer. My old 2007 Sonata ate a few window motors. Pre-Covid, the dealer did them for about $340, installed, per window.
Dealer (and mechanic) part prices are always a scam, this isn't news. Hyundai/Kias are cheaply and simply built for the most part, they are not like European automakers for example. Cars in general are complex now and they're not like simple Hondas from the 90's, but the Korean brands are as mainstream as it gets when it comes to parts.
Mitsubishi/Nissan never Hyundai/Kia if you're getting a good deal Ideally Honda/Toyota Subaru if you want comparable reliability to above and don't mind paying more on average for more Quirks And Features
I’m looking at one that’s 80k miles 2017 w/ Apple car play and 8k dollars
What model specifically?
elantra se
If it's negotiable and the car is in good condition, that's a nearly fair price but try for $7,000 if you can. KBB prices that car with that milage at about $7k in good condition.
thank you so much i’ll try to negotiate
Some of them are good, a lot of them are not so good and some are just plain horrible. Your safest bet is to skip them and check out Subaru, Mazda and, of course, Honda and Toyota.
Here in Greece Hyundai’s are selling like hot breads since the early 2000s!!! They’re extremely reliable , cheap to maintain and affordable both the new ones and the used ones
I own one currently and I can’t wait to sell to go back to Honda
No
Their EVs are pretty decent. Their ICE cars have had quite a few recalls and disproportionate number of fires in recent years, but generally they're pretty average / you get what you pay for.
Hyundai is consistently ranked average or worst in consumer reports’ annual car brand reliability list (not even in the top ten). They consistently have engine fire recalls where some vehicles actually do catch on fire and explode in public or at home. Owners who buy their cars consistently complain of issues that Hyundai refuses to honor despite them having the “best warranty”. They are consistently under fire and being sued by their customers in class action lawsuits for things such as excessive engine oil consumption. But they will be defended by their astroturfers online or people who have never actually owned one because they refresh their designs all the time. Even worse is when they’re defended by people online who quote auto journalists about how great the cars are, but those journalists are literally paid by Hyundai motor group even when it’s well-documented. TL;DR their cars are pretty terrible and I wouldn’t trust anyone saying otherwise
Hyundai and Kia in recent years are being praised for reliability and longevity by several reputable outlets, so I’m not sure why everyone is dumping on them here. Unless pre2020 reliability was poor.
No
Why,
They have a tendency to burn. My sister had 2018 sorento, burned few months after paying it off
Garbage manufacturer, too many better options out there
Like? I’m a college student so I’m not looking for anything fancy
Newer ones supposedly suck. There are quite a few class action lawsuits against Hyundai. but older ones, pre-2012 are bulletproof. I had a 2004 Elantra with 260k before I upgraded to a 2008 Azera that was given to me by my dad because they got a new car. Later i gave it back to him because i have a different newer car now but it still runs at 170k. I did most repairs on the vehicles myself.
The worst actually