Hyundai Sonata Embera

The Sonata features Genesis-inspired styling with a bit less flourish; it’s contemporary, with powertrains to match. A 185-hp 2.4-liter with a six-speed automatic is standard; there is a 178-hp 1.6-liter Eco model with a seven-speed automatic as well as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. A 245-hp turbo four with a six-speed automatic rounds out the lineup. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available. With a supple suspension and pleasing steering, it’s a good car,

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I dont like this car because many other good optios are availble in this variant . other options like honda accord chevorlet cruize.volkswagen. superb .these are car are good and trustworthy followers.i would like to go superb of skoda instead of this car.fuel consumption is more and this car is not fuel efficient

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The Sonata is a comfortable a likable midsize sedan that proves Hyundai can build cars that are not just easy on the pocketbook, but easy to live with as well. Like most.hicles in midsize sedan class. The hyundai sonata offers front-wheel drive, numerous safety features and a choice of trim levels that include sporty and plush variants. Lower pricing and outstanding warranty coverage has traditionally set the Sonata apart from its peers, but later versions of this car also stand out for their high-quality interiors.

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It is not a car to buy in this segment looks always don't say every thing but performance does matters.

And on this ground I gave it just one star ground clearance is very less as compared to other cars of same segment and auto mobile industry so it is not that kind of car

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Sonata is best sedan from the launchof the car but more than a car in sedan segment and having tremendous looks and lights are awsm.luxury symbol hai sonata.now come to milage it  very bad because of his heavy engine and all car of sedan segment are of same type.now hyundai is name of best brand in cars in my eyes from hatchback to suv( santro to tuxson and more) hyundai is best but here sonata is symbol of luxury now it is discontinued but so many want to buy it because of its look snd lenght of car sonata is like platinum in cars. Feeling comgort awsm car

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I am presenting my review of my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS. It has been with me for over a year now and I am quite pleased with the car, there are a few complaints as well.

Why did I buy this car: Before switching to the Sonata I owned a second hand BMW 540i(V8, I live in US so it was cheap to buy). The car was extraordinary as you can find it on one of my blog posts. However it was old and started to burn my wallet. I researched the market – I didn’t want a Honda or a Toyota as everyone else had it, I test drove the Chevrolet Malibu and the Impala – Malibu was rubbish and impala was expensive. Then I saw the new 2011 Sonata on the road, it looked stunning, completely new looks with styling inspired by the elements(wind and water). I went to a dealer for a test drive and bought it the same day.

The GLS model I chose came with a 5 year 60, 000 mile warranty. I am not sure how it measures up in India, but in the US most manufacturers give only a 3 year 36000 mile warranty.  The fit and finish of the interior is much better than a Chevrolet Malibu and in the same league as a Honda accord. The instrument cluster is very modern, twin pod with a center LCD display to indicate – Average speed, fuel consumption, tire pressure, distance to empty and a live fuel consumption monitor. These settings could be toggled via a button on the steering wheel. The central instrument panel is very good looking and very user friendly. The LCD screen is monochrome with blue backlight and my learning curve was very easy.

Some of the other bells and whistles included: Built in blue tooth connectivity, CD, ipod connector with charging, MP3 and USB hook up, voice recognition and a built in XM Satellite radio.  The steering wheel has buttons for volume control / changing radio stations or music file, cruise control and viewing driving data as explained earlier. The Engine is a 2.4 litre V4 that develops 198hp. The power is not great, and the acceleration is sub par however for the fuel economy that the car offers, one can make some compromise on the power.

Pros:

Fuel efficiency is unbeatable for such a big car; I get 35 MPG on highways and about 25 MPG in the city.

There is a lot of room in the car, the trunk is huge and there are lots of small and medium sized storage containers around the driver seat.There is a small box on the roof to hold your sunglasses. Visibility of the car is good through the windshield however it is not great through the windows as the windows are smaller, I think Hyundai made them smaller so as to make the car look good. Seats in my car are not electric, but no complaints there. The driver seat is comfortable, better than a Toyota Camry.

Hyundai customer service has been very good so far. In all it is a lovely car.

Cons:

There is not much noise reduction as I get to hear a lot of tire squeal while driving on tarmac especially at high speeds on the highway.

The handling of the car is not great, there is some amount of roll while making turns at high speeds. The passenger seat in my car does not have a height setting which I think should have been standard on all models.

The steering could have been more accurate, but since it is a front wheel drive, there is also some amount of torque steer. The steering wheel also has some play in it which I thoroughly despise as I know how an accurate steering wheel can improve car handling.

My car had a manufacturing defect – It pulled sideways. There was a problem with its struts and it was identified that many of the cars had this problem. Hyundai called me in and they fixed this problem.

Verdict: I have driven this car on short and long trips, longest being 800 mile drive from the mid west to the east coast and the car held up very well. I was impressed with the fuel economy of the car and its comfort level. At around$24K, the Sonata GLS is good buy. The warranty adds to the value of the car as it is 2 years more than what most brands offer. The car is very beautiful, much prettier than a Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or a Subaru Legacy. The fuel economy is second to none in this class. There is a lot of storage space and the rear seats can be folded to increase the storage space. Build quality is good if not the best. There are some problems which should be considered before buying and the scale of these problems is left the driver’s discretion.

