2012 Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata gains all new styling, new engines, and a thorough re-working nose to tail for the latest model year. The result is Hyundai's most competitive Camry-Accord-Malibu-Fusion fighter yet.
Styled at Hyundai's Irvine, California, studio, the Sonata is a fresh design that takes a few subtle cues from the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen CC.
Slightly larger than the existing Sonata, the new car feels substantially roomier inside. Special attention has been paid to materials and design, which is substantially more upmarket than before.
Underhood, the Theta II gasoline direct-injection 2.4-liter four puts out 198 horsepower (bumped up to an even 200 ponies on the sportier SE trim level) and 184 lb-ft. of torque yet delivers an estimated class-leading 35 mpg on the highway with the optional six-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual is standard on the base GLS). Regardless of transmission, the Sonata is expected to be rated at 23 mpg in the city, but the manual will be rated at 34 mpg on the highway.
The 16-valve four-cylinder features continuously variable valve timing and variable induction and Hyundai says that some markets will get a PZEV variant. Unlike the outgoing model, Hyundai says it does not plan to offer a six-cylinder powertrain -- but Hyundai does offer both a 2.0-liter Turbo model and a hybrid model.
Hyundai will offer the all-new Sonata in three trim levels, each offering a handful of optional equipment packages. For $750, the GLS automatic can be optioned with the Popular Equipment Package, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar, upgraded interior trim and automatic head lamps. Another $950 adds a navigation system and premium audio upgrade.
The GLS gives way to the SE, which adds a middling two horsepower but also 18-inch alloy wheels, unique dark chrome exterior touches, fog lights, dual exhaust, a sport-tuned suspension and steering combination, proximity entry with push-button start and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob. The SE comes only with the automatic and starts at $22,595. An extra $2,600 adds a moonroof, navigation and premium audio.
From there, the Limited adds leather seats, dual zone automatic climate control, automatic-dimming mirror with compass, CD changer, HD radio, upgraded audio, 17-inch alloy wheels, moonroof, exterior mirror-mounted turn signals, upgraded interior trim and rear seat vents. The Limited comes with the standard 198-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder and starts at $25,295. Another $2,100 adds a package that includes navigation, a rear backup camera and Infinity-branded speakers.
Hyundai is especially proud of the trio of audio systems tailored to the all-new Sonata. GLS and SE models get an AM/FM/CD player with six speakers and XM capability, but they will offer a Dimension-branded premium system with a touch-screen navigation. Limited models come standard with the Dimension audio system and a CD changer but offer a 400-watt Infinity audio system.
Want more information on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, click on the link and experience your own...
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicles/2012/sonata/experience/
REVIEWS: What's the fuss is about: With one stroke, Hyundai has transformed the Sonata from rental-car, bottom-of-the-heap status to a legitimate threat to the kings of the lucrative and all-important mid-size-sedan segment, the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima. The four-cylinder engine and the six-speed transmission work very well together and should indeed meet the needs of many people who thought they wanted or needed a V-6 engine, and the bonus is an amazing 35-mpg highway fuel economy rating. With 198 hp on tap and a relatively modest curb weight of 3200 pounds, the Sonata had plenty of power for my brief stint on the freeway, where I easily merged into the traffic stream and accelerated to 90 mph. 2012 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review
April 08, 2011
Hyundai, you see, has decided not to offer a V-6 engine at all, because it feels (and I agree) that the four-cylinder is more than sufficient, and in not having to build the car's front structure in such a way as to accommodate the extra weight and size of a V-6, the company's engineers were able to shave about 100 pounds off the car's weight right from the get-go.
Body control, ride quality, and steering feel are all exemplary and would be foreign qualities to any driver of the outgoing, soggy Sonata. The 2012 Sonata just goes down the road with a crispness and a sense of purpose that only the Accord and the Altima come close to matching.
The direct-injection four-cylinder is strong but not silent. It would be a stretch to call it unrefined, but it would certainly be a stretch to call it mellifluous. No matter: it settles into a distant hum once you're on the freeway, where wind noise is only marginally evident. And you can always turn up the excellent optional stereo like the one on our tester.
Cabin finish and ergonomics are at or near the top of the class. The radio and navigation interface, like the one in the Hyundai Genesis sedan, are absolutely superb. At $28K fully loaded, our test car seems like a bargain.
There are many touches of elegance to the exterior, and the car as a whole presents as one that has substance and presence. Your average American will quite like it, I predict.
