2009 Hyndai Sonata - 4 Cylinder Family Sedan Comparison
MT Technical Director Frank Markus examines one of the most formidable contenders in our 4-cylinder family sedan comparison
Transcript
00:00 We're here in front of the 2009 Hyundai Sonata.
00:07 One of the big things that's new for 2009 is the engine, which has been thoroughly revised.
00:11 It's a 2.4 liter Hyundai design, Fata II engine.
00:14 With VVT, a variable valve timing on both cams, and a new intake system and so forth,
00:19 it now makes 175 horsepower, 168 pound feet of torque.
00:22 It's also very smooth.
00:24 It routes that power through a five-speed automatic, as it did before.
00:27 Value is always a big story at Hyundai.
00:29 You can get one of these to start at $18,795 with a manual transmission.
00:33 Our model here is an SE, slightly sportier suspension tuning with bigger tires and wheels.
00:38 That one starts at $21,295.
00:40 But even if you get all the way to the top of the line with leather and navigation,
00:44 which is also new for 2009, you're still under $27,800 or so.
00:48 So very high value with these cars.
00:51 They all come with six airbags, stability control is standard,
00:54 a lot of really good safety features.
00:56 It gets a five-star rating for those.
00:58 For 2009, they changed the headlights, a more jewel-like projector lens appearance,
01:03 and the soft parts, the fascias, front and rear.
01:05 And the other thing they really did is the interior.
01:07 Greatly updated the center console area, much more upscale look,
01:11 kind of like their Veracruz SUV, which has gotten a lot of very good reviews.
01:15 The whole car really has a very high-precision, refined feel and look about it in the current state.
01:21 Relative to the other cars in its class, this one is actually rated as a full-size car.
01:25 Slightly bigger inside, a little bit more headroom, legroom,
01:28 slightly more shoulder room in the back than the main competitors, the Camry and the Accord.
01:32 Also the trunk, very large, and not only large but very square, rectangular, easy-to-use space.
01:37 These are family sedans, so we don't really expect them to be incredibly sporty.
01:41 And yet this one really holds its own with most of the better cars that were out here on handling.
01:45 In terms of the Volkswagen, it's probably the best.
01:47 I'd say this was second or third to that for handling.
01:50 And at the same time, it's as comfortable as the Camry for ride, which is a big thing.
01:54 Ride and quiet.
01:56 Fuel economy is another standout with this four-cylinder.
01:58 It is EPA-rated 22 and 32 miles per gallon city and highway, which is slightly above Accord and Camry.
02:04 And it tied the Camry on our loop here.
02:07 At the test track, the Hyundai Sonata SE returned an 8.7-second 0-to-60 run
02:13 and 16.7 seconds at 84.5 miles an hour in the quarter-mile.
02:20 On our figure-eight course, it did the course in 28.6 seconds at 0.55 G average.
02:26 And our lateral acceleration maximum was 0.78 G.
02:30 I guess the only real sort of possible negative with the Hyundais is resale value is not anywhere near what Hondas and Toyotas are,
02:40 although they are increasing every year, so that may not be the case forever.
02:44 Overall, relative to the competition, the Sonata looks very strong.
02:47 The very high value is the price and what you get for the money in this car.
02:50 And it stacks up very well in ride handling, quiet, size, room, all that sort of thing, too.
02:55 So we're looking for this one to perform pretty well at the final analysis.
02:59 [MUSIC]