REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Four Season Wrap-Up

It's fair to say that we were surprised by the Hyundai Sonata. Granted, the previous Sonata was a competent offering, but it was not exactly a standout. With the new Sonata, however, staff members suddenly started tossing around phrases like "best-in-class." Against such stalwart competitors as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry -- and solid challengers like the Nissan Altima, the Ford Fusion, and the Chevrolet Malibu -- that was a very big claim. The best way to find out for sure whether the Sonata was deserving of such enthusiasm was to spend a year with one in a Four Seasons test.

The Sonata comes in three flavors: GLS, SE, and Limited. We chose the midlevel SE, which is also supposed to be the (slightly) sporty version. For the SE, there's only one powertrain: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. You might think the six-speed manual would be available on the SE, but it can be had only on the base GLS. We added the navigation and sunroof package (which also includes an upgraded audio system) and a cargo net, bringing the total price to a still very reasonable $25,965.

The navigation system proved to be a key addition, and it garnered lots of praise for its ease of use. "I drove a Honda Accord recently," said senior web editor Phil Floraday, starting off our logbook, "and the first thing I noticed in the Sonata is how much more intuitive the infotainment and climate controls are." He argued that, given the relative parity among so many cars in this class, infotainment systems now take center stage, particularly for today's tech-obsessed buyers. Assistant editor David Zenlea put the Sonata's system alongside Nissan's at the head of the class. "Hyundai consistently nails in-car technology," he said, "something that utterly confounds most automakers." "There's no learning curve," added associate editor Eric Tingwall. "The controls for everything from the radio to the headlights to the HVAC are smartly placed, neatly arranged, and appropriately sized."

If its in-car technology makes Hyundai seem very au courant, so, too, does the Sonata's all-four-cylinder engine lineup. After we got our Sonata, Hyundai brought out a turbocharged version -- rather than a V-6 -- and a hybrid as well. Should we have waited for the turbo? Well, the turbocharged engine, a 2.0-liter, provides considerably more power and torque: 274 hp and 269 lb-ft (versus the 2.4-liter SE's 200 hp and 186 lb-ft). And the 2012 model does so with a minimal fuel-economy penalty of only 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway (2011 Sonatas had slightly lower EPA ratings). But numbers don't tell the whole story. "After driving the Sonata 2.0T, I'd say we picked the right one," argued Zenlea. "The turbo, much like most powerful, front-wheel-drive mid-size cars, has more torque than it can put to the ground."

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1112_2011_hyundai_sonata_se_four_season_wrap_up/index.html#ixzz1hNGbJv6Y

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The Auto Channel - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Turbo Review - What's Not To Like?

by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel


It was really hard to find any fault with my 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T test car and if I did it would be a nitpick. I had a week of drive time with the Sonata which included a week-end road trip from Chicago to Ann Arbor, Michigan and back. I was happy to be in a car, a sedan, and not a truck for this trip. There was no blizzard, no heavy rain, I wasn’t hauling a lot of stuff, just my wife and I off to a family gathering.

The 3 1/2 hour drive to Ann Arbor is interstate all the way with most of it being in Michigan that has a 70 mph speed limit. To keep up with traffic one needs to go faster than that; and, I keep up with traffic. The EPA Highway MPG rating for the 2.0T is 33mpg. I’m not a hyper-miler. I go for quickest driving time. Both coming and going the Sonata got between 34 and 35 mpg. Impressive! The Sonata 2.0T’s EPA City rating is 22 mpg city.


The 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine in the 2011 Sonata produces 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque from 1750-4500 rpm with regular fuel (that’s regular; no premium required). I had occasion to do some passing…you know those LLBs – Left Lane Bandits who don’t move over…and more quickly than I expected I approached the 3-figure readings on the speedometer.

The transmission is a six-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control that shifted very smoothly and seamlessly. Having six gears enables closer spacing between gear ratios providing a better balance of performance and fuel economy while also delivering strong acceleration. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters make for some fun driving. With MacPherson strut front suspension, independent multi-link rear suspension, disc brakes at all wheels, 18 inch wheels fitted with P225/45R18 tires, the 3400lb. curb weight Sonata is one joy to drive.

