Hyundai Pony (1975 – 1990) Review

The Hyundai Pony was an ambitious car for its maker - and although it wasn't a true clean-sheet design, given its Mitsubishi running-gear, it was certainly a huge leap forward for its maker, which made the transition from assembly operation to manufacturer. The Pony was a technically simple car, and proved a perfect foundation for its maker to build upon. It was initially launched as a fastback four-door, but was the range soon expanded - the pick-up version was added in May 1976; estate in April 1977; and three-door hatchback in March 1980.

These earliest cars are extremely rare in the UK as the company didn't actually start importing here until 1981 - and the following year, the facelifted Pony II was launched. They were sold in the budget sector, proving tough opposition for the established players, such as Lada and Skoda. The Pony II was a marked improvement in terms of quality and refinement, making it a formidable player in this competitive market sector.