Hyundai has been steadily building a strong reputation of value and reliability in its cars, and there's no better source to confirm this than Forbes.com, one of the most trusted web resources for unbiased vehicle information, uncompromising commentary, and concise analysis. 

Quite popular in Forbes' auto category are the Top 10 lists, which cover interesting topics ranging from "Most Expensive Cars," "Best Cars for Newlyweds," "Cars Least Expensive to Insure," and many more.  We found it relevant to note that Hyundai vehicles made not one, but two, recently published Forbes lists, further reaffirming their strong hold in the auto market.


Best Cars for the Buck

The Hyundai Santa Fe recently made Forbes' list of Top 10 Best Cars for the Buck in the mid-size SUV category.  This study did not simply pick the least expensive car available in a given vehicle class; instead, Forbes chose the vehicles with the best balance between predicted reliability and low ownership costs.  Reliability ratings were taken from Consumer Reports survey data, and ownership costs factored in variables like sales tax, depreciation, fuel costs, interest, insurance, maintenance and repairs.

After the numbers were calculated, the Santa Fe bested its competition with a thrifty $25,995 MSRP price tag (for the V6 SE model), and a $44,500 5-year cost.  Its fellow winners in other vehicle classes included the Honda Fit, Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen.  The Santa Fe is clearly in good company.


Top 10 New Cars for College Kids

Also recently rising to the top for Hyundai was the Elantra, which weighed in as one of Forbes' Top 10 New Cars for College Kids.  The study aimed to spotlight cars that were inexpensive, reliable, and safe, a perfect match for a first-year college student (and the parents who are likely footing the bill).  Candidates were chosen based on the following criteria:

• Base model under $20,000
• Fuel economy of 35 mpg or more
• Standard safety features of six airbags, antilock brakes and stability control
• Retain 40 percent or more of their original value after four years of ownership
  

The Hyundai Elantra was one of the 10 cars that made the cut, exceeding the minimums in all categories with its $14,945 base MSRP, 40 mpg, sophisticated safety systems, and projected 53% 4-year resale value.  Forbes also touted the Elantra's attractive design and extra features like touchscreen navigation, rearview camera, and Bluetooth capabilities.  Other cars to make this list include industry stalwarts like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Ford Focus.