Review
Introduction
The Hyundai Sonata is the Korean carmaker’s entry in the popular mid-size family sedan segment. Completely redesigned for 2006, the Sonata receives a midcycle freshening for 2009 that brings revised exterior styling, an all-new interior, and improved engines. Priced below many of its competitors, the Sonata offers good fuel economy in four-cylinder guise and loads of safety equipment. It represents good value when put up against the juggernauts of the segment, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. The Sonata is built on the same platform as the Kia Optima.
Inside the Sonata is a fairly rich-looking interior that could be put up against the best in the segment. Easy-to-use controls, nice-looking materials, and excellent build quality give the Sonata a refined appearance that belies its low base price. The Sonata is also larger inside than most of its competitors and is classified by the EPA as a large car.
Two engines are available for the Sonata. Fuel-conscious customers will gravitate toward the updated 2.4-liter four-cylinder owing to its impressive 22 mpg in the city cycle and 32 mpg on the highway. Its 2009 revisions add 13 horsepower and 4 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder is unobtrusive as it goes about its tasks, and the additional power is as welcome as the improved fuel economy. A five-speed manual is standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional.
Buyers wanting more power will likely find the V-6 to their liking. For 2009, the 3.3-liter V-6 gets 15 more horsepower for a total of 249. The V-6 feels strong and gives the Sonata near-sports-car acceleration; it covers 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds. Fuel economy for the V-6 comes in at 19 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. A five-speed automatic is standard on the V-6 model.
In a comparison test, the Sonata finished in fourth place behind the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord and ahead of the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, and Dodge Avenger. The Sonata garnered praise for its supple ride, slick automatic transmission, and overall refinement. We did find fault with the Hyundai’s excessive body roll, and we felt its structure wasn’t quite as solid as that of some of its competitors.
In a 40,000-mile long-term test of a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, we found it to be trouble-free and inexpensive to maintain. The Sonata comes standard with an excellent five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Verdict
Attractive pricing, loads of standard equipment and safety features, fuel-sipping engines, a huge interior, and a refined and inoffensive driving experience make the Sonata a strong entry in the family sedan segment.
Click here to read our full review of the Hyundai Sonata.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Hyundai Sonata.
What’s New for 2009
The major changes to the Sonata include new exterior styling and a refreshed interior with a standard iPod/aux input and available navigation system. Mechanically, the Sonata gets more powerful and more fuel efficient engines as well as a firmer chassis with more responsive steering.
Highlights and Recommendations
At the bottom of the Sonata range is the GLS model that comes loaded with safety equipment, including stability control and six airbags. Also standard on the GLS are air conditioning, an AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary inputs, a folding rear seat, cruise control, and power windows and locks.
We recommend opting for the SE trim level, which features a sportier and firmer suspension and a good selection of standard equipment. The SE comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, fog lights, automatic headlights, cloth seats with leather bolsters, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a trip computer.
At the top of the range is the Limited model that comes standard with an impressive amount of equipment; the only option is a navigation system. Leather seats, an automatic transmission, automatic climate control, power seats, an upgraded stereo with XM satellite radio, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror are standard.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags, curtain airbags, front-seatbelt pretensioners, tire-pressure monitoring, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control are standard on all Hyundai Sonata models.