All Sonatas use ultra-high-strength steel, resulting in world-class body rigidity, yet it is lighter than most midsize sedans, and offers more interior room. Noteworthy is that the Sonata is EPA classified as a Large Car, one class above competitors like Camry, Altima, Fusion and Malibu. The low 0.28 CD not only makes for great low fuel consumption but also quiet driving. The absence of wind and also tire noise was very pleasing, The 16.4 cubic foot trunk makes for easy luggage carrying and the 18.5 gal. fuel tank will let you easily travel over 600 miles with any stop along the way being for driver relief and not car refueling.

The 2.0T is available in SE trim level priced at $24,145 or Limited trim level at $27, 045. My Limited test car had the optional Navigation Package ($2100) that includes a rear backup camera and brought the total price with shipping to exactly $30,000.

Read More: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/07/11/540122-2011-hyundai-sonata-review-what-s-not-to-like.html

The Auto Channel - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Turbo Review - What's Not To Like?

by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

It was really hard to find any fault with my 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T test car and if I did it would be a nitpick. I had a week of drive time with the Sonata which included a week-end road trip from Chicago to Ann Arbor, Michigan and back. I was happy to be in a car, a sedan, and not a truck for this trip. There was no blizzard, no heavy rain, I wasn’t hauling a lot of stuff, just my wife and I off to a family gathering.

The 3 1/2 hour drive to Ann Arbor is interstate all the way with most of it being in Michigan that has a 70 mph speed limit. To keep up with traffic one needs to go faster than that; and, I keep up with traffic. The EPA Highway MPG rating for the 2.0T is 33mpg. I’m not a hyper-miler. I go for quickest driving time. Both coming and going the Sonata got between 34 and 35 mpg. Impressive! The Sonata 2.0T’s EPA City rating is 22 mpg city.


The 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine in the 2011 Sonata produces 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque from 1750-4500 rpm with regular fuel (that’s regular; no premium required). I had occasion to do some passing…you know those LLBs – Left Lane Bandits who don’t move over…and more quickly than I expected I approached the 3-figure readings on the speedometer.

The transmission is a six-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control that shifted very smoothly and seamlessly. Having six gears enables closer spacing between gear ratios providing a better balance of performance and fuel economy while also delivering strong acceleration. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters make for some fun driving. With MacPherson strut front suspension, independent multi-link rear suspension, disc brakes at all wheels, 18 inch wheels fitted with P225/45R18 tires, the 3400lb. curb weight Sonata is one joy to drive.

All Sonatas use ultra-high-strength steel, resulting in world-class body rigidity, yet it is lighter than most midsize sedans, and offers more interior room. Noteworthy is that the Sonata is EPA classified as a Large Car, one class above competitors like Camry, Altima, Fusion and Malibu. The low 0.28 CD not only makes for great low fuel consumption but also quiet driving. The absence of wind and also tire noise was very pleasing, The 16.4 cubic foot trunk makes for easy luggage carrying and the 18.5 gal. fuel tank will let you easily travel over 600 miles with any stop along the way being for driver relief and not car refueling.

The 2.0T is available in SE trim level priced at $24,145 or Limited trim level at $27, 045. My Limited test car had the optional Navigation Package ($2100) that includes a rear backup camera and brought the total price with shipping to exactly $30,000.

Read More: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/07/11/540122-2011-hyundai-sonata-review-what-s-not-to-like.html

Financial Times - Hyundai steers its hybrids to a global arena

Five years ago, Lee Ki-sang, senior vice-president at South Korea’s Hyundai Motor, received an early-morning phone call in his hotel room in Japan. An important components supplier was cancelling a meeting at the last moment, offering only vague excuses.  Mr Lee thought he knew why. Hyundai had just started to plan a petrol-electric hybrid car and needed technical support and parts from experienced Japanese suppliers, which were under heavy pressure not to deal with the South Koreans. “The Japanese big two – Toyota and Honda – had big problems with their suppliers working with us,” he said.

Facing such opposition, Hyundai ultimately decided to develop hybrid technology in South Korea. This January, it introduced its Sonata hybrid in the US to compete with Toyota’s segment-leading Prius, Honda’s Insight and Ford’s Fusion.

The launch has come at an awkward time for more established competitors, in particular the Japanese, as parts shortages caused by Japan’s March tsunami have left Toyota and Honda with little inventory. Prius sales in the US dropped 61 per cent from a year earlier in June, according to the online car pricing service, Edmunds.com.

