Introduction

The Hyundai Sonata is a refined midsize family sedan, with a roomy interior that's comfortable for four and can accommodate five. Its classic styling emulates high-end luxury cars, and it offers interior features and details well above its budget price. Interior accommodations in the Sonata are comfortable, with detailing and workmanship above what's expected in this price range. The Sonata is easy to drive, with well-designed controls that are easy to reach and operate. The styling is distinctive, sleek and rounded with rich-looking details. The Sonata cruises comfortably, even at highway speeds. Both the four-cylinder and V6 versions are pleasant to drive, with good handling and responsive steering. The V6-powered Sonata GLS and LX are more than competent for city and highway driving. Overall, the Hyundai Sonata offers a strong value among midsize sedans. That's particularly true when you factor in Sonata's impressive warranty, with bumper-to-bumper coverage for five years/60,000 miles and 24-hour roadside assistance for a five full years. Hyundai's warranty includes limited powertrain coverage for 10 years/100,000 miles and corrosion coverage for five years/100,000 miles. Even if the car is pre-owned, Hyundai still backs the Sonata's powertrain for five years or 60,000 miles.

Walkaround

The Hyundai Sonata looks expressive without being oppressive, with graceful lines and rich details suggesting an upscale sedan. The Sonata's overall shape suggests the feline form of a Jaguar; while its headlight treatment could have been borrowed from a Mercedes-Benz. It's better looking than the Kia Optima, which shares the Hyundai's architecture. The waterfall grille is formal but not pretentious. Like jewelry tastefully worn, chrome enhances rather than distracts from the appearance and is used around the grille, over the doors and on the trunk. The bold headlight design is more than stylish. The small low-beams are halogen projector lamps that produce a uniformly bright pattern, and the complementary high beams are bright, an excellent safety feature, especially on dark and stormy nights. The Sonata's pull-type door handles feel solid. The doors close with a solid thunk. Sonata comes standard with a keyless remote fob.

Interior Features

Climb into a Hyundai Sonata and you feel like you're sitting in an upscale car. The cabin is conservative in appearance. The materials are of good quality, and fit and finish is good. Characteristic of the attention given to detail throughout the Sonata's interior, even the base model steering wheel is wrapped with a buttery-soft, leather-like urethane. The V6 models get real leather trim on the steering wheel and shift knob. The ignition switch is on the dash, more convenient than having it on the steering column. The front seats are broad for maximum comfort, and lightly bolstered, making it easy to slide in and out. The driver's seat bottom adjusts from cushy to firm via a pair of knobs on the side, so you can select between softness and support for your legs and posterior. And whether you opt for cloth or leather, the upholstery is comfortable and of decent quality. The plush fabric on the seats is repeated in the door panels. The GLS and LX also have a two-compartment center armrest. A nice rubber-lined spot is located ahead of the shifter for keys and coins. The glovebox opens with a firm feel. Only the ashtray feels flimsy. The upper and lower portions of the instrument panel are dressed in contrasting shades of vinyl. Gauges are clearly marked. The splash of artificial wood around the center stack of the GLS and LX won't fool anyone, but makes a nice trim accent. A frame of burnished aluminum surrounds the automatic shifter quadrant, with the Shiftronic manual-override slot alongside. Illuminated manual-shift indicators let you know what gear you're in when using the manual override. It's easy to operate the Sonata's accessories without taking your eyes off the road. Radio controls are big, clearly marked and easy to manipulate. Heating and air conditioning controls are straightforward, with two rows of big buttons and knobs that are easy to discern and operate. Window switches are conveniently mounted on the doors, but, alas, are not illuminated. Electric switches for the trunk and fuel door releases are placed on the driver's door, where they are easy to reach and operate. LX models now offer a HomeLink remote system and electrochromic inside rear view mirror as part of an option package. The back seat area offers good room for two adults, with sufficient legroom and comfort for a long trip. The seat itself is contoured for two passengers, with a folding center armrest between them, but Hyundai has provided three-point seat belts for three people. Map pockets on the backs of the front seats add useful storage space. Sonata's trunk volume is a decent 14.1 cubic feet. The rear seat splits and folds 60/40, allowing long items to pass through from the trunk. Articulated trunk lid supports stay out of the trunk itself, so you don't have to worry about groceries or luggage being crushed when you close the lid.