Sonata

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Premium
Price as tested: CDN$34499

Performance: We have driven both the 2.4 and 2.0T variants of the Sonata. This is the latest version, Sonata Hybrid.

With using the advanced lithium polymer batteries at the addition of the standard Thela-2 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve engine, along with the Aktison Cycle as an enhancement. This Hybrid Sonata is able to generate 166hp and 154 lb/ft of torque with engine alone. When added with the lithium polymer batteries, which have a desired effect of 25% less weight, 40% less volume and 10% more efficiency. Its able to generate 40 electric horses alone. All of that mean 206 ponies at driver’s disposal. While there are many carmakers who like to overrated their horsepower ratings, you have to give credit to Hyundai for generating honest figure when mating with the electric side of the equation. That said, the batteries are enough to keep the Sonata going as far up as 100km/h before gasoline motors stepping into the mix. That means you are always driven on electric side of the fuel economy until you reach highway speed. After 100km/h, its all about gasoline. The result is a transition which is both seamless and smooth-as-silk. Most won’t noticed the transition except for looking at the center monitor or dashboard. The torquery side of the electric motor has given Sonata a much-needed boost when driven in city. The 6-speed manumatic has worked exceptionally well with the hybrid engine, as it has low enough gear ratios for launching with electric while the top 5th and 6th are tall enough for comfortable highway cruising. As refined as the gearbox does, we still prefer the use of CVT when mating with hybrid powertrain. However, the fuel economy figure isn’t as glossy as we expected from Hyundai. We only managed to get up to 8.9 liters per 100km, which is far and apart from Hyundai’s posted fuel economy figure. That’s even with the help of an “Eco” button, which supposedly to be soften the throttle response and adjust gearchange, for better fuel economy. It doesn’t significantly improve its fuel economy when driven in full gasoline mode.

Here are the fuel economy breakdown of all the hybrids and diesels we have tested to date:
Ford Fusion Hybrid: 6.5 liters per 100km. Posted figure: 4.6 liters per 100km.
Toyota Camry Hybrid: 9 liters per 100km. Posted figure: 5.7 liters per 100km.
Toyota Prius: 8 liters per 100 km. Posted figure: 3.8 liters per 100km.
VW Passat TDI Clean Diesel: 6 liters per 100km. Posted figure: 6.7 liters per 100km.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: 8.9 liters per 100km. Posted figure: 5.1 liters per 100km.

Except for Passat TDI, only Fusion hybrid is getting close to factory posted figure.

As for those luxury hybrids. Mercedes S400h, BMW ActiveHybrid-7/X6, LS600h and RX450h….you can basically put those posted figure at the back of your mind. As the achieved real life figures aren’t even damn close to what it supposedly to be.

Handling: While one won’t expect a hybrid to handle like a sports sedan, nor it intended to be. The Sonata continues to handle nicely thanks to the optional 17″ wheels on our Premium. If you prefer to ride a bit smoother, there is always a Standard version with 16″ wheels. Given its softly sprung of the hybrid version, its already proven its worth when it comes to attack corners. The whole driving experience is confidence-inspiring without feeling as boredom as some hybrid rivals do. It has tuned more toward the comfort rather than edgy side of the dynamic equation. There are some body rolls when pushed, though the Sonata tends to take a set before it settles itself down. Terminal understeer is well-expected. Thanks to its state-of-the-art ESC, it tends to save the ugly heads gracefully, whenever someone wants to push the hybrid a bit too hot in a corner. The steerng provides decent feel and feedback, while the off-center feel somewhat vague. It is generally responsive given its hybrid status.

Brakes: While most hybrids with regenerative braking tend to feel numb, Sonata’s system feels solid and well-modulated. The brakes always feel to have some lives to it, whenever driver nails the pedal to the bottom. All without the usual meshiness and numbness associate with regenerative braking systems. Its fade-free even after a couple of hard stops. On the other hand, ABS tends to step in at the right time at the right place.

Interior: The single biggest change to the hybrid is the lack of proper fold-down rear seats, due to the batteries situated at the back of the trunk. Other than that, the trunk is quite spacious for its own right.

Up front, our Premium comes basically loaded. Right from an initutive navigation system to an effective auto climate control which have dual-zone variety. The navigation system’s monitor has a neat trick, which is to display whether Sonata is running on electric or gasoline engine. Driver can also watch the move on the instrument panel.