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Ratings & Best Prices
MSRP $25,795
Welcome to the party. Hyundai is introducing its first hybrid model, the Sonata Hybrid. It will come in one trim level, the base. As skyrocketing fuel prices are raising the demand for higher mileage and “green” vehicles, more and more automakers are beginning to take them seriously. Let’s see where Hyundai fits on the food chain.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a midsize hybrid sedan. It has a 2.4 liter, 4-cylinder combustion engine that produces 169 horsepower and an electric motor that provides another 40 horsepower. The electric motor has a lithium-polymer battery that is lighter than standard hybrid batteries. It has 16-inch alloy wheels and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Projected mileage is 37 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
It comes with an 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, cloth upholstery, full power accessories, cruise control, tilt-telescope steering wheel with audio and cruise control controls, automatic headlights, foglights, and turn signal mirrors. The audio system has 6 speakers, CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, USB/iPod port, Bluetooth, and an audio jack.
The Sonata has ventilated, anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, brake-assist, and active front head restraints. The Sonata did very well in the new, more-stringent government tests. It got 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for side impact and 4 stars for front impact. It also got perfect scores all around from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
There is a lot to like about the Sonata. The interior has a very pleasant look. The controls are in the right places and are easy to use. The seats are very comfortable, and there is plenty of headroom and legroom all around. This car is great for a family of five, and it even has enough cargo space to compensate for the battery pack in the trunk.
The Sonata gives a great combination of performance and ride. The steering is very responsive and helps give the Sonata a sporty feel. However, this isn’t at the expense of the ride. The tuning of the suspension manages to give the elusive combination of sporty performance and a soft ride. The Sonata accelerates well, too.
Hyundai has made a few exterior and aerodynamic improvements over its conventional model. The hybrid looks a lot sleeker than its sibling, and it has been cosmetically enhanced to try and differentiate it from the competition. The result is an extremely attractive, midsized car with decent power that gets the mileage of a more conservative, compact car. The Sonata Hybrid could end up turning a lot of heads.
The main negative is that there isn’t always enough headroom for taller drivers. This could be a potential deal-breaker depending on one’s height. Also, some of the interior materials could be a little bit softer.
The verdict: conventional Sonatas are among the most highly recommended vehicles on the market. The hybrid should be no different.
Review: 2012 Hyundai Sonata Turbo
Flashback to the 2010 New York Auto Show. I’m awaiting Hyundai’s scheduled press conference, where it appears the media is about to be introduced to new variants of the Sonata. John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America President and CEO, takes the stage, and amidst a spectacular light show set to pounding techno music, the wraps are taken off the Hyundai Sonata Turbo. The crowd offers polite applause, which is understandable-we’ve seen the Sonata, and this car looks just like….the other Sonata.
The music cuts out, and Mr. Krafcik is ready to discuss the Turbo. A massive screen behind him forms a grid, showing every heavy hitter in the mid-size sedan segment in their most powerful form, which in this crowd is mostly V-6′s. Then he lays it on us. The Sonata Turbo is powered by a 2.0L, direct injected, twin scroll turbocharged four cranking out 274hp. Oh, and it delivers 33mpg on the highway, on regular gas. The crowd literally gasped in response. I happened to be standing next to a group of Honda employees, their jaws dropped open, shoulders sunk in astonishment.
This was my introduction to the Hyundai Sonata Turbo, and it was a given this was a car we at The Garage wanted some time with. Away from the glamour of the Big Apple, how would the Sonata Turbo fare in the real world? Read on…
Hyundai’s ascension from bargain-basement bottom feeder to legit, major league heavy hitter status has been well documented. The Sonata is actually now in its sixth generation, but has spent most of its life a a competent, inexpensive wallflower in one of the most hotly contested markets in the auto business-the mid-size family sedan. Hyundai tossed their playbook out the window in redesigning the current Sonata. In a market where mass appeal is critical, no one wants to offend anyone, and the result are boring, inoffensive looking cars.
Hyundai instead penned a striking, swoopy sedan that comes darn near close to the sophisticated Volkswagen Passat CC. Unlike the Camry/Accord/Altima, this is actually an interesting car to look at from nearly every angle-the styled headlamp cluster, the defining crease on the flanks, the chrome trim piece extending from the front fenders to the rear doors all conspire to provide a sense of style that is rarely associated with this class of car. The 18″ alloys and chrome dual-tipped exhaust on our Turbo test car were excellent finishing touches on what was already a fresh, classy design. When asked what kind of car I was driving, people were stunned when I told them it was a Hyundai. One person remarked that on seeing it, he figured it was either a Lexus or Acura.