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Bought this car used from Mahindra first choice since it was the cheapest automatic around that was certified and we were able to pay with our cards for airline miles instead of taking a high interest loan with fees and penalties [we pay our balances in full so its better then writing cheques].

let's compare the 7 year old sonata to our 5 yr old toyota with LPG fitted and score some points.

since we bought the corolla new, the sonata gets a head start on pricing [at 1/5th the on road price]

Sonata = 5 ; Corolla = 0

from a driver's perspective our 06 corolla feels more confident on mumbai roads and less boat like maybe due to a stiffer suspension but the toyota is also more jarring over mumbai potholes.

Sonata = 5 ; Corolla = 1

this softness is a major benefit for back seaters so the sonata has better ride comfort for passengers.

the gas & brake pedals felt mushy but that could be due to its age and we'll get those looked at to see if they can be made more responsive / 'sharper' since one does not feel like pushing the car into overtaking on crowded roads.

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 1

we were used to lpg for so many years that it was a shocker to pay over rs. 4,200 to fill the tank with petrol!

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 2

being a bigger car than our corolla we expected it to have more legroom but surprisingly it actually has about over an inch less [88cm vs 93 cm] - I would have gladly given up some boot space for more legroom

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 3

the only other flaws I noticed were that the side mirrors don't have electrical folding when 2 wheelers zip past and knock them out at traffic lights which the corolla does.

in india ALL cars over a million rupees should have this button since its a common problem in most metros for a decade now

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 4

also the central armrest cupholders seems to be 1-2 mm too small for regular 1 litre water bottles which is again not an issue in the corolla

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 5

the cover on the armrest also does not have any way of being secured upright when you do put any bottle in the holder so it keep falling over whenever you brake which is quite annoying - I guess we'll have some kind of strap put in but its still bad design

Sonata = 6 ; Corolla = 6

the front headrests are much smaller than the corolla so we don't need to remove them when seated at the back for better visibility or more AC so that's a plus

Sonata = 7 ; Corolla = 6

since any v6 would have lower mileage we plan on adding LPG to this car also to reduce fuel costs

better performance goes to hyundai

Sonata = 8 ; Corolla = 6

the automatic also has much smoother shifts than the corolla which is more 'jerky' when accelerating [virtually no auto jerks when slowing down of course]

Sonata = 9 ; Corolla = 6

the digital odometer is also better than the corolla since it shows the trip meter while you have to press the button to flip between the 2 readings in the toyota

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 6

this is a good buy only as a used car when someone else has paid for the huge depreciation - our 7 year old model was 82% below its original on road price and even 1/3rd below the online valuation at carwale after adjusting for age / km

the corolla has better resale value

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 7

it was a little surprising to see that the alloy wheels had caps / covers on them which is hardly required since even if they don't fall off, they get stolen [and once removed the wheels look worse]

our corolla just has normal alloys without anything to be lost which is always better design

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 8

the air circulation switches are very annoying - they keep defaulting to 'external' each time the car is started so we have to constantly keep clicking on 'internal'.

what's the point of electronic switches if they can't even replicate the functionality of manual?

in a maruti zen the circulation once set to internal stays that way until you change it!

too much technology and very little common sense

it would have been cheaper to provide more functionality like a memory setting via manual switches

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 9

the doors automatically lock in the corolla when it crosses 30km/h

there is no such auto lock in the sonata which is a good safety feature to have on all cars

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 10

the horn only has a single sensor in the centre of the steering wheel which is very strange and not ergonomically designed - you don't want to move your entire hand just to beep each time

the corolla has them on the sides / spokes of the wheel so you only move your thumb which is what i'm used to and faster

Sonata = 10 ; Corolla = 11

the sonata has an air purifier for the rear seats [behind the headrests] which is a great idea for indian road conditions while the corolla like 99% of cars does not

Sonata = 11 ; Corolla = 11

small parts are expensive and take long times to order

the silver plastic slotted cover for the gear 'stalk' [where PRND is printed] was badly scratched and was one of the 1st things you notice as you get seated

we found out at the ASC that it would take over 2 weeks to order a replacement

but that was not bad enough - it would cost rs. 5,000 + 12% taxes + 550 in labor for a total of rs. 6.1 k!

it was so outrageous that we decided to just get it painted over for rs. 100-200 instead

but do note that i'm not giving any points for this since chances are toyota would also charge a bomb for a similar part

Sonata = 11 ; Corolla = 12

the corolla has an in dash cd changer [6 disc capacity] while the sonata does not

Sonata = 12 ; Corolla = 12

in stop and go traffic / jams the sonata seems to drive better than the corolla due to its better ability to soak up bumps / potholes

Sonata = 12 ; Corolla = 13

there is no outside temp display/gauge in the sonata unlike the corolla which is very useful

its only the inside setting displayed

[never mind - we found the button labelled AMB probably for ambient temp which is stupidly designed instead of saying something simpler like OUT for outside so the corolla still get a point for this one]

Sonata = 12 ; Corolla = 14

there are no RTO approved kits for LPG or CNG for the sonata and most other engines over 2.0 L

our corolla has a legal LPG kit on it for the last couple of years

this was the biggest issue for me so far since I did not expect this...