Conclusion: If you are able to get past its garish and tacky styling, Sonata hybrid is a good family car worthy to consider despite of its disappointing fuel economy. Its both comfortable and loaded it to the ninth, with battery warranty up to 8 years or 100000km. However, it takes a couple of years of driving before compensating $2830 premium over equivalent Sonata 2.4. Whether it is worth the premium depends on how you perceive a hybrid or how “green” you want to “feel”. As for me, I would save $2830 for buying a Sonata 2.4 while using the rest of the dough to plant some flowers at my backyard. Simple as that!

Competitions:
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Kia Optima Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota Prius
VW Passat TDI

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
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Performance: 3.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 3/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 3/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited
Price as tested: CDN$28999

Performance: The previous Sonata was good enough to earn Directshift’s coverted Car of the Year award. Is the new Sonata any better than the impressive outgoing car? We will find out after this review.

Unlike the previous Sonata, the latest iteration is no longer available with V6 engine. That’s because Hyundai has scheduled a 4-cylinder turbo and hybrid coming on the horizon. In the meantime, this 2.4 liter DOHC 4-cylinder 16-valve comes with dual variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust. As well as advaced direct fuel injection technology. With 198 ponies and 184 lb/ft of torque at driver’s disposal, the latest Sonata provides the most horsepower in its respective segment. Not only does this direct injected motor provides exceptional refinement and flexability; its powerful enough to let anyone forget about opting for the V6. Its also enough to motive 3316 lb of South Korean leather-lined of luxury with ease. However, the incoming 274 hp 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder is what we are all waiting for. If you just can’t wait for this forced induction Sonata, the current normally aspirated 2.4 liter is more than capable to suit your needs. Mated with this impressive 4-cylinder is the 6-speed manumatic gearbox. Previous Hyundai used to have a rather tall ratios for bottom gears. Not anymore. The new Sonata has properly low gear ratios for 1st and 2nd for enthuisastic launch while leaving 5th and 6th for superb highway cruising, on the other hand, leaving 3rd and 4th to keep the engine in all sweet spot. There are paddle shifters on the steering wheel for manumatic mode, unfortunately, it won’t allow any enthuisastic driver to drop gears on “D”. That makes the paddle shifters rather redundant in its purpose. A paddle shifters should allow driver to drop the gears whenever its needed.

Handling: The Sonata begins with excellent foundation, which means rigid and stiff chassis for suspension components to hang its heads. That means the chassis is completely lack of anything called cracks and rattles even when driven through rough Canadian roads. What makes us impressive with the Sonata is the European supple ride quality Hyundai engineers dialled with the suspension. We already praised this kind of suspension tuning prowess with the impressive Genesis and Elantra Touring, both of these cars have Teutonic enough driving feel to let anyone forget about anything Japanese. The new Sonata isn’t any difference. While the ride is soft and cushioned on washboard pavements and expansion joints, it won’t feel any kind of softness one associates with some of its peers. On the other hand, the suspension yields firm driving dynamics without compromising anything in terms of comfort. While there are still some minor body rolls and safe understeer does surface. All have done with confidence and sure-footness when pushed this Sonata through twisties. The steering provides good feel and feedback, with top-notch precision and responsiveness. Sonata’s ESC doesn’t step in when pushed in the corners until driver rears its ugly head. That’s already considered uninstrusive given Sonata’s family car status.

Brakes: With both 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, the Sonata provides impressive braking feel and feedback. The pedal always feels alive even stop multiple times during hot summer weather. It doesn’t exhibit any kind of fades, along with ABS which doesn’t step in unnecessarily, have rounded out Sonata’s impressive dynamic package.

Interior: Slip behind the wheel of the new Sonata, you would have thought you are sitting in an Audi. That’s because the use of plastic and leather materials are world-class. Fit-and-finish is top-notch. All the panel gaps are tight and fitting. The dual-zone auto climate control is initutive thanks to the human-like pictogram for fan position. The stereo is equally initutive and easy to use. Instrumentation gauges are clear and analog.

