The larger, more powerful
2006 Hyundai Sonata should put up an impressive fight against the costlier Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, which are high-volume icons in the mid-size car segment.
The Sonata should win the automotive non sequitur of the year award for those who remember marginal old Hyundais, which spooked folks with poor workmanship, shoddy materials and unreliability.
Hyundais from even a few years ago, except for the slick Tiburon sports coupe, were pretty bland -- although much improved from when Hyundais were sold strictly as "transportation cars" for well under $10,000.
Hyundai gets more acceptance each year here, with junky cars just a bad memory. Sales are skyrocketing and Hyundai is experiencing increasing customer satisfaction survey scores. Major automakers are faltering, but Hyundai racked up U.S. sales of 181,386 vehicles in the first five months this year, compared with 163,675 for the same year-ago period.
The compact front-drive Sonata has been Hyundai's top-selling sedan, and the redesigned new mid-size Sonata is more formidable. Hyundai calls it a "brand-altering product." The Sonata has better styling, more powerful engines, lots of equipment and a roomy interior that puts it in the large-car class, as measured by the EPA.
The new model has a longer wheelbase, (distance between axles) and is 2 inches longer overall and taller, besides being wider than major rivals. One thing not gotten from many cars from the Far East is adequate width because they're built for a world market and thus narrower roads than those in America.
The Sonata's quiet, upscale interior has an unusually roomy back seat and there's good all-around visibility from the driver's seat. However, front seats should provide more support and the stiff center of the rear seat is best occupied on long trips by the large fold-down armrest, which contains dual cupholders.
The enlarged trunk is spacious, with a low, wide opening and has a lid on struts that pops up well out of the way. Fold-forward rear seatbacks enlarge the cargo area.
Hyundai's 10-year/100,000- mile powertrain warranty, which helped put Hyundai on the map here again, continues to lure potential customers to showrooms. Yet, Hyundais still don't enjoy the resale value of Toyotas, Hondas or Nissans.
The new Sonata was designed to meet American driver needs and required collaborative development at Hyundai's global research and development operations, including those in Michigan and California. It's built at the South Korean automaker's new manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Ala.
The $17,895-$22,895 Sonata is aggressively priced against rivals. And it looks sharper than a Camry or Accord and nearly as good as the Altima. Many will be surprised to see it wearing the Hyundai badge and sporting chromed dual exhaust outlets.
The Sonata is a family car, not a sports sedan. Its speed-sensitive steering thus is fast, although not in the BMW class. Handling is good, and the all-independent provides a smooth ride, although it occasionally gets a little bouncy. Some drivers may want a brake pedal that isn't quite so sensitive, but I soon got used to it.
The Sonata comes as the base $17,895-$18,795 GL, mid-range $19,395-$20,895 GLS and top-line $22,895 LX.
Affordability long has been a Hyundai asset, and all Sonatas have a level of standard equipment typically a cut above comparable models in the car's class. For instance, all versions have standard electronic stability and traction control systems, which is a "first" in the mid-size sedan market.
Other safety features are anti-lock all-disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution for surer sudden stops, front side-impact air bags and front-rear side curtain air bags. The Sonata is projected to perform at a five-star level in government frontal and side-impact testing.
Standard on the GL are air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows, 60-series tires on 16-inch wheels, rear defroster, power door locks and heated power side mirrors, AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, leather-wrapped wheel and a tilt steering column.
Added for the GLS are an automatic transmission, alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, driver's seat lumber support, automatic light control and trip computer. The GLS also has metal-grain or woodgrain interior trim accents.
Options for the GLS include a power tilt-slide sunroof and a Premium Package that includes the sunroof and a power driver's seat.
I drove the LX, which adds leather, heated front seats, power driver's seat, 17-inch wheels with wider (50-series) tires, automatic temperature control and telescoping steering column. Options for the LX include the power sunroof and a CD changer with subwoofer and component amplifier.
Two sophisticated new engines let the Sonata leave the 2005 model in the dust. One is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit with 162 horsepower that replaces a 138-horsepower four-cylinder. The other is a 3.3-liter V-6 with 235 horsepower, which replaces a smaller 170-horsepower V-6.
My test car's smooth, quiet V-6 provided strong acceleration in town and fast 65-80 mph passing times.
The four-cylinder engine comes in the base $17,895 GL with five-speed manual gearbox and in the GL and GLS with a four-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 is offered for the GLS and is standard in the LX. It comes with a more advanced five-speed automatic.
Both automatic transmissions have a manual shift feature that works OK, but the LX shifter is notchy during normal operation, as when moving the lever from "park" to "drive."
The tilt steering column also has a notchy action that is out of step with the otherwise smooth, large controls.
Thoughtful touches include stylish red needles for the speedometer and tachometer that make them easy to read quickly. There also are six windshield washer jets, instead of the usual three, and sun visors with lit vanity mirrors. The glove compartment is large, and front cupholders are in a handy spot. Rear windows lower all the way.
There's no cheap prop rod for the hood, which smoothly raises on a strut to reveal easily reached fluid filler areas.
The new Sonata promises to help keep Hyundai sales in high gear, while further upgrading the automaker's image.
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA
PRICES
$17,895-$22,895
LIKES
Deftly redesigned. Upscale look and feel. Roomy. More power. Well-equipped. Aggressive pricing. Long warranty.
DISLIKES
Average front seats. Notchy shifter gate and tilt steering wheel adjuster. Questionable resale value.