Fyi they specify to replace the timing belt at 60k. Seems like every other car I was familiar with that wad an 80k or 100k service. Good news is on the Elantra it's cheap to do. Dealer quoted me $600.
My wife has a 2007 and has owned it since new. It's been pretty reliable and has only needed two oxygen sensors, a flex pipe, door lock actuator, timing belt, belts, brakes and tires in all that time. I had the transmission fluid changed while it was in for the belt. Has had no major mechanical issues and has never left her stranded.
I just bought a used 2013 Sonata and am liking it. The dealer I went through put a lifetime power-train warranty (the non-transferable 10 year is what this replaced) on it which they do on all used car sales for Hyundai. We also bought a lifetime bumper to bumper extended warranty for it. Price for that was the same as other 3 year 30k mile warranties, $2400. The warranty actually states 999 months and 999,999 miles on the contract.
Hyundai also owns Kia now and they have been working hard on catching Kia up in quality and features to be comparable to the Hyundai lines.
I'm not sure what that even means.
Kia is and always has been Hyundai's budget brand. Like Lexus and Toyota. Or Dodge and Plymouth. Resale on a Hyundai is pretty good with some models being very good. Kia still trails in this aspect.
Kia is and always has been Hyundai's budget brand. Like Lexus and Toyota.
It means that I think the dealer robbed you.
Hyundai is still using timing belts? Honda and Toyota moved to timing chains for their 4-cylinders years ago. As long as you don't do something stupid like run the car with no oil, a timing chain will likely never need replacement. Over 200K miles, those timing belt replacements would easily make up the price difference between a Hyundai and a comparable Honda or Toyota.