Sonata = 13 ; Corolla = 14

one handy display that all auto sedans should have is the current gear its in

the sonata has this but the corolla does not

Sonata = 14 ; Corolla = 14

remote for the rear passenger is very handy in the sonata

but not present in the corolla auto

Sonata = 14 ; Corolla = 15

the central armrest is poorly designed in the sonata - once you put water bottles in, you can't close the lid and have to push it back all the way into the rear seat to keep it from falling onto your arm

the corolla just has no lid at the back but provides comfortable support with the 2 bottles inside

Sonata = 15 ; Corolla = 15

the door 'elbow rests' are much better / softer on the sonata due to the leather covers unlike the corolla which has the fake wood trim so you keep banging your elbow over potholes / bumpy surfaces

Sonata = 15 ; Corolla = 16

the sonata has a wood steering which is silly for hot indian conditions instead of a leather wrapped one like the corolla so your hands son't get burnt when the car's been parked in the sun

you need to put a steering cover to be able to use the steering when its hot

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I am not going to share any product review for this time but I am looking for a suggestion from u guys.

I am planning to buy a 2nd hand petrol car and want to change it to CNG or LPG. I am looking for a good luxury sedan car with in price range of 3 - 4 lac max.

In this price bracket I can get only Fiesta, SX4, Verna, Linea etc. However I get an unexpected car as well; it is Sonata Embera top model petrol car. Sonata is a very good luxury sedan and always my favorite; because it looks, style engine power.

Now I am in a confused state as whether I should go or not go for it. Some people says to go for it and some says not to go.  Researching on internet also increasing my confusion. I am not a Automobile expert nor drove this car ever.  This is around 4 years old car and owner says (i did not see it yet) it is in showroom condition.

It would be a great help if you guys can share your views on this. Anyone who is owner of this car or has a knowledge about this car; please let me know your review.

Thanks All.

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A modern yet classy package of Hyundai is Sonata Embera. Hyundai launched petrol version in India in 2006 and diesel variant after about 6 months of petrol model. The petrol version has 2.4 litres VTVT engine with 165ps of power at 5800rpm gives a feeling of driving a jet. Overtaking any other Indian car on highways seem to be a child game. Engine response even in top speed gear is still high and does not give a latency feel.

Diesel version is not so silent as the petrol version but for those who have big concern for mileage, the CRDi engine is the solution to them. Apart from about 15% increase in vibration there is no other difference in the driving feel of the petrol and diesel variants. You can choose among manual and automatic variants also depending on your driving habits.

Sonata Embera has good modern looks and also serves the executive use of the vehicle and so fits all the age groups. For young guys the factory fitted music system may besome a part of concern because of it's very basic sound quality and is also difficult to modify to another desired car audio system.

Stability at high speeds is excellent and ABS braking system really shows the difference when braking at high speeds. Interior finishing and leather upholstry(avlb. in fabric upholstry as well) looks excellent and gives an imported car feel. If you can spend another 80K to add a motorised sun roof, your drive can become superb.

Dual hedlamps(one clear type and one lens type) makes a day like light. Hyundai might think of adding Xenon bulbs to the lens type part. That would make the car look elegant from front in night. If we talk about fuel, the car gives 7 to 9 kmpl of consumption in city roads and about 8 to 10kmpl on highways. I know it's difficult to believe but with my kind of driving it does. It has a large 70litre tank and so after having one full tank you don't have to look for a filling station before 600kms(which shows in the car's electronic mileage display and trip meter).

The trunk space is huge and enough to fit atleast 4 suitcases and 2-3 big bags. 16 inch alloy wheels with tubeless radial tyres gives great load bearing capacity and excellent comfort. City driving may be bit tedious because of it's huge size however it's kingly look and looks which others give to you and your car on road compensate to it.

My email is shivendra_it@rediffmail.com. Let me know if you have any practical queries because it's going to be 9 months I am driving one petrol version of it.

Regards

Shivendra

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Hi ,

I am talking about the Sonata 2006 ( US model) which I guess is now launched in india as the Embera. Am not too sure about the indian model but hope its on similar grounds.

I am not praising it just because I own one, but I am a car freak and just love good cars.

Thank god , that the design has changed. The guys from Audi have done a really good job in improving the look of the car. The earlier model was pathetic in looks. Although the car might look good on indian roads ( even an accent looks big on indian roads ..lol ) , but here in US...in front of the BMW's , Mercs , Hondas , Toyotas, that car was just not impressive. But this new sonata 2006 is awesome in looks. This car is definitely more value for money. For a gr8 price, u get the moon roof, an mp3 player , wooden interior and the michelin tyres on the Sonata.

Space wise ......i would say its equal to the honda accord or the toyota camry or a nissan altima.

The car mite look smaller but trust me its not. The best judge on trunk space is putting in two 32 inch bags. only the camry and the sonata can fit in two 32 inch bags in the trunk. Neither the Honda accord (not the latest one though !! ) , nissan altima or the VW passat could do that.

The drive is just as calm and peaceful as any other car in its segment. Although the engine lacks power ( ofcourse I have a 4 cylinder so its obvious ). But once the car gets to speed.....it just flies.

I have driven the Toyota camry, Honda Accord and the nissan altima as well. No doubt it is a smooth car unlike the nissan altima which I personally find tough and noisy.