With hybrids accounting for just over 1 per cent of global automobile sales, the success or failure of the new Sonata might seem like a peripheral issue for Hyundai – the world’s fifth biggest automaker, when counted with its affiliate Kia, and one of the fastest growing. Its sales in the US surged 24 per cent last year, against a slight fall for Toyota.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9703e3c4-ab61-11e0-b4d8-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1SUaVO1ut

New Camry key to Toyota rebound as Hyundai strikes with Sonata

TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., to make its earnings target this year, needs the new Camry to wrest back market share from Hyundai Motor Co.'s Sonata sedan.

The Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S., has lost ground to the Sonata, with Hyundai raising its U.S. output and surpassing the Camry in May for the first time.

"Sonata became a very honorable contender in the market," Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota's North American chairman, said in a July 12 interview. "We do have good respect for the model, and the sales figures show it's increasing quite a bit."

U.S. sales of Camry last year dropped 31 percent to 327,804 compared with deliveries in 2007, Toyota's best-ever year, while Honda Motor Corp.'s Accord sales also dropped 28 percent to 282,530 in the period.

Both models are approaching the end of their current product cycles.

Sales of the Sonata, revamped in January 2010, surged 35 percent to 196,623 last year. The 2011 Sonata's overall design quality is rated "among the best" by J.D. Power & Associates and earned a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

'Paying attention'

Until a few years ago, Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord "defined" the midsize segment in the U.S. for at least a decade, said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of auto researcher Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, Calif.

"But Hyundai has really stepped up their game, and Toyota's been paying attention."

The next version of the Camry will have a more contemporary design and improved performance and handling, President Akio Toyoda told U.S. dealers last month in Las Vegas.

The new model will go on sale in the latter part of the year. Toyota's current Camry, last refreshed in March 2006, gets up to 32 miles per gallon in highway driving in the U.S., compared with the Sonata's 35 mpg and Honda's 34 mpg.

With Hyundai's improvements in design and fuel efficiency, sales of the Sonata have jumped 29 percent to 115,014 units this year through June, while the Camry has dropped 4.4 percent to 147,469 in the U.S.

Restricted output after the March 11 earthquake in Japan has also contributed to the decline in Camry sales.

Camry vs Sonata

Hyundai didn't have to slow production after the quake because its Japan-based suppliers' plants aren't located in the affected areas, according to the company.

As a result, Sonata outsold Camry in May for the first time, according to Edmunds.com.

While both the Sonata and Camry sold in the U.S. are built locally, the weak Korean currency relative to the dollar benefits Hyundai when it repatriates profits.

The yen, on the other hand, has hurt Toyota by gaining about 10 percent over the past year. The Japanese currency this week climbed to as high as 78.50 yen per dollar, the strongest since March 17.
The 2011 Camry is currently priced from $20,195, compared with the Sonata's $19,395 starting price tag.

Camry -- which is the Anglicized spelling of "kanmuri," meaning "crown" in Japanese -- accounted for about a fifth of U.S. sales at Toyota last year.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110714/OEM/307149877/1273#ixzz1SCmDKJ9g

REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The Sonata hybrid is unusual in that does not employ a CVT but uses a six-speed automatic instead. This makes for much more conventional, and more pleasant, response when accelerating. It also helps the hybrid powertrain recede into the background.

Interestingly, it appears that the Sonata hybrid can dip into EV mode even at highway speeds (I had the EV light come on when cruising just under 80 mph).

This has to be one of the worst traction-control programs I've seen in a while. I had to jump out into traffic in the rain, and it very abruptly swung back and forth between killing the power and letting the front wheels spin.

What most surprised me about the Sonata Hybrid, though, was the suspension. As much praise as has been heaped upon the Sonata, one noted weakness has been the chassis tuning. One might expect the hybrid version to be worse, what with the extra weight of the batteries and the electric motor. Certainly with the Camry Hybrid, we noticed more body motion at the rear of the car. But the Sonata Hybrid seemed impressively tight. It also thwacked (loudly) over bumps, but the ride remained quite serene. I'm guessing part of the credit for the excellent ride quality goes to the sixteen-inch wheels wrapped in 65-series tires. Those high sidewalls make for pretty lazy turn-in, but they go a long way toward taking the sharpness out of impacts.

