When asked to name the greatest automaking countries, most gearheads will mention Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and Britain. Korea will not be mentioned alongside these great nations, but if the last two decades are anything to go by, it will soon join them.
Since the turn of the century, Korean cars, led by Kia and Hyundai, have gone from being virtually unknown to commanding a significant market share that's growing every day. Korean cars used to be viewed as the cheaper and lesser quality alternative to Japanese cars, but they now have enough quality to compete against the very best. Let's explore ten of the best Korean cars every gearhead should drive at least once in their life.
10 Hyundai i20N
The hot hatchback market has been dominated by the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus RS for the longest time. However, there's a new Sheriff in town — the fantastic Hyundai i20N. This car is so good that it clinched Top Gear's 2021 Performance Car of The Year award as well as their overall Car of the Year award.
The i20N is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo GDI engine cranking out 201 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque paired with a six-speed manual. Since it weighs just 2,620 lbs, it can accelerate to 60 mph in just over 6 seconds and has a top speed of 143 mph, making it one of the fastest hot hatches you can buy today.
9 Kia Stinger GT
The Stinger burst onto the scene in 2017 and immediately impressed gearheads with its sleek design and attractive price point compared to European equivalents like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series. The Stinger was designed by Peter Schreyer — the man behind the Audi TT — and was engineered by former BMW M Vice President of Engineering Albert Biermann.
At the heart of the top-ranging Stinger is a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine generating 368 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, enough to make it fun to drive.
8 Genesis G90
When Hyundai established the Genesis luxury brand, they retired the Equus nameplate and replaced it with the G90 full-size luxury sedan. The G90 is all about luxury and is designed to make gearheads feel like they're sitting in a Rolls-Royce Ghost or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, even if it costs a lot less.
The G90 has many premium features, including power soft-close doors, tri-zone climate control, an auto-adjusting steering wheel, and 22-way adjustable seats with heating, cooling, and massage functions.
7 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Produced from 2008 to 2016, the Genesis Coupe is a two-door coupe that Hyundai built to show that it could also make a respectable sports car. The Genesis Coupe shared its platform with the Genesis luxury sedan and was Hyundai's first rear-wheel-drive sports car.
There were several engine options for the Genesis Coupe, with the most powerful being a 3.8-liter Lambda II RS GDI V6, with up to 348 hp on tap.
6 Kia EV6
The electric car industry is growing faster than ever before, and like most automakers, Kia doesn't want to be left behind. Introduced earlier this year, the EV6 is Kia's first dedicated electric vehicle, and looking at it, it's clear that the manufacturer means business.
The EV6 has an alluring compact crossover SUV design and is based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The top-ranging model comes with a 77.4 kWh battery pack, providing up to 317 miles of range.
5 Oullim Motors Spirra EX
Not many gearheads have heard of the Oullim Spirra, but those who have know that it eats Ferraris and Porsches for breakfast. The Spirra was envisioned by Korean designer Han-Chul Kim in the '90s, who wanted to build an exotic Korean sports car.
The Spirra was sold in four trims, with the top-of-the-range model being the Spirra EX. Powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 blurting out 500 hp, the Spirra EX had a 0-60 of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 193 mph.
4 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec
Hyundai seems to have mastered the art of building a proper hot hatch. The Veloster Turbo R-Spec may not be as revered as the i20N mentioned above, but it's also a fantastic hot hatch that gives the Volkswagen Golf GTI a run for its money.
Of all the models in the Veloster lineup, the Turbo R-Spec is arguably the most fun to drive. It comes with a 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder mated exclusively to a six-speed manual. It also has sport-tuned steering that comes in handy in the twists and turns.
3 Genesis GV80
The demand for SUVs is still pretty high in the US, despite the eco-warriors fighting day and night against them. As such, Genesis decided to build its first SUV to take advantage, resulting in the GV80.
The GV80 is all about refinement and luxury. It comes with premium features like Nappa leather upholstery, a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 21-speaker Lexicon audio system, and electric side curtains. The GV80 is also quick, taking just over 5 seconds to get to 60 mph, thanks to its turbocharged 3.5-liter V6.
2 Kia K900
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The K900 is the largest and fanciest Kia sedan you can buy, built for gearheads who want a full-size luxury sedan but don't have enough money to splurge on the BMW 8-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The K900 offers the perfect balance of elegance and commanding presence with its sleek body shape, striking radiator grille, 19-inch alloy wheels, and duplex LED headlights.
The latest K900 comes with a 5.0-liter Tau GDi V8 engine producing 419 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, making it pretty fast.
1 Hyundai Santa Fe
Unlike the aforementioned GV80, the Santa Fe is an SUV meant to offer buyers maximum value for their money. It's one of the cheapest SUVs you can buy today, but that doesn't mean that you have to give up a lot in terms of class, equipment, or other toys on the inside.
The heavily-revised 2021 model is built on Hyundai's new N3 platform to allow for hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The top-spec model is powered by a mild hybrid powertrain generating 277 hp, enough for decent performance.