But overall I would say its a really great car. I am luking forward to see its indian version.

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‘Hey…..I’ve got a fast car, it don’t matter who you are…..I’m gonna take you down with a weapon from afar’……That’s a couple of lines from Dj Nugz ‘Fast Car’ remix. I don’t think he was talking about the Hyundai Sonata V6 H-matic then, but lemme tell you one thing, the V6 is well worthy of having a song like that dedicated to it.

This babe is one hell of a car, it looks like the bas child of a Jaguar XJ and a Mercedes from upfront and the rear is an awesome Mazda pitch. The one thing I love about Hyundai is that, even if Hyundai imitates a cars design, it makes them even more attractive than the original. I happened to spot a topless Sonata on a traffic signal and quickly maneuvered my Accent besides the cabriolet to have an even better look. Lemme tell you one thing, the car had sex oozing out of it. Everybody who was anybody was watching the sex-on-wheels show. I couldn’t speak, my tongue was tied down…..My Accent (both ones) were completely forgotten and only after the Sonata left, could I manage to blabber to my friend “err uhh (couldn’t remember his name), wanna stop for a coke? My throat has dried up”

Anyways…..thats the Sonata for you…..unfortuanately now it’s production has been discontinued as a new one is being launched. Let me talk about the car now……enough blabber, huh guys? When this machine was launched it came in only one engine size. But unfortunately the stiffening competition drove down on Hyundai’s neck and got one performance oriented luxury-version out of it. That coupled with the legendry H-matic transmission became a legend on wheels.

The basic Sonata – S20. (it’s still pretty loaded for the most of us)

The S20 is a scaled down version of the GLS for people who wanted a Sonata, but not a full-fledged-wind-shelling-your-hair-powered engine. It came in a 1981 c.c in-line 4 mill and produced a respectable amount of horses, but unfortunately like in all Sonata’s, the ride quality left a lot to be desired. It has got everything and everything else you can dream of…… .

The Sonata V6 H-matic. (I’m in love with her…..I absolutely love her…..i love her body, her curves, her engine, her shift, the way she moves, the way she stops, the way she looks at me with her dreamy eyes which seem to whisper carelessly “hey…..buy-me-and-I’ll-give-you-the-best-time-of-your-lifeR
21;)

The V6- This baby is a V6 and produces close to 160 horses, and gives you a double-whammy with its torque……. Just as God intended it to be. The machine will give you a performance almost at par with the Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC and is indeed an absolutely heavenly pleasure to drive.

H-matic transmission. What can I say about this technology…..it’s the best in the business. I’ve already reviewed a similar one (the Man-0-matic Lancer…..i suggest you read that one too if you haven’t). The Sonata with the H-matic is similar to the man-o-matic,. But with a slight improvement. The chip inside continually monitors your driving style for a few times and then tries to learn it, so the next time you log on (yeah literally…..you hardly drive this lean-mean-sex-machine, it drives itself, you just log yourself in on the onboard computer), it automatically adjusts all the specifications according to your previous driving style which it has learnt and Voila! Now you’ve got even less to actually do…… and your drive is now even more comfortable. The transmission can be toggled between a manual and an automatic for enhanced driving pleasure and mileage or maximum comfort and minimum driving stress whatever you’re in the mood for in. Mood reminds me of my sadness…..The car is gone now…so is the engine…..And I’m gonna miss you love……

The new Sonata- ‘Banco’ as Henri Charriere would have said, this new baby kind of looks like a Hyundai Grandeur from the front (Now they’re copying their own cars….heh heh) and ditto a new Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC from the rear. She looks especially gorgeous in her high skirt if you view her from the rear, so did the old Sonata for that matter. And so does the Honda. Whaddya know…..I’m a rear-preferring-guy. Hmm…..but lets skip that….

The machine - The new girl on the block has a 2.4 litre, 16 V DOHC mill with max power being churned at a whoppin 5800 rpm…..Its a big improvement from the earlier S20, and the power is now almost comparable to the V6. I cant write more about the new Sonata as It’s not been launched……The figures above though which are in this present paragraph are quoted from Overdrive. (I wish I had contacts like Overdrive that I could get the details of a new car before it was launched). But anyways…..my main focus here is on the outgoing Sonata, the S20 and the V6 and not the new one coming in.

The Verdict- The S20 is now even cheaper as Hyundai wants to clear its inventories, the V6 a steal if you want to turn a car into a topless-100%-guaranteed-girl-pataing-machine and cant afford the Mercedes SLK roadster. The V6 guys is an amazing car to drive, and if you ever get your hands on one…….Blast the road with the 160 horses….......

Summing it up in one line “I’d exchange my wife for the V6”

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This review is based on the top of the line GLX V6 Sonata. Your equipment levels may be different.

Intro / Background

Back in 2002 Hyundai introduced the Sonata and instantly it became apparent that styling and value were the traits the Korean auto giant were banking on to drive sales. What came out was a car that bore an alarming similarity to the Jaguar S-type, and featured just as much standard equipment, all at a price that put it's fully loaded V6 in stomping range of the de facto segment leaders, the Camry and Accord in their 4 cylinder versions.