Inside, the Sonata offers further proof that Hyundai has found its own interior design language as well. Soft-touch plastics abound, and a pleasant mix of piano black, chrome, and matte trim come together to create a pleasant space. The combination leather/cloth seats are a departure from the norm as well, but again shows that Hyundai has found the courage to march to their own beat. During our time with the Sonata Turbo, we did a Connecticut to Lancaster, PA trip over a weekend, which usually is a 600 mile round trip total. The Sonata’s comfortable seats, roomy interior, and large trunk make for a ready and willing car for long distance travel.
Which is great, you say, but what about this engine that wowed the media in New York? This is a great technological leap for Hyundai-direct injection, and the use of a twin scroll turbocharger-that’s BMW territory. What staggers the mind is how Hyundai got 274hp out of 2.0 liters. At 137hp per liter, that’s not just what used to be exotic car, but freaking race car levels. Lest you think this is some high strung, stressed engine, you are mistaken. Hyundai’s plan here was to offer up a four cylinder engine that could beat its rivals six-cylinder engines in horsepower and fuel economy, and they did.
The Sonata Turbo can scoot from 0-60mph in the mid-six second range, which is impressive for this class. That it can deliver 22/33mpg city/highway on regular gas even sweetens the deal. Slamming along at a steady 80mph I was still getting a frugal 32mpg according to my trip computer. With this amount of power being channeled to the front wheels, torque steer would be a concern, but Hyundai engineers have it under control. From a dead stop under hard acceleration the Sonata tracks straight. All Sonata Turbos are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. Our SE model had paddle shifters, but I was happy to let the computer do the work for me.
Still impressive is that Hyundai offers all this at an extremely compelling price point. Our Sonata Se 2.0T has a starting price of $24,145USD. For that, you get the aforementioned 18″ alloys, dual zone auto climate control, sport-tuned dampers and springs, keyless entry, push-button start, power drivers seat, XM radio, iPod interface, Bluetooth, and trip computer. Our test car was fitted with the Navigation and sunroof package, which included XM Traffic and XM Weather, and premium audio. As delivered, the tab came to $27,600. My only gripe was the absence of heated seats, which are available only on the top-spec Limited model.
My mind slips back to those Honda execs standing next to me, mouths agape at the engine specs of the Sonata Turbo. Their stomachs must be churning at the pricing of this car. A 2011 Accord EX four cylinder with Nav, 18″ wheels and foglights has an MSRP that is a whopping $5,421 more than our Sonata, but is down 84hp and only delivers 1mpg more on the highway. It is safe to say that with the Sonata Turbo, Hyundai has set a new benchmark in the mid-size family car segment, and I would easily recommend this car over the Camry and Accord. Kudos, Hyundai!
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Short Take Road Test
Hyundai’s new mid-size sedan backs up its style with substance.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED: $26,050 (base price: $23,315)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 144 cu in, 2360 cc
Power (SAE net): 200 bhp @ 6300 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 186 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 110.0 in Length: 189.8 in
Width: 72.2 in Height: 57.9 in
Curb weight: 3340 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 20.7 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 8.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.1 sec @ 89 mph
Top speed (governor limited, mfr’s claim): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 200-ft-dia skidpad: 0.84 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 22/35 mpg
C/D observed: 24 mpg
The Goods
The 2011 Sonata is nearly an inch longer than the previous model, with a wheelbase stretch of 2.6 inches. The bloat brings the sedan up to the EPA’s large-car classification, alongside the Honda Accord. But weight is kept in check through the extensive use of high-strength steel, beneficial because the Sonata won’t have the V-6 option that its competitors offer but sell in relatively low numbers. The sole engine for now in all three trims (GLS, SE, and Limited) is a direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 198 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Our SE test model’s standard dual exhaust added 2 hp and 2 lb-ft, bringing the totals to 200 hp and 186 lb-ft. A Hyundai-designed six-speed automatic is offered across the range, with the base GLS getting a standard six-speed manual. An optional direct-injection, 2.0-liter turbo-four will appease the power hungry when it launches later in the year, at which time a gas-electric hybrid will also be introduced as a range-topping model.
Weighing in at a tidy 3340 pounds, the SE hustled to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 16.1 at 89 mph. No records were broken, but the times are within a few ticks of the quickest four-cylinder players in the class, the Accord and the Nissan Altima. Our sporty SE model’s skidpad grip of 0.84 g is among the best in the segment, too, but its 181-foot stopping performance from 70 mph is merely so-so.
