Posts tagged Hyundai

If your automotive handbook still says that Hyundais are bargain-basement econoboxes to be avoided at all cost, then you’ve got last year’s book and probably still think Oldsmobiles are exclusively for senior citizens.  Trade in your preconceptions for the most recent update as soon as possible.  Those unattractive, unreliable tin boxes that used to wear Hyundai badges are no more.  Buyers not put off by an outdated stigma will find that the 2000 Hyundai Sonata has matured into an elegant, viable alternative to many more expensive cars.

Hyundai’s biggest challenge with the new Sonata will be overcoming the joke that its name has become in recent years.  After struggling with quality control and outdated technology during the Eighties, Hyundai has finally caught up to the rest of the automotive world, leaving bottom-of-the heap status to other Korean newcomers.  Although it lacks some refinement in comparison to its competition from Japan and America, the new Hyundai Sonata is worthy of consideration.  Apart from the name, it bears little relation to previous Sonatas.

The Sonata, completely redesigned in 1999, is a handsome car.  In a world of sedans and coupes with sharp faces and high tails, the Sonata’s rounded nose and gently sloping rear end stand out.  The front clip is dominated by large dome-topped headlights, faintly reminiscent of the eyes of characters in Japanese animation, flanking a body color eggcrate grill.  The low beltline is accentuated by a crease that follows the side of the car from stem to stern, and the hood looks long for a car of this size.  The softly curved design carries through to the rear, where two big oval taillights reside in subtle pods.  The trunk slopes gently downward between them, ever so slightly humped in the center.  It’s not as space-efficient as the high-tailed sedans are, perhaps, but it’s much more attractive.  Art-deco style lettering proclaims ìSONATAî to the world from a brightwork stripe across the back of the trunk.  The optional 15î five-spoke wheels resemble nothing so much as flowers.

Inside, the Sonata presents an unusual mix of colors, patterns, and textures that works better than it looks like it will.  A typical grained plastic dash is spruced up with fake wood, and the change and console cubbies are lined with a tweed-like material instead of the usual removable rubber mat.  The shifter is an elegant, faux-perforated leather and chrome unit that could have been snatched from a sports sedan, whereas the steering wheel is a plastic affair that looks to have been lifted from a cheaper car.  Add to this a speckle-patterned seat cloth pattern and big, shiny chrome interior door handles, and the entire package is one that has to grow on drivers expecting a boring, plastic econobox inside the Sonata.  Given a chance, it will.  Side-impact airbags are a standard feature.  The rear seat is sufficiently spacious, and for hauling cargo instead of people, the rear seat folds down.  Inconvenient is the release for the rear seat however, which is located deep in the trunk.

The Sonata keeps its composure best in low-speed situations.  That is, it loses poise quickly during rapid lane changes or sudden acceleration.  Keeping a light foot on the gas keeps the Sonata civil and happy.  The 170-horsepower V6 will chirp the tires leaving traffic lights, as leadfoots will soon discover, but the Sontata’s not happy with such displays. Similarly, the transmission doesn’t take kindly to downshifting.  It’s sluggish to select a lower gear for passing, and frequently drops two gears, resulting in an unproductive and rather ill-mannered scream from under the hood.

The Sonata isn’t quite refined enough for seriously enthusiastic driving, but it’s plenty well-behaved for drivers who don’t want to autocross it. The car remains stable during emergency maneuvers, but it’s not at all graceful.  The suspension is soft, bringing back memories of pillowy American cars during the Seventies.  Large humps on the freeway will actually make the Sonata porpoise gently for few beats.  It doesn’t wallow, but the word ìsquishyî pops to mind.  Overall, the Sonata is comfortable over the road, especially for drivers who aren’t into the general trend toward tighter suspensions.

Four-wheel disc brakes are a pleasant surprise on a less-expensive car.  Also a surprise is the Sonata’s range.  The 17.2-gallon fuel tank coupled with 20/28 mileage give the car a useful range of over 400 miles on the freeway.  That’s with the larger V6 available in the Sonata GLS that we tested; the thriftier four-cylinder available in the base Sonata will go even farther.

Hyundai’s startling warranty makes a Sonata a much better bet than an off-lease Camry or Accord, too.  The ìHyundai Advantageî program covers the Sonata’s powertrain for ten years or 100,000 miles.  Bumper-to-bumper coverage on the car lasts five years or 60,000 miles.  24-hour roadside assistance is available for five years regardless of mileage.  Hyundai is clearly determined to stand behind its products in exorcising the quality demons of the past.  Is it a good enough vehicle to compete with new Camrys and Malibus?  Depends on how much the money you’ll save is worth to you.  Our test vehicle, a Sonata GLS, stickered at $18,527, and that included a power moonroof.  The fit and finish of our test car were worthy of the $20,000 vehicles in whose backyard it is playing; whether Camry and Accord buyers will come to play remains to be seen.

The Fact Box:

All specs are for the Sonata GLS V6, which we tested.

Length:    185.4 in
Width:        71.6 in
Height:        55.5 in
Wheelbase:    106.3 in
Curb weight:    3128 lb

Cargo space:    13.2 cu. ft

Base price:    $17,799
Price as tested: $18,527

Horsepower:    170 hp
Fuel capacity:    17.2 gal
Est. mileage:    20/28

6/2009 update: Almost a decade down the road, the ‘oo Sonatas have a tendency to look ragged if not treated properly, and I’m not sure how their quality has fared.  For those that have been treated well, though, the styling has aged nicely, and this was one of the best-looking Sonatas to date, in my opinion.