Hyundai Reliability Guide: An In-depth Look

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Geoff Cudd

Geoff Cudd

I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.

I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.

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For some years now, the battle of reliability has been between these three brands: Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda. These three Asian car brands have a reputation for reliability and overall dependability.

However, there have been many rumors and customer complaints surrounding the Hyundai brand. Many customers believe that Hyundai is only interested in sales and not customer satisfaction. This begs the question, is Hyundai up to any good? Are they in any way reliable?

Irrespective of the fears and worries, Hyundai is a reliable brand. Their reliability might be as high as what is obtainable from Honda.

Hyundai improved its reliability rating by adding certain specs and features that improved its overall dependability. There’s a reason why Hyundai is referred to as America’s best Warranty car brand.

Hyundai cars come with a lower repair and maintenance cost, lesser chance of major or minor repairs, and good fuel economy. Their cars are not the best with the resale value, but they are also not the worst.

Let’s explore Hyundai’s reliability and all you should know about the brand.

Are Hyundai Reliable?

Hyundai cars are highly reliable. The Hyundai hasn’t maintained a consistent standard of reliability for many years. This has made many drivers doubt their ability to make reliable cars.

With the series of production failures of the Hyundai brand in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 in the production of Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Elantra, and Hyundai Genesis, it is becoming hard to trust Hyundai again.

However, you must understand that many things have changed. Hyundai has started making some reliable cars that not only last the test of time but deliver an amazing technology package for safety and performance.

Hyundai has a line-up of cars with impressive fuel economy, and users are also assured of cheap repair and maintenance costs. To win back customers’ hearts, Hyundai introduces an amazing warranty and insurance plan that covers your car’s damages and repairs.

In recent years, Hyundai has employed many strategies to save the brand. From the introduction of the knock sensor detection system, extension of warranty, change in its design/management philosophy, and heavy investments in engineering designs, Hyundai is doing a lot to build back the lost trust.

So far, the efforts have paid off. Hyundai has risen from being a joke in the automobile industry to becoming a major contender among the big names.

In 2019, Hyundai recorded a 93/100 score on the UK Reliability Index, 95.7% on the What Car? reliability survey, the highest rating on JD Power’s initial quality survey. This includes the Kelley Blue Book award. 2019 was a golden year for Hyundai.

Since then, Hyundai has risen to produce some great cars. Currently, Hyundai is the 4^th reliable car out of 32 car brands, with a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, according to RepairPal.

Why Hyundai Is Considered Reliable

Here are major reasons why Hyundai is a reliable brand:

1. Durability

One of the major reasons for Hyundai’s improved reliability is its durability. On the levels of personal experience, I got my wife a Hyundai Accent, and there hasn’t been any cause for alarm. The car drives just fine, and its only repair and maintenance routine is just servicing.

Hyundai cars are quite durable, with an extended lifespan of 15 to 20 years, on 200,0000 to 250,000 miles. These cars are supported by the high warranty Hyundai offers, the best coverage in the automobile industry.

With a Hyundai car, you have a 10% probability of a major repair and a 0.3 chance of visiting a mechanic. This varies across different models in the Hyundai line-up, but on average, you have a $468 annual repair and maintenance cost.

2. Fuel Economy

Hyundai boasts of some of the best cars for gas mileage. Fuel economy is a major factor that every driver considers for reliability. Not everyone will want to buy a car that will have you spending so much money to fill your tank. Gas is expensive!

On the Hyundai line-up, some cars offer an amazing level of fuel economy, even though they are not hybrid, EV, or electric cars.

If you are considering the Hyundai cars with the best gas mileage, then you should choose the Honda Accent or Honda Elantra. These two cars are loaded with great engines that help them achieve a nice level of fuel economy.

Accent achieves a 33mpg city and 41mpg highway while Elantra delivers better gas mileage at 33 mpg city and 43 mpg.

3. Safety and Technology

Hyundais are safe cars. There are many rumors and doubts about Hyundai’s safety reliability after the Tiger Woods fatal accident in the Hyundai Genesis GV80.

It is believed that if Hyundai is as safe as projected, he should have left the scene with just little scratches after the front collision.

While we may not have answers to the rising questions, we would love to point out that Hyundai has many cars on the IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings, with eight Hyundai vehicles recognized in the 2022 safety awards.

The Hyundai safety technology (Hyundai Smartsense) consists of an array of systems that don’t stop at keeping you safe but also improve the overall handling and ease of your driving.

On the Hyundai Smartsense, you should expect:

• Downhill braking control
• Blind-spot view monitor
• Lane-following assist
• Ultrasonic rear occupant alert
• Driver attention warning
• Safe exit warning
• Premium remote smart parking assist
• Rear occupant alert
• Surround

4. Engine and Performance

Hyundai is gradually doing better with its engines. These engines are gradually becoming reliable and not having many problems as they were known. However, the engine reliability of the Hyundai brand is not spread out to all models.

The Hyundai engine design focuses on superior performance, increased efficiency, and clean emissions. Hyundai is making plans to become a carbon-neutral company by 2045.

There are different Hyundai engines with different specifications: e-VGT, iMT, CVT, DCT, and Turbo. Users should select their cars according to their driving needs. There are also diesel and petrol engine options for you to choose from.

The Hyundai engine line-up offers the benefits of enhanced driving experience, fuel economy, durability, and increased reliability. You should expect your Hyundai engine to last up to 300,000 miles with little or no major repairs.

5. Design

Design is one of the areas in that Hyundai outsmarts the competition. Hyundai has won numerous awards for its impressive designs.

Hyundai won the 2021 Australian International Good Design Awards and has held the Good Design Awards for five consecutive years.

This is an impressive feat from the brand. These design exploits are spread across almost all Hyundai cars. Hyundai is the type of car you go for when you want to make a statement on the road.

With a Hyundai car, you have attractive and durable interior and body designs. These designs are structured not only to compete with other big brands but also to achieve customer satisfaction.

Hyundai Reliability: Pros

• Low repair and maintenance cost
• High safety ratings
• Great designs
• Impressive performance and handling
• Affordable

Hyundai Reliability: Cons

• Difficulty finding spare parts

Verdict

Hyundai has fixed its reliability issues, but many drivers still worry about customer service and how customers are treated in certain regions.

We might have answers or solutions to this or project the availability of Hyundai spare parts in your region. It is important that you make adequate inquiries when you are choosing a brand for your new car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hyundai expensive to insure?

No. Hyundais are not expensive to insure. It costs an annual average of $1,300 to $1,900 to insure a Hyundai car. This is relatively cheaper than the cost of insuring a Honda ($2,151 per year).

Does Hyundai have its own insurance?

Yes. Hyundai makes it easy for its users by providing an insurance plan. The Hyundai premier motor insurance covers your needs for genuine Hyundai parts, a 3-year new-for-old replacement, and flexible payment plans that spread out to a year, granting you the ability to choose your preferred driver.

Do Hyundai cars last long?

Yes. Hyundai cars have an impressive life span of 15 to 20 years, with the ability to last up to 200,000 to 250,000 miles.