Korea always make some of the best value vehicles on the road. Because they lack the reputation we see so clearly in brands like Mercedes and BMW, Korean cars allow for customers to get a great deal.
Typically, Korean made vehicles are good value because they are cheaply made and therefore inexpensive to buy, but recently, there has been a surge in more performance-oriented vehicles, and this means there are some great options in everything from hatchbacks to SUVs. Below are 10 superb Korean cars we'd love to take for a spin.
10 Kia Stinger GT
The Kia Stinger GT provides almost everything you could want from the modern sedan, stylish looks, good performance, a decent level of practicality and excellent value.
South Korea's answer to the mid-size BMW and Mercedes offerings comes in at around $30,000, and for this you're getting a 3.3-liter V6 and styling that's both sporty and sleek. It certainly wouldn't be out of place next to the German alternatives, and the standard equipment makes it incredible value. It comes with wireless phone charging, a high-quality Harman/Kardon audio system, electric front seats which are both heated and ventilated and all-round parking sensors.
9 Kia Picanto GT Line
The Kia Picanto is a car that's been around for a while now, its popularity stems from its great value, making it a perfect choice for new drivers especially.
For an added kick, Kia introduced a GT Line model which sees some classic hatchback styling in the form of red detailing around the exterior and interior and elsewhere, there's an overall improvement in terms of build quality, which often plagues cheaper made Korean vehicles. As a city car, you can't go wrong with the Picanto GT as it's comfort and practicality levels are excellent too with plenty of legroom and headroom and a class leading 255-liter rear cargo area.
8 Genesis GV80
Genesis are a more premium brand and this is immediately evident with the GV80. Visually, the GV80 is striking to say the least and the size makes it a great option for those looking for a practical and luxury feeling SUV.
It's similar in size to the BMW X5, and it's arguably styled much like equivalent Bentleys, especially for the front grille design. The high-quality leather interior with wood and metal detailing and overall comfort make it one of the best SUV's in its category. Another plus point is the excellent level of standard equipment, which is unlike what you'd see in rival SUV's, with alternatives regularly charging thousands of dollars extra on top of an already expensive car.
7 Kia K5 GT
Another sporty option from Kia is the K5 GT, which is powered by an impressive turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four, but its unusual quirk is that the K5 comes in FWD format.
With 0-60 mph possible in around 5 seconds, the Kia is one of the faster cars produced in South Korea and the excellent 8-speed dual clutch transmission makes it a joy to drive with smooth gear changes at all times. As for the interior, it comes with a well-designed 10-inch infotainment screen, a Bose sound system and even wireless smartphone charging, making it as comfortable to live with as it is smooth to drive.
6 Hyundai Veloster N
Korea is famous for selling a number of hatchbacks, and one of the best of them all for a number of years has been the Veloster.
The Veloster N is an improvement on the already popular hot hatch, outputting 275 hp, and its well-made chassis makes it feel like a car that should cost much more than its $33,525 price tag. Coming with a manual option, it's clear this is more of a drivers' car and that's before we even get to the N Custom mode, which offers settings for the throttle response, adaptive dampers, the limited-slip diff, stability control and even the steering weight and exhaust note. As for thrills to price, it's hard to beat the Veloster N.
5 Hyundai Tiburon (Coupé)
Despite being over a decade old now, the 2007 Tiburon is still a great choice for those who want a little extra performance without having to compromise on price.
There are few coupés available at its price range that look this cool, and starting at just $17,000, it's a steal for sure. The limited GT model even comes with a 2.7-liter V6 which sounds great, and the suspension allows for both a smooth and grippy ride. You can certainly fool your friends into thinking your car costs almost twice as much, given that the Tiburon is like a miniaturized sports car.
4 Hyundai Kona N
The Kona N is a unique vehicle as it's a hatchback by definition but size wise, it's a cross between a small SUV and a hatchback, meaning you get the same classic hot hatch performance but plenty of space and practicality too.
Its versatility makes it class leading and is perhaps most comparable to Ford's newer Puma. Powering the Kona N is a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is good for 276 hp. Despite its size, you're looking at just over 6 seconds for a 0-60 mph time and a 149 mph top speed. You'll also see electronically controlled dampers and an electronic limited-slip diff as standard providing plenty of excitement.
3 Genesis G80 Sport
Another luxury offering comes from Genesis in the form of the G80 Sport. But as a sports version, you get a little extra oomph in tandem with an excellent luxury interior.
Its twin-turbo 3.5-liter engine produces 375 hp, and the impressive Sport+ mode makes the car feel much more nimble when cornering despite its size. For the Sport edition, you're given AWD as standard, as well as 20-inch wheels and stiffer suspension. In the interior, there's plenty of metal detailing, a huge infotainment screen and leather wrapped seats making it feel as comfortable to live in as it is fast to drive.
2 Hyundai i30 Fastback N
With Mercedes-like styling, the i30 Fastback is one of the more impressive Korean made cars you'll find.
Coming with the same engine as the Kona N but packing a few less pounds, the i30 Fastback is remarkably well-made and this extends to the brilliant drivetrain and gearbox, which is an eight-speed dual clutch automatic. The sense of urgency when accelerating comes from one of the new modes, as it automatically selects the best gear for the most optimal power whilst simultaneously boosting the turbo output.
1 Hyundai Sonata N Line
Don't be fooled by the Sonata N Line's reserved looks, as it's still one of the better performers in this list.
The 290 hp family sedan is powered by the same engine as the GV80 mentioned earlier, but the lower weight leaves room for much higher performance and looks that wouldn't be out of place around some much more expensive cars. Interestingly, the Sonata N Line is still FWD but with plenty of grip, it doesn't feel problematic partly down to help from the tuned chassis, stiffer powertrain mounts, firmer dampers, and the thicker anti-roll bars.
Sources: Auto Express, Autocar, Forbes, Drive, Motor1, Car and Driver