The interior is a mix of good and bad. The former includes the excellent, clear switchgear and the overall spaciousness. The latter refers to the vast expanses of hard and semi-hard grained gray plastic as well as the bizarre, wavy-gravy seat upholstery.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1106_2011_hyundai_sonata_hybrid/index.html

Chicago Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai Sonata Car Wallpaper

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Hyundai Sonata Turbo — A step up to sensible performance

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
Fans of the Hyundai Sonata were no doubt thrilled last year when they first caught a glimpse of the stylish, trend-setting 2011 sedan. But for some, their enthusiasm may have waned when they learned there would be no V-6 engine available to compete with the bigger engines in the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

Yes, the award-winning 2011 Sonata comes with a very energetic and amazingly fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine making 198 or 200 horsepower depending on trim level. The new engine not only realizes 35 miles per gallon in highway driving, but performs better than most competing four-bangers in the mid-sized segment.

But for the performance junkies among us, we have learned firsthand after sharing a couple of weeks behind the wheel that the Sonata does not need a V-6. It does just fine with four turbocharged cylinders.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option now available gives the Sonata the energy not available with Hyundai's previous 3.3-liter 249-horsepower V-6. The South Korean automaker seems to be ahead of the curve these days, and the decision to make its performance engine a 4-cylinder rather than a V-6 vividly points this out.

The advantages to owning a Sonata turbo over a competing V-6 are several. For example:

• The Hyundai engine makes 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, more than any of its direct competitors — the Buick Regal turbo, the VW Passat turbo, the Ford Fusion V-6, the Chevy Malibu V-6, the Toyota Camry V-6, the Honda Accord V-6, and the Nissan Altima V-6.
• The Hyundai gets better gas mileage than all of the above rated at 33 mpg highway and 22 mpg city with a combined rating of 26 mpg.
• The Hyundai turbo undercuts all of the aforementioned competition by at least a thousand dollars or more in all cases.

We found that the car's performance was more than just numbers on paper. The engine, mated to Hyundai's new-for-2011 six-speed automatic transmission, offers superb performance measured at about 6.5 seconds from 0-to-60. Shifts are smooth and there is plenty of grunt off the line and from 40-to-60, the range necessary to quickly get around a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane road.

The Hyundai is not a sports sedan by any stretch, but it holds its own against the competition based on comparison times in Motor Trend magazine. Only the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry hold a clear advantage over the Sonata if two-tenths of a second is a clear advantage. And who among those that purchase these vehicles take them to the drag strip on the weekends?

For a real comparison, the V-6 in last year's Sonata was rated at just a tick or two under eight seconds while deriving gas mileage of 19/29, clearly lagging the new engine in all categories.

We realize that for most people, the standard 4-cylinder is just right. But for those who want the extra performance, Hyundai says the price difference ranges from $1,550 to $1,750 depending on trim level.

Whichever way you go, the Sonata is a solid choice from styling inside and out, price, gas mileage, and driving refinement.
The new Sonata has a depth of good looks usually reserved for such luxury brands as Mercedes and BMW. Its sleek shape suggests motion with a fast-back roofline, a down-swooping character line running from the taillight to the front fender and a chrome strip running along the beltline through the hood to the headlight cluster. Incredibly neat!

Although the beltline is fairly high, a styling trait that came in vogue over the past few years, sight lines in all directions are excellent.

Hyundai calls its design “fluidic sculpture.” It mimics the Mercedes CLS fastback sedan, which has been on the market for several years. It also looks a lot like the Volkswagen CC, but the Hyundai design was probably already locked in by the time the CC was first revealed so it seems fair to say that both cars owe at least some of their lines to the Mercedes. No matter the origins of the Sonata’s striking looks, they work.

Look inside and you’ll see a handsome setup with a center stack that flows down through the center console. The dashboard and door panels were trimmed out with dark wood accents. The beefy steering wheel was, well, beefy; weighty and filling the hand giving us that sense of control that we like.
The ironic thing with the new Sonata is that Hyundai has climbed the ladder of success during the past two decades unabashedly copying the competition. This is the first Hyundai that clearly steps away from that strategy, even if does pay a slight homage to the CLS. The new Sonata really stands on its own.

And here’s perhaps the most interesting thing. There is much more to this sedan than exterior and interior styling. Hyundai has created a spacious five-passenger vehicle that leads in other areas as well.

Passenger space is exemplary with very generous leg and foot room for rear-seat passengers. The only complaint here is with the sloping roof, which may create some head room problems for tall passengers. The generous rear-seat room does not impede on the usefulness of the trunk, which will hold 16 cubic feet of stuff, two more than the Honda Accord, which is basically the same size as the Sonata. We easily loaded two sets of golf clubs.

The Sonata comes in three trim levels — GLS, SE and Limited — starting at $19,995 for the GLS with manual transmission and $20,915 with automatic.