First Impressions

Like I said before, it's a good looking car by all accounts, and doubly so if you are into Jaguars. The interior is not unpleasant either, with simulated woodgrain trim and nice clean lines and simple controls.

Exterior features

Standard equipment includes fog lamps (very useful in foggy north atlantic conditions and standard on all V6 trims), alloy wheels wrapped with 16'' Michelins that are pretty good in the wet, heated power mirros (even on base models) and a sunroof.

Engine

Remember the Hyundai Pony or the Hyundai Stellar? This is the one aspect where the family lineage still hasn't faded away. While there isn't anything wrong with either the 2.0 4-cylinder or the 2.7 V6 they aren't the best of engines. Power isn't quite comparable to the competition and neither is refinement. But if you think about it from the angle that you're getting a V6 for the price of a I-4 you aren't missing anything. This after all is a family car / junior executive sedan and not some fire-breathing coupe. The transmission comes with ''tiptronic'' ability, which takes some of the dull edge off and gives you a chance to play with your car when the moment arises.

Interior

Leather interior is standard on the GLX, as are heated seats (making the morning drive so much bearable when it's -20C outside), auto climate control, a better than average CD & casette player (now with MP3), power locks and power seats. That's more standard equipment than an Audi A4 or Mercedes C-class!!!

Value

The Sonata starts at around Cdn $23,000 and most are around the $25,000 mark (US$ 20,000). By comparison Honda and Toyota price their offerings a few thousands dollars higher (a fully loaded Camry is about $7,000 more).

Verdict

The Hyundai is a great car! Yes, I said Hyundai and great car in the same sentence without using a negative. Early critics commented on build quality and resale value. But now with a new model on the verge of introduction the Auto journalists Assn. of Canada (aka AJAC) has acutally voted this the ''Most Reliable car of 2005''. And for resale - you got a break on the price, so enjoy it and don't whine when you get a couple of hundred dollars less after you've enjoyed your car.

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The Sonata has been around here for quite a lot of time. Its styling consisting of cues from various manufacturers did catch the fancy of the Indians for a while. In fact, the Sonata was the class leader in sales in its initial few months. This was basically because the plain Jane old generation Honda Accord wasn’t very popular. But as soon as the new Accord was launched, it was a success, thus the demise of the Sonata. Moreover, the people also felt that the Honda brand name was more prestigious compared to the ‘economy car’ brand name of Hyundai. So these factors combined with many other factors including the fact that the Sonata wasn’t as good as its competitors sent its sales spiralling down. Now of course, Hyundai is offering many discounts, thus further harming its image. In a few months, the new Sonata will be launched, but anyway, here is a comprehensive review of the present Sonata.

Aesthetics- As I already mentioned, the Sonata is styled using styling elements from many manufacturers. Having said that, I must say that it doesn’t mean it looks ugly. It is in fact quite good to look at though not as much so as the Accord. The front has Mercedes E-class inspired headlamps. The grille is nice, especially on the 2.7 V6. It is stylish enough. The side is also neat and elegant (ish). The alloys are nice, but the problem with the Sonata is that it is a little small compared to its competitors. The rear looks ditto like the Jaguar S-type’s rear when looked at from far away. So overall I would conclude that it is good, but not exactly that excusive look which one expects from a car at this price. The quality has been improving steadily in Hyundai cars in recent times. The Sonata is built quite well, and its fit and finish is very good. So Korean cars are no longer flimsy and cheap as before.

Comfort- Since the Sonata isn’t very large; the space is adversely affected a bit. More on that later. The front seats are very comfy, and space is decent. The leather used is seemingly of rather good quality. The speedometer and tachometer dials look classy. Legroom can’t be called excellent, but it is sufficient. The dashboard looks quite stylish, but the quality of wood used on it isn’t up to scratch. There is no shortage of features, and you get everything that you will expect. There is a CD changer, wood inserts on the dash and steering, leather seats standard, power seat adjustment, auto air con and lots more. Ergonomics are good enough at the front. The rear is not hugely spacious. Legroom isn’t great, and headroom is at best okay. I don’t think more than two adults will sit without grumbling at the rear. The seats are comfy, but they are a little low. The Sonata is not really bad on comfort, but considering the amount of comfort the competition provides, Hyundai will have to up its game. I guess the new Sonata will solve this problem.

Engine and performance- There are two engine options, a 2-liter petrol and 2.7 litre V6 petrol. We will go into details about the V6 engine. Power is 166 bhp, which is relatively good according to me. The engine is refined to an extent, and is quite silent. The H-matic transmission is something new, which is just a tiptronic.

Initial acceleration is good and 60 km/h comes in 4 seconds or so. Power is more than sufficient and overtaking won’t be a problem. In city conditions, where you will have to experience stop-go conditions, the driveability of the Sonata is decent, but there is scope for improvement. If you want high-end performance also, the Sonata won’t disappoint. 100 km/h comes in 10 seconds approximately. Refinement is not very good at high speeds. The top speed is 200 km/h+, which is good enough. No probs in the performance department, but there is still more scope for improvement.

Ride and handling- The chassis is one of the weak points of the Sonata. The ride is stiff and uncomfortable at lower speeds, but it improves to an extent at higher speeds. Body roll is not much. With a stiff ride, you would expect spot on accurate handling, but that isn’t the case. Handling is just average, and nothing special. High-speed manoeuvres around corners wouldn’t be advisable. So in this area, Hyundai needs to improve.