While the coupe-like roofline has sacificed some of the headroom from a boxier profile, its actually not as terrible as most would have thought. The leg and elbow room are impressive for Sonata’s rear passengers, thanks to US EPA’s large-car rating for its interior space. Sonata is the second car in the mid-size family car segment to classify as a large-car, in terms of interior space. First car is the current Accord introduced in 2008.

Although the trunk liftover is a little bit high and side sills are a bit narrow, loading luggages into the Sonata remains fuss-free. Along with proper fold-down rear seats, the full-size Sonata is able to swallow any luggage of any size human car possibly think of. However, the use of instrusive trunk hinges have cut into many of those groceries below.

Conclusion: If you think the previous Sonata already a great car, Hyundai is able to turn such a great car into an even better car. It got plenty of power, even if the 274hp 2.0T haven’t come along. It handles relatively well. The most impressive aspect is Hyundai is able to design a sexy family sedan without losing any of the interior space that this segment needed. Its the other way around! In short, Hyundai has upped the ante in this important segment.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Hyundai Sonata
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Performance: 4.75/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.75/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Vehicle: 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 Premium
Price as tested: CDN$28125

Performance: Just like many mainstream family sedans, Sonata has two engine choices. An entry-level 162hp 2.4L DOHC 16-valver or the potent 3.3L V6 DOHC 24-valver in our top-of-the-line tester. The engine refinement, responsiveness and NVH are simply amazing. 235hp and 226 lb/ft of torque are plenty enough to challenge the must in its class. The throttle response is quick while tip-in is smooth and linear. The 5-speed Shiftronic manumatic is smooth-as-a-nut. Its not only willing to up and downshifts, unlike previous Hyundai slushmatics. Its gear ratios are so well-spaced that it works like magic with this powerplant. When driving at 100 km/h, it just clocks at 2500rpm which is downright impressive.

Handling: The dynamic package is as impressive as the powerplant in this Sonata. It begins with a solid foundation for suspensions to hang its heads. Its level of agileness is able to beat many of its competitors with excellent road feel, steering response, minimal body rolls and understeer. The steering has a surprisingly quick reflex through fast left-to-right transitions. It feels sharp and precise whenever you attack a corner. The use of front double wishbone suspensions and rear multi-link set-up are also the reason for Sonata’s confidence-inspiring sporty handling characteristics. The whole car has a built-from-a-block-of-steel feel that reminds me of European sports sedan that costing twice as much. Hyundai designers are also capable of tuning some of the European feedback that is so lacking in Japanese rivals in this Sonata. Given the Sonata’s status of life, GLS V6′s electronic stability control has remained uninstrusive until absolutely necessary. As for ride comfort, its supple with the level of firm European damping which absorbs bumps with confidence.

Brakes: Sonata’s 4-wheel discs and standard ABS should also be considered as one of best in class. The pedal feel is firm and easily modulated while the electronic braking force distribution really has a desired effect. It proporionate the braking force between front and rear wheels exceptionally well during hard braking.

Interior: The level of conziness in new Sonata is as unbelievable as its dynamic abilities. Great set of leather seats, excellent ergonomics, effective auto climate control and a good sounding stereo system are just some of the highlights of this excellent interior. The climate control serves us very well with great air conditioning under this surprisingly hot weather. Everything from the top of the dashboard to the center console are covered in soft-touch plastic. All the switchgears have a high-quality, tactical “heavy” feel that can be mistaken for a car costing twice as much.

Since Sonata has been rated as “large car” by EPA, there are tons of head and legroom at the back.

The trunk is very well-layout. Along with 60/40 split fold-down rear seats and low liftover, Hyundai is also given us uninstrusive trunk hinges that won’t crashed into anything underneath.

There is a nifty feature for Canadian winter inside Sonata’s trunk, and that is internal fuel filler release. When the external fuel filler cap blocked by a patch of ice in the winter, driver can open the cap using the internal release without cracking out the door. Its not only easier for the well-being, it also won’t break the door by cracking it open.

Conclusion: For only 28 grand, you won’t find a better deal in town. Its fast, handles very well, comfortable and built as solid as anything else on the road. The bottom line: the new Sonata will make a huge dent in the ultra-competitive family sedan class that is currently dominated by Japanese.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6
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Performance: 4.75/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.75/5
Interior/ergonomcs/user-friendliness: 4.75/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.75/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4.75/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.75/5