Hyundai has been climbing the ranks of the automotive industry to become one of the best-selling brands in America. Since the brand is building a new, reliable image and shedding its former reputation for supplying vehicles with questionable quality, its sales are rapidly growing and so are the prices, according to USA Today.

"They really changed people's minds," Jessica Caldwell, an Edmunds.com analyst, told the publication. "It's a turning point for the brand but it's a long process that's not over yet."

For example, the Elantra, which was named the 2012 North American Car of the Year, is one of the products helping to reinvent the brand's image, but the news source reports it may be more expensive than some of its competitors. In fact, the average price paid for an Elantra in 2011 was about $19,711, which is about $1,500 more than what consumers paid for the Toyota Corolla.

New cars typically lose about 10 to 20 percent of their resale value the moment they are driven off the lot. Used vehicles on the other hand do not depreciate as quickly. They also tend to cost less than new versions.

Those looking to get behind the wheel of a used Hyundai Elantra, Sonata or other compact vehicles need look no further than New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealer offers a wide variety of used vehicles from smaller, fuel-efficient models like the Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic. All of the models are CARFAX certified, so drivers know they'll be driving away in a dependable set of wheels.