Running costs, service backup-The 2.7 liter engine and H-matic transmission doesn’t help fuel economy. It is nevertheless on par with the class. In the city, it returns a best mileage of 7 km/l. On the highway it improves to 11 km/l, which is rather good. The overall mileage is close to 8-9 km/l makes it good enough. The service network of the Hyundai is extensive, and it is supposedly very efficient too. Spare parts be easily available and will be cheap too. You won’t find any problems with the service, except maybe in a few cases.

Competition- Here comes the problem. The Sonata by itself is quite a good car, but the likes of the Honda Accord and also some SUVs, is making life tough for the Sonata. Earlier even the Camry was its competitor, but now the price of the Sonata has gone down. Even the Octavia RS and Automatic also give competition to the lower variants of the Sonata. The competition beats the Sonata in almost all areas. But there is one big advantage for the Sonata; it is tremendous value for money. The V6 costs just 14-15 lakhs, making it an excellent deal. You might also be able to squeeze a free stereo. The lower variants like S20 cost just 12-13 lakhs. So if you want a car at the range of 10-12 lakhs, then you can pay a little more to get the Sonata, or if you want a car at 14-15 lakhs, then you can save your money and get an excellent deal on a V6 2.7.

VERDICT- A good car, but not good enough.

LOOKS- 9/10

BUILD QUALITY- 9/10

FIT AND FINISH- 9/10

INTERIOR- 8.5/10

ENGINE- 8.5/10

PERFORMANCE- 9/10

RIDE- 7.5/10

HANDLING- 8/10

FUEL ECONOMY- 8.5/10

VALUE FOR MONEY- 9.5/10

THE GRAND TOTAL- 87/100

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Got a chance to drive the six cylinder version of loaded Hyundai Sonata. I own Honda Accord which falls in the same segment of cars and obviously I first compared it with an Accord. Sonata came with options like Sun and Moon roof at the same price as that of lower version of Accord. It also offered six cylinders which meant better pickup required to merge into a highway.

Many other features like CD, wood trimmed interiors, central locking etc. were offered. Overall the car seemed to be much better value for the money although six cylinders do not give as good a mileage as four cylinders do.

Steering and seating is very comfortable with accessible controls. But, it took me almost 5 minutes to locate the gas lid control which was placed on the door. Most of the vehicles have this control under the driver's seat and I was surprised to see this one located on the door ! As far as safety features, Sonata offers airbags, seat belts and child locks which are pretty standard for a model in this segment.

The car seems to be little heavy on the initial pickup when you go from 0-60 but rides cool after initially heaviness feeling.

Overall, if you are looking for additional power, options at the same price of mid-range Honda Accord, Sonata is a choice to look for. But..be ready to have additional bucks in the pocket to spend on the gas !

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I had an opportunity to test drive the Sonata at one of the Hyundai Showrooms in Mumbai recently. I am a total car freak and technology gets me to a high. The Sonata didnt disappoint... :-)

The Sonata is a sedan introduced in 1989 and later redesigned in 1994, 1999 and 2002. It competes against the likes of Skoda Octavia, Honda Accord and the Ford Mondeo.

Model Range

The Sonata is available in GL, GL V6 and GLX versions. Basic warranty: 3 years/60,000 km;

rust-through protection: 5 years/unlimited kilometers; roadside assistance: 3 years/unlimited kilometers.

Technical Features

The Sonata has a steel unibody mounted on the previous model's platform. It has been reinforced to provide a more rigid base, thus improving handling, occupant safety and comfort and eliminating noise and vibration. Its aerodynamics are average, with a drag coefficient of 0.33. The suspension is fully independent, with two triangular arms in front and the rear uses a multi-arm configuration. Stabilizer bars and coil springs complete both axles. The GL and GL V6 are equipped with four oil-pressurized shocks, whereas the GLX is fitted with nitrogen-charged shocks. The GL gets by with mixed brakes whereas the GL V6 and GLX get 4-wheel discs. ABS and traction control are standard on the GLX only. The GL is equipped with the Sirius II 2.4-liter DOHC L4 engine whereas both others are fitted with a ''small'' Delta 2.7-liter DOHC V6. Both engines are teamed up to a standard 4-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic sequential shift mode.

Stats of the V6 (From the Hyundai Brochure)

Engine: 2.7-liter V6

Road Holding: 0.78 g.

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I am making it very clear that I do not own this car. I cannot afford to. I heard the price tag was Rs.14 lakhs or maybe more. I had a chance to go for a long ride in this automobile last week (lucky me !)

....Yes Gold is precious and costly, so is this Sonata Gold from Hyundai motors.

Specs

2000CC (Ok 1997CC), 4 Cylinder engine (Some models have 6 valve engine), front wheel drive, disc brakes, power windows, power steering, central locking, manual transmission (5 gears + reverse gear). Do I hear claps?

Looks

Looks like Jaguar. Colours - black, gold, bluish silver. Very aerodynamic. Sure to make a lot of heads turn (unless Aishwarya Rai is going from the other side).

