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Look at the IFCAR
Best-In-Class ratings and the recent $20,000 family sedan comparison, and you
will see that the new-for-2006 Hyundai Sonata took top honors in both areas.
What happened? Value plays a much larger role in the lower-end midsize market,
also the center of greater market activity (read: sales) than that of the
fully-loaded models. The Sonata has value down, coming in well-equipped with
the lowest price in this group. It also is a very good car, with a roomy
interior, comfortable ride, agile handling, and no strong demerits. But for
all its excellence and value, it can’t provide the feeling of true luxury like
some competitors can. The Sonata is an excellent choice for the budget minded
shopper looking for a very good car with nice features, but it’s not going to
be called the best premium family sedan.
The Sonata has a
comfortable ride, but the base models without this LX’s 17-inch tires are more
absorbent without a handling penalty. The car handles well with either tires,
contained body roll in fast cornering, responsive, well-weighted, and accurate
steering that returns good feedback. It isn’t quite as enjoyable to drive as
the Honda Accord (and well behind its sport-focused competitors like the
Mazda6 or Acura TSX) but it is now on a similar level. The 3.3-liter V6 is
quick and refined, but leads the group in neither power nor refinement. Wind
noise is well-suppressed, road noise less so. Fuel economy is very good by
this group’s standards.
Inside, the Sonata’s
front seats are high, well-shaped, supportive, and very comfortable, and there
is plenty of head space even with the optional sunroof. The rear is also very
roomy, and the seat is high and well-shaped there as well. The dash uses
high-quality materials that fit together very well, but doesn’t have the
premium look or feel found  in
several competitors. The gauges are clear, and the instruments are well-placed
and easy to use. Drivers sit comfortably, and visibility is excellent, thanks
to high seating and particularly large windows with narrow roof pillars. The
high roof, wide door openings, and large rear footwells contribute to very
easy entry/exit. The trunk is roomy and well-shaped.
The Sonata earned five
stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal
crash test, and five stars for both the driver and for the rear passenger in
the NHTSA side crash test. It was Good in the IIHS offset crash test and
Acceptable in the side crash test. Its head restraints were rated Good.
The Sonata reviewed here
came fully loaded with every option for the lowest price in this group:
$22,885. However, even fully loaded, it lacks a power passenger’s seat and
satellite radio.
Overall, the Sonata may
be the least-expensive vehicle in this group, and it is a very competent
midsize sedan, but it doesn’t have the premium feel of a number of the other
fully-loaded sedans. It matches or exceeds most like-priced competitors in
that area, but if you’re willing to spend more, you’re likely to get more. If
you don’t see a problem with the level of luxury in the Sonata, and it
certainly doesn’t come up completely short in that area, buy it for its
exceptional safety ratings, roomy interior, good ride and handling, good power
and fuel economy, and excellent value.
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