Inside Line - Sonata First Drive

[YEH]

Cutting and Thrusting
Piloting all three versions of Sonata around the scenic hills north of San Diego, we immediately appreciate the sharp chassis tuning. It drives smaller than it is, as body roll is kept under control and the steering is quick and precise. Road lumps are acknowledged by the suspension and then promptly damped, resulting in the kind of chassis poise that will appeal to those who can appreciate the keen dynamics of, say, the Ford Fusion.

You might be thinking that the Sonata's lofty highway fuel economy relies heavily on sluggish, ultra-tall gearing. While it's true that 6th gear is heavily overdriven in the automatic, the powertrain never feels lacking for power, and downshifts are served up promptly.

Direct-injected fours are notoriously vocal, and this one is no exception. Dip into the throttle and the smooth four moves the Sonata with authority while delivering prominent engine noise. It's something you only notice when you give it the boot, as the Sonata is otherwise a remarkably quiet car.

...The New Bull's-Eye
So far, it's proving difficult to find any substantial flaws in the considerable armor of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and the case for it only grows stronger when you consider the price points. It's bang-on $20 grand for a base GLS with manual transmission, and the full-zoot Limited sans navigation commands just a hair over $26,000. This is, quite frankly, a tremendous amount of car for the money.

It's clear that Hyundai is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to dominate the segment in every category, both objective and subjective. When it comes to size, dynamics, fuel economy, power, equipment and price, Hyundai has brought a howitzer to a gunfight. Our first brief fling with the Sonata suggests that it has the measure of the segment.

http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/sonata/2011/2011-hyundai-sonata-first-drive.html

 

[TJPark01]

The best thing about this car (and company) is that it is throwing a monkey wrench into the establishment, which is always a good thing. Before Hyundai/Kia, you had a very defined and structured auto retail environment dominated by American/Japanese/German auto makers.
1. American - Sure I'll lease one, but not too keen on plunking down big money on a company in or near bankruptcy. Ford gets a pass but they were close too. Also what's up with your build quality?
2. Japanese - Legendary reliability, but your designs have become ubiquitous and your price advantage has been shrinking. Skip the TMC bashing.
3. German - If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Now Hyundai/Kia, has taken a page out of the 1980's Japanese play book, by providing high levels of refinement, nice design and at a competitive advantage. Note to auto companies... if you get lazy you leave the door open to becoming marginalized.