Interiors

The interiors is this car's strongest attribute. Standard amenities are galore, along with wood finish on front console. Air bags on driver side and passenger side, a 6 speaker cassette/CD player, power antenna. The speedometer has a trip counter, time counter, average speed display. Soft grip steering wheel and leather upholstery. Safety belts for all seats. Slowly dimming cabin light is just superb. Check the small pulldown locker above front seat for your sunglasses.

The seating is very comfortable for driver + 4 (family car) Excellent leg room at front and back as well.

Once the windows are up and the car cruises, there is absolutely no engine noise inside - very smooth. On Mumbai-Nasik highway I saw the speedometer showing 150kmph and I did not even notice that we were going at that kind of speed thanks to Bridgestone radials.

Air Conditioning

just Excellent. You can set the cabin temperature at a desired level and set to 'auto' mode, so that it switches on/off as per actual temp. Plus it has various fan speeds, blowing direction etc. like other cars. Cooling is very fast.

The acceleration in first & second gear is much more than expected and it can leave all the other cars behind (not Ferrari of course). In 5th overdrive gear one should feel the car 'sailing'. BUT watch out for speed breakers, many times the chassis hit the speed breakers in Mumbai.

The headlamps make the entire road lit up. They are placed low so that the beam does not shine in the eyes of the drives of the vehicles coming from the opposite side.

In the night the front console and the power window buttons lit up nicely. You feel like flying in a plane.

Time to get down now....see you later.

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NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST WRITTEN BY ME FOR BUSINESS STANDARD MOTORING, WHERE I WORKED FOR TWO YEARS, AS ROAD TEST EDITOR

Size does matter after all, and with its new 2654 CC six-cylinder engine, the car can safely thumb its nose at competitors with a gloating “mine is bigger than yours!” war cry. Where all others make do with in-line fours, this is the only D-segment car in India that’s equipped with a V6, and at 166 horsepower, the machine is as potent as the vastly more expensive Mercedes Benz E240. How is it to drive? Let's find out!

Except for the new front grille (horizontal slats this time...) and the prominent 2.7 V6 badge on the boot, the exteriors remain the same, and are likely to continue being the cause of many heated debates in homes, offices and pubs. For me, I’d say that a car which costs as much as these D-segmenters do, should look special, and that the Sonata certainly does! Sitting on its handsome 16-inch alloys (shod in meaty 205/60 tubeless Kumho rubber), the Sonata V6 looks purposeful if nothing else.

Inside, with the engine switched on, things feel very quiet. At standstill, the 24-valve DOHC V6 is barely audible, though some Japanese mills (the Camry’s, for example) are quieter still. As the needle on the rev-counter climbs though, the Sonata’s V6 changes character, and gains some aural brilliance. At higher revs, the V6 rasps and snarls in a very befitting manner, which’ll make for some very happy driving enthusiasts! I was not not so sure about the four-speed automatic which is standard on all Sonata V6s. This auto box does have the “H-matic” manual shift option where the lever can be nudged up and down for quick and easy shifts (''tiptronic'' style), but frankly, the auto was competent enough on its own, and the feature is rather unnecessary in most real world situations. In any case, even in H-matic mode you cannot keep the car locked in one gear beyond a certain rev limit, and the box shifts up automatically as soon as you reach that limit. It would’ve still been nice to have a proper six-speed manual on the options list, but then given that most cars in this category are chauffeur driven, an automatic suits the character of the car nicely.

During testing, the Sonata went from 0 to 60 kmh in a creditable 4.71 seconds, and from 0 to 100 in 9.49. These figures compare favourably with other D-segmenters, and are especially significant when you factor in the Sonata’s 1453 kilo kerb weight. The speedo is marked all the way to 240 kph, and though we only did 180 before running out of road, I’m quite confident that the car will do a maximum of about 210 in the right conditions. Of course, more than acceleration and speed runs, most potential Sonata V6 owners might be interested in how comfortable the car is, and there, the car doesn’t fare badly at all. The four-wheel independent setup - double wishbones at the front, and multi-link at the rear - is configured for ride comfort, and is on the softer side. Occupants are isolated from bumps and thumps over bad terrain, but despite the soft settings, the car tracks straight and true on bad roads, even at relatively higher speeds. For enthusiastic driving, the car would have benefitted from tauter settings, but then the ride would be too firm for most, so we’ll say that Hyundai found a good compromise between ride comfort and handling prowess!

Speaking of high speeds and handling prowess etc, the Sonata has a full complement of safey gizmos on board, which allow you to travel at those speeds in relative safety. The car has discs on all wheels, is fitted with ABS, and the brakes are well up to the task of hauling the car down from triple-digit speeds with alacrity! We did a 0 - 100 - 0 run in 12.59 seconds, which is quite commendable really. Though the ABS equipped brakes feel a bit last-generation at times (incessant chatter, and pedal pulse...), they never faltered when called upon to perform.

For those who are given to speeding regardless of weather and/or road conditions, there’s also traction control there to keep things from going awry. While doing slalom runs on loose gravelly surfaces, I could feel the TC doing its job - cutting in at opportune moments - and stopping the car from going off-trajectory. On the flip side, it was never obtrusive, and we had no complaints about the TC being over-enthusiastic. And even with the TC switched off, the car exhibits only understeer characteristics unless you are going completely mad. Violent changes in direction with the TC switched off (on a loose surface covered with mud and gravel) resulted in the car getting unsettled, but any slides are easily caught with a little twirling of the wheel, so no worries there. The overall feel is more substantial and settled than, say, an Accord or a Camry, but the Merc C-class cars still lead the way when it comes to chassis dynamics.

