In the last 10 to 20 years Hyundai have gone from a relatively unknown brand from South Korea to one of the most popular marques on UK roads. 

They have infiltrated every market segment from the compact i10 up to the Tucson SUV. 

But during their 57 years in business, what are the stand-out cars made by Hyundai?

Hyundai’s Reliable Track Record

Formed in South Korea in 1967, Hyundai initially began producing the Cortina under license from Ford. It wasn’t until 1976 that their first in-house design; the Pony, was released; it was sold in the UK from 1982 until 1990. 

Since then, Hyundai have regularly ranked highly in reliability leaderboards, and have gradually acquired more and more market share in the UK.

Since 2016 Hyundai have used the name Ioniq in relation to its EV and hybrid vehicles, the first one being a hybrid hatchback to rival the Toyota Prius. In recent years the IONIQ branding has been applied almost as a sub-brand for Hyundai's electric and hybrid lineup.

Today the IONIQ brand produces some of the most innovative and striking electric vehicles on the market, alongside their tried-and-tested lineup of i10, i20 and i30 petrol and diesel passenger cars.

Most Reliable Hyundai Cars

Especially in recent years, Hyundai have scored excellent rankings in reliability indexes, often landing more than one car in the top 10 most reliable. 

They also have a track record of honouring warranty claims, here are our most reliable Hyundai cars.

Hyundai Tucson SUV 2022 - Present - £32,000

The Tucson represents great value, especially in the SUV segment it leads; it was ranked no.2 in Honest John’s 2024 reliability guide, beaten narrowly by the Lexus NX.

Still on sale today the Tucson is available in either petrol or petrol hybrid guise, and a wide array of options to pick from.

Hyundai IONIQ 2016 - 2022

As Hyundai’s first offering with a hybrid and EV option, the IONIQ was a big step for Hyundai, it remained in production, with substantial styling changes from 2016 to 2022, where it was phased out due to consumer demand for SUV and crossover style vehicles. 

Whilst no longer made, the IONIQ can offer great value on the used carmarket, with low mileage 2023 registered cars being advertised for under £12,000.

Hyundai i10 2014-2020

Not only does the Hyundai i10 represent great packaging and value, it has been repeatedly touted as one of the most reliable small cars on the market. The second generation made from 2013 to 2019 scored 98.6% in the small car category of WhatCar?’s reliability report.

That said, the current generation is also well-regarded for being reliable, and at just over £16,000 on the road, it won’t break the bank either.

Best Hyundai SUVs

As SUV’s are becoming ever more popular, Hyundai is not missing any opportunities, offering multiple models, ranging from small to large, with every fuel type possible.

Hyundai Ionic 5 - £39,900

Hyundai actually calls the Ioniq 5 a CUV, for crossover utility vehicle, but the Ioniq 5 is comparable in size to others in the sector. Speaking of size, the Ioniq 5 is definitely not one of the bigger SUVs on the road, which is not a bad thing, its packaging offers a large boot and plenty of passenger space. 

The range starts at £39,900, but don’t think this is a plain base spec, it still comes with a heated steering wheel, highway driving assist and a 12” touchscreen nav system.

Hyundai Tucson - £32,000

The Tucson is a mid-size SUV, offering ample room for 4 people and luggage, but is not as tall or wide as the largest SUVs on the road.

At £32,000 it is good value, especially considering the lowest trim level ‘Advance’ comes with rain sensing wipers, 17” alloy wheels and a 12” touchscreen.

Hyundai Sporty Cars

Even though most of their lineup has been economy and practicality-focused, Hyundai do make some sporty vehicles.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - £65,000

Aimed as a rival to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, the Ioniq 5 N is Hyundai's fastest accelerating car by a large margin, achieving 60 mph from a standstill in 3.4 seconds. By all accounts it handles well for an EV too.

The Ioniq 5 N is on sale now, with prices starting at £65,000 it’s not a cheap car, but it’s almost £10,000 cheaper than the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, another main competitor.

Hyundai Coupe 1996-2008

Named the Tiburon outside of Europe, the Hyundai Coupe was the brand's first foray into a 2-door sports coupe. 

Whilst it wasn’t anywhere near as popular as its main rival the Toyota Celica, it still received praise for its handling and value.  

A choice of three engines saw most opting for the mid-range 2.0 petrol, there was a 2.7 V6 option, which sounded great, but didn’t really deliver the performance you’d expect. 

Second-hand prices are low, with V6 versions selling for sub £2,000 online.

Hyundai i30N 

The i30N is a direct competitor to the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R, with the same great formula; a compact hatchback with a serious amount of power. At either 250 or 280 horsepower and with only around 1,300kg to move, it’s no surprise it can reach 60mph in 5.4 seconds.

Unfortunately for hot enthusiasts the I30N will no longer be offered after 2024, despite good sales figures. Thankfully there are plenty on the secondhand market, with 2018 models selling for under £15,000.

What is the Largest SUV Hyundai Makes?

The Santa Fe is the largest Hyundai SUV, with the Tucson being the mid-size of the range. The Tucson is available as either a 6 or 7 seater.

What Warranty Does Hyundai Offer?

As standard Hyundai offers a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty across all its new car range.

Whilst the duration is fairly standard, if not low compared to some brands (Kia’s 7 years for instance) the unlimited mileage factor is impressive, making a new Hyundai an ideal car for someone who does significant mileage per year.

Are Kia and Hyundai Related?

In 1998 Hyundai bought the controlling share of Kia, whilst their share has reduced from 51% to around 34% in 2023, they are still considered a major shareholder. 

Whilst the two companies operate mostly separate from one another, they do share parts such as powertrains and engines across brands. 

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.