Sonata Sans Cantata
Hyundai’s full-sized sedan gets a crucial makeover. But will all that tinkering be enough to go up against the likes the ever so-popular Toyota Camry and Mazda 6?
The 2.0 naturally aspirated inline four is good for 152ps and 192Nm of torque, and auto cog-swops through 6 ratios. Where many cars now come turbocharged, the pleasantness in the linear build-up of torque is quite welcome. However, the engine does come across as a little tired in this day and age. The Sonata’s century sprint timing is an un-inspiring 11.1 seconds. Just in comparison, the 2.0 Mazda 6 does a little better at 10.8 seconds.
The steering according to Hyundai has been improved on, with greater emphasis placed on precision. We do like that the electric unit feels quite direct, and there is also a pleasant amount of suspension travel without the dampening feeling overly soft. There is also not too much body roll, and the drive is overall quite pleasant.
The car’s 17” rims with 215/55 tyres offers a good deal of comfort, and the tyre size will also mean affordable tyre changes. Intruding road noise is minimal, and overall ride quality is refined.
Unfortunately, the brakes have to be worked really hard in order to get some proper braking power from them, and braking extra early will be necessary to prevent any wide-eyed reactions from your passengers and yourself.
While Hyundai has gone through great lengths to further add to the value of the Sonata, one cannot deny that the extras that they have to offer, in terms of passenger room, and the addition of technological frills, improvements on its steering rack and revisions on the suspension simply does not add up to make the car “better than” the competition.
In contrast, the 2.0 Mazda 6 may lose out in terms of passenger accommodation, but driver dynamics, build quality (inclusive of a very fine paint job) makes it simply more attractive. European offerings like the entry-spec Volkswagen Passat could easily offer a more pliant ride, premium brand-rivalling build tolerances and expensive premium looks, at a similar price with some good haggling skills.
The Sonata may deliver you quite a pleasant ride like listening to a well-crafted piece of music. However the car simply does not have a voice in this crowded market segment.
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