Coming off the subject of speed and handling and chassis dynamics, and moving on to interiors and objects of creature comfort, this is where the V6 scores big. The interiors are lavish - you get beige leather upholstery, chrome touches here and there, and wood-effect plastic inserts over the dash, centre console and steering wheel. The seats - front and rear - are very comfortable, with loads of lateral support at front. The driver’s seat gets electric adjustments, and the steering wheel positioning is also adjustable for height. Overall, interiors are more spacious than a Mercedes C-class car, though the Camry would be even more roomy. And oh, there is loads of space in the boot, so those extended getaways should never be a problem...

In the final reckoning, the Sonata V6 is a value for money luxury cruiser that’s equally happy pottering around in town or whisking its occupants from one state to another swiftly and safely. There’s a price to pay - don’t expect more than 8 - 9 kpl from that V6. On the highway, with very careful driving, and if you resist the urge to fiddle around in H-matic mode, that figure may possibly go up to 10, but that’s about it.

The Sonata doesn’t have the badge-appeal and chassis dynamics of a Merc C-Class, or the brash good looks of a Mondeo, but running the Korean V6 should be as hassle-free as running any in-line four from Japan. Also, since this is a CBU, there should be no quality constraints whatsoever. If a power statement is what you want to make, and if you can afford the fuel bills for it, the Sonata 2.7 V6 could be the right car for you.

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Friedrich Nietzsche said that '' Without music life would be a MISTAKE''...several years later I say that ''Without a Hyundai Sonata , life would be a MISSED TAKE''

Yes , The Sonata is truly a unpassable musical orgasm to the body and mind AND missing it would be equivalent to the gravest crime for any motoring afficionado.

I got a chance to set my eyes on a pearly white sonata .She took my breath away.The design engineers at Hyundai saw quite a few videos of the late princess diana before they went their drawing boards to sketch this sonata.This car is elegance personified.In fact , so beautiful are her lines in the front , not a crease or a wrinkle.She looked at me with her ethereal eyes , my tongue popped out by reflex.

This is not some woman , who will arouse you with her looks and bring out the gutteral beast and howl from within.This is not a woman , whom you would want to hug and say ''Don't worry!''. This is a woman , who has so much class oozing out of her , that you almost fall on your knees, take her hands and kiss her gently on them.

The Hyundai is truly a delight of fusion in styling and functionality.Standing tall at 1997 cc and 16 valves , this lady can surprise any other car on the road.Yes , Okay she's got looks which have a striking resemblance to the other old world moneybag ladies namely the merc and the jag.All said and done , I fell hook, line and slinker to the well balanced posture of this lady standing tall on her alloy wheel frames.Also giving true justice to her name , the Sonata comes with a wonderful music system ( 9 CD changer!) giving every whisper the clarity of a bell.

Take the sonata on a spin on mumbai's roads and she's definitely a head-turner and heart-stopper all the way through.But of course with the GL version will set you back by a cool 12.75 lacs in mumbai roads .Attn: this lady cannot be owned by just any one of you.It needs enough parking space and needs her coat waxed and pampered everyday to keep her shining and happy.If you can afford all this ....go and sing a sonata with this Perfect 10 Korean lady - She's all yours.

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Seen the Hyundai Sonata yet? Or did you miss it as a it zoomed past you? It`s got power, comfort, space and stability. It also meets current European safety norms for frontal impact its energy-absorbing crumple zone, side impact beams, collapsible steering wheel rigid monocoque frame ensure better passenger crash survivability. Other safety features include a child safety lock, shatter-resistant laminated windshield glass and a fuel feed system designed to minimise fire hazards. It`s very smooth to drive. It is of 14,00,000 Rupees. Makes it so much easier to speed up the two world. So, what r u waiting for just Go, and burn the roads -- Safely...

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Nice faces win fans, simple. And yes, no doubt, the Sonata looks quite cool really. From some angles (and I know I'm really sticking my neck out here...), the Sonata almost looks British - maybe even like a Jaguar, especially when viewed from the back. Certainly, in the looks department, it's MUCH better than, say, a Honda Accord, which is just bland. The Sonata drives well also, though in terms of engine performance, the Accord blows the Sonata into the weeds.

Ride is reasonably comfy, what with the pliant suspension. Interiors are well-appointed, and the whole look and feel is quite posh. Quality of some of the plastics used is a wee bit suspect, but well, nothing horrible. The handling is also okay, though not in the class of something like the Mercedes Benz C-Class, or even the Skoda Octavia.

Bottomline: If you've got the greenbacks, and looks are what's most important for you, buy this car. If engine performance is what you hanker for, you'd probably be happy with Mr Bland Looks, the Accord. The Octvia presents a great value-for-money proposition, with an enticing mix of good looks, a SUPERB chassis/suspension combo, and reasonably nice engine performance. The Mercedes C180 and the Ford Mondeo have higher levels of refinement and performance. At a price.

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