Teresa’s View
Hyundai knows families need safe, reliable transportation, lots of room and enough power for confident highway maneuvers even with the whole crew aboard. They also want as many comfort and convenience features as possible, in a handsome and inexpensive rig. How does Hyundai know this? They asked.
Before redesigning the 2006 Sonata, Hyundai conducted a series of clinics with the purpose of identifying changes from a customer’s point of view, not an engineer’s. The result is a family car that comes through on all counts.
Luckily, making the decision to drive a Sonata doesn’t mean you have to check your fashion sense at the door. My neighbors aren’t shy about offering their opinions on vehicles I drive, and were stunned to find out they were coveting a Hyundai.
Inside the two-toned, leather interior of the upscale model, attractive wood trim graces an uncluttered dash that features ergonomically correct controls.
Classified by the U.S. government as a “large car,” the new Sonata surpasses its main competitors – and perennial segment leaders – the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in interior volume.
The Sonata is easy on gas too. It gets an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, making it a great commuter option.
The Sonata is offered in three trims – the base GL, mid-level GLS and top-of-the-line LX. Standard for the GL and optional on the GLS is a new 162-horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder. The top trims get an all-new 235-horsepower 3.3-liter V-6. Both engines produce significantly more power than the previous model.
While the styling, power, spaciousness and creature comforts score big, the Sonata still feels like an inexpensive car from the driver’s seat. It lacks the solid road feel of a more expensive car and the steering, while precise, is a bit touchy.
What Is It?: The Sonata is a midsize, five-passenger sedan. Prices for the GL start at less than $19K.
Gadget Rating: 7 out of 10. Every Sonata is equipped with a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system. Other standard features include keyless entry, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, door locks and heated side mirrors. Heated leather seats are standard on the LX model. Six airbags and three-point seat belts for all occupants are standard. The Sonata is the first and only midsize sedan sold in America to offer Electronic Stability Control as standard equipment.
Biggest Gripe: Redundant controls allow the driver to change the mode from radio to CD to MP3, but there’s no “Seek” button to change stations.
The Back Seat: The doors open wide for easy loading of kids into car seats. And for the kids, the windows roll down all the way.
The Grocery Sack Test: A well-trimmed cargo space is so huge it can handle even an infant’s belongings.