But a family hauler like this isn’t about track numbers. What’s important is that the Sonata is responsive and predictable at the helm. The direct-injected four can be a little raucous when pushed, but it offers good thrust from low revs. There’s plenty of grunt to pull out comfortably into fast-moving traffic. The brakes are solid, with a reassuringly firm pedal, and the electrically assisted steering, although vague and a tad slow, offers decent turn-in response. The SE’s standard 18-inch wheels, V-rated Hankook all-season rubber, and sport-tuned suspension (front struts, multilink rear) provide more than enough cornering confidence to send groceries and toys flying about the cabin while still permitting a forgiving ride with minimal road noise. In addition to the standard manumatic shift gate, SE models sport paddle shifters on the steering wheel, although they’re more an affectation than anything particularly useful in everyday life. Sport seats with more-aggressive bolstering would round out the SE package nicely, but they’re not on the options list.
Fuel economy for all auto-equipped Sonatas is EPA rated at an impressive 22 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway—24/35 mpg with the manual—with the highway figure being best in class. We’re anxious to drive the new Hyundai on more sedate commutes around Ann Arbor, however, as our 400-mile flog in the mountains around San Diego netted only a 24-mpg average.
Go with the Flow, Man
Called “fluidic sculpture” and looking like a Far East cousin of the Volkswagen CC—with a dash of Mercedes-Benz CLS-class thrown in for good measure—the Sonata’s sleek new design hints at styling cues that will proliferate throughout Hyundai’s lineup. The result is very striking on the road, and the Sonata looks downright beautiful parked next to the dowdy Accord. A prominent crease adds depth to the body as it dives across the car’s flanks, and a chrome strip under the windows extends all the way forward to the headlights, lending additional contrast. SE models come with the aforementioned dual exhausts and sharp-looking 18s (16s and 17s are the sizes available on GLS and Limited models), as well as a darker finish for the prominent chrome grille and stylized “H” emblem.
The glitzy, upscale theme carries over inside, too, with flowing shapes, a multitude of attractive materials, and impressive quality—forget Toyota, the Korean automaker is quickly homing in on Lexus-level fit and finish. Although the Sonata’s beltline is relatively high, visibility is good in all directions, with minimal blind spots. Combined with the nice mix of textures, the interior feels warmer and airier than the mostly dark hues suggest.
The instrument panel looks sharp and is easy to read, with digital readouts inside the analog speedometer and tach that flank a multifunctional info screen. The center stack is uncluttered, with basic single-zone climate controls (a dual-zone setup is offered on the Limited). The optional touch-screen nav system looks crisp and is intuitive to use. Complaints are few and include a steering column that felt as if it were positioned a bit low on the dash and lacked enough rake for lankier drivers. And despite a generous 61 cubic feet of space for front passengers, along with one of the largest trunks in its class at 16 cubes, the Sonata’s back seat is a bit narrow for three adults and short on headroom due to the sloping rear window. Vanity does have its drawbacks.
The Power Play
Although it’s clear Hyundai has really upped its game with the 2011 Sonata, pricing has changed little from that of the previous generation. GLS models start at a competitive $19,915 with the six-speed manual; standard features include six airbags, ABS and electronic stability control, keyless entry, power windows and locks, heated and powered mirrors, and Bluetooth connectivity. An additional grand will net you the six-speed auto. Stepping up to one like our SE tester will run $23,315 to start and just over $26,000 with the optional Navigation and Sunroof package, which is the only major option. This combination suited us well, but sadly, it cannot be configured with heated leather seats. For that luxury, you must spend at least $26,015 for the Limited model, which also comes with dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, vents for rear-seat passengers, and other unique, upscale bits. A $2100 Navigation package adds touch-screen nav, a rearview camera, and a premium Infinity audio system, bringing a loaded Sonata to just over $28,000.
Factoring in the attractive pricing, we find it’s hard to fault the new Sonata on a major level. It does everything well save for ultimate driving thrills, and it’s mega-stylish. However, the Sonata still needs to prove itself in the market—the mainstream sedan segment in which it resides is hotly contested, with sales measured in the hundreds of thousands. We’re eager to stack this car up directly against the 10Best-winning Honda Accord to see if the Hyundai’s newfound goodness is enough to topple the king from its comparison-test throne. But you can still color us very impressed, no matter what.
