Introduction

Hyundai Sonata gets a host of revisions for the 2009 model year. Already on our list of best commuter cars and many high-value lists, the revisions should solidify its standing. Although you can't see many of them, more than a thousand parts have been changed for the 2009 model year. The Hyundai Sonata is a four-door, five-passenger sedan priced at the low end of the mid-size market, where it competes primarily against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, and Ford Fusion. Despite moderate prices, every Sonata comes with a full slate of safety equipment and none is optional; it has earned the federal government's five-star crash-test rating for front and side impacts, the highest awarded. Sonata is big inside, with so much interior volume it the EPA classifies it as a large car. It's roomier in almost every dimension than most of its mid-size competitors, many of which are larger outside, and it offers a full-size edge in creature comfort. For 2009, the Sonata is perhaps one percent heavier and prices have gone up, some by $1500. However, the new models come with more standard equipment such as the sunroof on the Limited model, so the relative value remains high. Instead of spending a lot outside Hyundai kept all the sheetmetal and merely updated lights and trim. On the inside, however, they've improved the seats for 2009 and added an entirely new dashboard/console layout and introduced a voice-operated navigation option. Under the hood each engine remains the same size but makes more power on less fuel, and the four-cylinder has been upgraded from an optional four-speed automatic to a five-speed automatic. Last but not least, the suspension has been retuned to deliver the same good ride with better precision and driver involvement. The most-expensive Sonata will set you back less than $28,000 with navigation, but you can get a comfortable, efficient commuter like our test car for about $21,000. You'll be hard-pressed to find more room with that economy for anything near the price, and it won't have Hyundai's warranty package.

Walkaround

Although it's just a couple of years old, the Hyundai Sonata has been given a mild facelift for 2009. The front fascia remains refreshingly clean and spare, with sharply angled headlight housings and a deeper, clean-cut grille topped with a sliver of chrome. Wide and deep openings beneath the front bumper provide a home for tightly focused fog lamps and visually pull the front end closer to the ground, while directing cooling air into the radiator. The striking, concave hood reduces the car's perceived mass without cramping the engine compartment. The side treatment avoids the all too common wedge look with an almost horizontal beltline riding above softly shouldered fenders and door panels. Mirrored Z-seams where the end corners of the bumpers meet the quarter panels add interest, while blacked-out window surrounds play down the tall side glass. Moldings vary by model and all reflect the Sonata's subtle styling rather than going overboard. Extended C-pillars shorten the deck lid, which itself presents a rounded, gently sculpted profile vaguely reminiscent of the much maligned posterior of today's BMW sedans. The flat-flanged rims on the up-level 17-inch wheels suggest a high-end European import more than an affordable Asian nameplate. The taillight outlines repeat the headlight shapes and bookend a broad, trapezoidal license plate inset; the backup light portion of the lens is smaller but output is the same. Again, there's a hint of other cars' architecture, most notably segment heavyweights like the Camry, Accord, and Malibu. Sporty, California hot rod-idiom dual exhausts mark the V6-equipped versions. The Hyundai Sonata continues to refine its signature design cues, the sculptors looking in the right places without offending conservatism.

Interior Features

The 2009 Sonata interior is a significant step forward from the previous model, although housed in the same cabin space. It is judged a large car by EPA size standards and is the largest among midsize sedans in terms of interior volume. The cabin feels more integrated, with new flowing lines for 2009. A tapered center stack rolls gently off the dash into the center console, replacing the blocky look of the previous dash. The overall look is competitive with most in the class and reminds us of some Nissan and Acura interiors. Materials seem to have more depth, as even the hard plastic trim common on lower door and console panels looks better. Lighter materials frame the vents and center stack. The center stack houses the clock, audio and navigation systems, and climate controls. There's also a sizable bin that holds 10 CD jewel cases above the ashtray ahead of the shifter. Splashes of trim grow from the console outward mid-height on the dash and are mirrored on the doors; on cars with woodgrain trim the shifter gets a slice of the same material. The woodgrain trim may not be real like some cars, but it feels, works, and looks just as good. Entire trim pieces change by model, so, for example, cars without seat heaters do not have two blank outlines to remind you of something you wish you'd ordered. Three round dials in the hooded instrument cluster display the basic operational data. The largest is the speedometer, to its left is the tachometer, to its right conjoined water temperature and fuel gauges. In the lower dash to the left of the steering column is a bank of five switch plugs, only two of which are employed in the U.S. version; one is an on/off for the ESC (electronic stability control), the other the dash-light rheostat. Beyond that is a flip-down storage bin. The ignition key slides into a slot placed where it should be, in the dash to the right of the steering column instead of on the steering column itself, easier and more elegant when starting or shutting off the car. For 2009, the Limited model is available with a voice-recognition navigation system. We found it easy to use and the screen easy to view, and many will appreciate the option price of $1250 for what typically costs more and sometimes isn't offered until you're into models that cost more than a loaded Sonata Limited. Most models get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, with adjustment for reach to complement the tilt on all but GLS. Redundant controls for the audio are to the lower left-side of the hub. On the other side of the hub are the standard cruise controls, with a helpful Cancel function. All stalk functions are straightforward and require no adaptation. Outward visibility is good, although some will find the wide C-pillars constrict quick, over-the-shoulder traffic checks for lane changing. Rear side windows roll all the way down, thanks to small, fixed, rear quarter windows that move the windows' rear tracks forward in the door, ahead of the wheel well. There's a roof-mounted, hinged assist handle inside every door. Seats are comfortable, with adequate bolstering for the style of driving to which the Sonata aspires. For 2009, the front seats are roughly a half-inch larger in most dimensions, and the position has changed slightly for better long-distance comfort. GLS models use cloth, while SE models get leather bolsters and cloth centers for an excellent compromise between occupant retention and easy sliding in and out. The Limited model's leather adds a touch of class without pretending to be luxurious, and the front seats have seat heaters. The height adjustment on the driver's seat, both manual and power, pivots on the seat's front mounts, which effectively moves the seat forward as it rises. This compels taller drivers to choose between rearward seat travel and forward sightline, not always a happy compromise. On the upside, this adds inches to rear-seat legroom behind the driver, o