24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Hyundai, Ioniq, Kia, and Genesis are four Korean car brands that offer a high level of quality, reliability, and great features.
- When it comes to Korean car brands, Hyundai and Kia make up a majority of the market, with Hyundai even being a controlling stakeholder for Kia.
- The 2025 Kia K5 earned a 9/10 rating from Car and Driver for its many values, which include price, features, safety, and gas mileage.
- Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever
Purchasing a car is a big decision, as many individuals use their cars at least daily to drive to and from work. With so many cars on the market, consumers are beginning to look for options with high durability and reliability, as well as better gas mileage. Whether a car brand is eco-friendly and environmentally sound is also a more recent consideration, pushing many people to consider electric vehicles (EVs) as an option. If you’re on the market for a new vehicle, you might be wondering which car manufacturer you should lean towards: Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, or something else entirely. With each brand and manufacturer pushing out positive news and reviews, it can be difficult to decide which car actually offers the value you’re searching for. (Here are the top 10 electric vehicle brands right now.)
Choosing a Korean car brand is often a nice choice, as these auto manufacturers usually offer fantastic reliability at a decently affordable price point. When it comes to Korean auto manufacturers, Kia and Hyundai own a significant portion of the market. It is important to note that Hyundai is the largest controlling shareholder for Kia, and Kia has some stakes in Hyundai subsidiaries. Hyundai also owns the Genesis and Ioniq brands, which primarily offer luxury vehicles and EVs, respectively. Therefore, if you’re choosing a Korean car brand, leaning towards something manufactured by Hyundai or Kia is probably on your radar.
Besides the big two, another option is KG Mobility, or KGM, which has about 4% of its home market. North America is not one of its markets. Formerly known as SsangYong, the company has changed owners several times since it was established in 1954, and now focuses on EVs. It only recently became profitable again after many years. In addition, it reportedly doesn’t own its own brand name in some countries due to a trademark troll. Korean carmaker Daewoo went bankrupt in 1999 and was swallowed up by GM Korea. Renault also has a Korean arm, but these two companies focus on vehicles for the Korean market. Then there is Pyeonghwa Motors, but it is North Korean and produces very few automobiles.
To identify the best four Korean car brands you can purchase, 24/7 Wall St. evaluated consumer review websites, safety reports and reviews, and car rankings from reputable organizations like Kelley Blue Book and U.S. News & World Report. The cars below, listed in no specific order, made this list because of their superior quality, speed, construction, features, and safety.
Why Buy a Korean Car?
The short answer? Buying a Korean car can be good for the pocketbook. Korean car brands are often more affordable than others in the same class. But that does not necessarily mean that the car comes at the expense of quality. Hyundai and Kia have bolstered their reputations over the past two decades by offering vehicles that are consistently durable and reliable. These brands offer a wide range of vehicles to suit diverse consumer needs. Plus, unlike cars from some other auto-makers, Korean vehicles are less likely to lose value in resale because they sell fast and are always in demand.
With that in mind, here are the four Korean car brands worth buying:
Hyundai
- Founded: December 1967
- Headquarters: Seoul
- Makes: Sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, vans, pickups, heavy trucks, buses, tanks, railway cars, industrial equipment
- Market Share: About 44%
- Parent: Hyundai Motor Group
- Website: Hyundai USA
From a Pony to a World-Class Brand
The first South Korean car, the Hyundai Pony, was released in 1975. The company began to sell automobiles in Canada in 1984 and the United States two years later. Known for its affordable offerings, Hyundai had established itself as a world-class brand by 2004.
Among its most popular cars currently offered in the U.S. are the Santa Fe midsized SUV, the Tucson crossover, and the Elantra compact sedan. U.S. News and World Report named the Tucson as 2024’s best compact SUV for the money. Hyundai sold 801,195 vehicles in the U.S. in 2023, which was an 11% increase from the year before and the highest total sales ever for the Hyundai brand.
Ioniq
- Founded: August 2020
- Headquarters: Seoul
- Makes: Electric vehicles
- Parent: Hyundai Motors
- Website: Ioniq
Shooting for a Million
The initial Hyundai Ioniq model, a hybrid intended to compete with the Toyota Prius, was launched in 2016. Four years later, the company launched Ioniq as its own brand, reserved specifically for electric cars.
Ioniq’s first vehicle was the Ioniq 5, a compact crossover vehicle. The Ioniq 6, a midsize sedan, followed, and then the Ioniq 9 midsize SUV. The 2025 Ioniq 5 was named the top electric SUV by Car and Driver. And the 2025 Ioniq 6 comes with nearly $7,500 in Retail Bonus Cash to encourage purchases. Hyundai aims to sell a million electric vehicle sales annually by 2025. U.S. sales of the Ioniq brand totaled nearly 47,000 in 2023, a record, and comprised almost a 6% share of Hyundai’s total sales.
Genesis
- Founded: November 2015
- Headquarters: Seoul
- Makes: Luxury vehicles
- Parent: Hyundai Motors
- Website: Genesis
Precision Engineering and Sophistication
The first Hyundai Genesis model was introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Genesis became a stand-alone brand in 2015, and a year later the brand’s G80 and G90 models rolled out in the United States.
The G80 executive sedan remains its most successful model worldwide, lauded for its intuitive features, elegant appearance, and smooth ride. The brand’s GV80, its first SUV, is also quite popular. The latest model year GV80 received a 10 out 10 rating from Car and Driver, highlighting why the Hyundai Genesis is a brand you should consider. And you wouldn’t be alone. Around 69,200 Genesis vehicles were sold in the United States last year, over 22% more than in the prior year.
Kia
- Founded: June 1944
- Headquarters: Seoul
- Makes: Automobiles and commercial vehicles
- Market Share: About 40%
- Parent: Hyundai Motors
- Website: Kia
Korea’s Oldest Carmaker
Kia originally produced bicycle parts and steel tubing, but made the switch to automobile manufacturing in 1974. The first Kia-branded vehicles in the U.S. were sold 19 years later in 1993. After Kia’s bankruptcy in 1997, Hyundai acquired a controlling stake, but Kia continues to operate independently.
The Kia Sportage, a compact crossover, was the most popular model in January, with sales of more than 15,200 units, up 17% year over year. The Sportage offers all-terrain tires, all-wheel drive, and plenty of legroom and cargo space, making it an appealing option for many consumers. Beyond the Kia Sportage, both the Forte and Sorento, a sedan and a crossover, are also top sellers. Total U.S. sales for 2023 came to over $782,400, up over 13% year over year. Car and Driver gives the 2025 Kia K5 a 9 out of 10 rating, while the Sorento rates an 8, which mean you can consider both if you’re searching for a reliable car.
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