By Frank S. Washington
DETROIT, MI – What?!!!
That was my first reaction when I looked at the price of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata that had been delivered for my one-week test drive. It was like, ‘c’mon,’ I hadn’t even been in the car. Still, it looked as though it cost a lot more than the $21,050 that was on the sticker.
To be specific, I had the 2011 Sonata GLS and in my opinion it was a lot of car for a relatively small amount of money. The Sonata looked good; Hyundai called it Fluidic Design that will eventually flow through its entire product lineup.
Hyundai described the Sonata this way: “The exterior of the all-new Sonata is long, light and low. The high beltline allows for a long, sleek roofline accented by the third window. A monoform side profile includes flowing lines highlighted by a Hyundai signature chrome accent that spans the length of the car. Normally, this type of trim is only found around the windows. On the new Sonata, this trim extends out from the headlamps, juts up along the hood and through the beltline. The face is bold with a large powerful chrome grille and headlamps that integrate precise details. The stance is completed by 16-, 17- or 18-inch multi-spoke wheels.”
But anybody with common sense expects Hyundai to say that about its product. The real test goes something like this: a woman pulled up beside me, got my attention and through rolled down windows she asked me from what dealership did I purchase the Sonata. As she made her right turn, we were at an intersection, she said, ‘I like that car.’ She was driving a BMW 7 Series. And that is the Sonata’s real world visual impact.
However, the Hyundai Sonata was more than a pretty face. It was powered by a 2.4-liter direct fuel injected four cylinder that made 198 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque. My test car was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.
A turbocharged four cylinder engine is now available as well as a hybrid.
The only time I heard the engine was during hard acceleration. My test car was light on its 16-inch wheels and tires, the car weighed roughly 3,200 lbs. and it had a turning radius of 35-feet making it very nimble. My test car had an EPA rating of 22/35 MPG in city and highway driving.
Streets here were just awful during my test drive. A snow-filled winter had just broke and the potholes were deeper and more numerous than usual. The Sonata’s suspension passed the unintended rough road test pretty well. I hit a few potholes and expected some rattling and shaking afterwards but the mid-size five passenger sedan remained stable.
I found the interior of the car comfortable and spacious. Seats were cloth and they had a velvet pattern. They were two-toned with brown on top and what Hyundai called “Camel” on the lower sections.
Controls were simple, they were at eye level and the interior had a quality feel to it. I think one of the reasons the price of my test vehicle was so low was the equipment. I explained to a friend that my Hyundai Sonata was what used to be considered fully loaded.
There was no sun roof, no navigation system, no voice controls, no keyless entry, no push button start and stop and no heated seats. Still, in basic trim, I was satisfied with my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS.
It had auxiliary and iPod jacks, Bluetooth, a single disc CD player, and satellite radio. Heated outside mirrors, a tire pressure monitoring system and a manual tilt and telescoping steering were also part of the package.
I was particularly impressed by the rear seat space, head and leg room were ample, as well as the trunk space. It was 16.4 cubic feet and the rear seats folded to provide even more cargo room.
My Sonata struck me as a very comfortable and pragmatic vehicle that could handle most daily driving scenarios including extra packages and the passengers that could come with them easily.
Frank S. Washington is managing partner/editor of AboutThatCar.com and AboutThatCarBlog.com.
May 8, 2011 – May 21, 2011 Edition