If performance is your desire, the direct injection turbocharged 2.0T SE starts at an affordable $24,865 including destination charge. Want navigation and sunroof, the price rises to $27,465. Our top line Limited trim carrying a bottom line of $30,000 came with the navigation package with back-up camera and a 400 watt Infinity sound system and a host of standard features including leather seats, 18-inch Hyper Silver Alloy wheels, a power tilt and slide sunroof and of course Hyundai’s full basket of safety equipment and its now famous warranty.

Seems like a bargain to us.
Essentials:
Base price: $24,865 (SE); as driven, $30,000
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 274 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 269 foot-pounds @ 4,500 rpm
Drive: front wheel
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 110 inches
Length: 189.8 inches
Curb weight: 3,340 pounds
Turning circle: 35.8 feet
Luggage capacity: 16.4 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons
EPA rating: 33 mpg highway, 22 mpg city
0-60: 6.5 seconds (Motor Trend)
Also consider: Honda Accord V-6, Volkswagen Passat 2.0T, Toyota Camry V-6

The Good:
• Bold head-turning styling
• Stylish, comfortable cabin
• Solid fuel economy almost equal to base 4-cylinder
• Strong V-6-like performance

The Bad:
• $1,500 to $1,700 more to get extra performance

The Ugly:
• Gauges tend to wash out in bright sunlight

Driving Sports TV: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid First Drive Review

Ryan ventures to San Diego for a first drive in the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This car is important because it marks Hyundai's first mainstream venture into the hybrid market. How did they do? Watch our exclusive Driver's Seat review and find out.

Trading Places: A Value Comparison

Value is, of course, a relative measure. When you feed a family of four for $5 with a box of spaghetti and jar of tomato sauce, you got a good value, as a practical matter. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when you feed a family of four for $250 at an exclusive restaurant with excellent service and a chef who elevates cooking to an art form, well, that could also be considered a good value. The same is true with automobiles. The price you pay should be inextricably linked to the performance, reliability and satisfaction you get from owning your vehicle, and not just how much it costs.

For the sake of perspective, let's do a little comparison shopping in a sector of the car market where there is considerable overlap in form and function from vehicle to vehicle — the 4-door family sedan. Specifically, we'll take a look at two vehicles that appear similar on paper, but that few people would ever cross-shop: the well-equipped Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T, priced at $27,245; and the base trim Mercedes-Benz E350, at $49,400. Auto shoppers would never put these two vehicles on the same list, with one costing almost twice as much as the other.

Why compare an optioned-out vehicle to a base trim? To be fair, it's because the entry-level, $19,395 Hyundai is a bit Spartan to go toe-to-toe with the Mercedes, but only a few thousand dollars in options spruces it up quite a bit. Now, we know, true Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts would scoff at the comparison here. The three-pointed-star is a badge that connotes a 100-plus-year tradition of craftsmanship, quality and elegance that goes beyond a mere listing of features. That may be true, but a detailed look at the numbers and specs is nonetheless quite revealing.

Dimensions

The E-Class is definitely the larger car, but not by much. It measures 191.7 inches long to the Sonata's 189.8 inches, and the E-Class is 81.5 inches wide, while the Sonata is only 72.2 inches wide. So surely the E-Class must have more room inside, right? Not really. The E-Class has 37.9 inches of headroom, 57.8 inches of shoulder room and 41.3 inches of legroom for front passengers, while the Sonata gives 40 inches of headroom, 57.9 inches of shoulder room and 45.5 inches of front-seat legroom. The Mercedes gives a little of the volume back to the rear-seat passengers, however, delivering 38.2 inches of headroom, 56.9 inches of shoulder room and 35.8 inches of legroom. The Sonata is a bit more cramped with 37.8 inches of headroom, 56.7 inches of shoulder room and only 34.6 inches of legroom.

Powertrain

Here's where the top-tier 2.0T engine option on the Sonata makes a difference when compared with the Mercedes engine. By volume, the E350's 3.5-liter V6 engine should blow the Sonata's tiny 2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine away. But, thanks to some creative turbocharging, the Hyundai actually delivers 274 horsepower compared with the E-Class' 268. In practice, it hardly matters, as both vehicles post zero-to-60 mph times at around 6.5 seconds. But the fuel economy numbers definitely tilt in the Sonata's favor. EPA estimates put the Mercedes at 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway, while the Hyundai posts 22/33 mpg. What's more, the Hyundai takes regular 87-octane fuel, while the Mercedes sips a pricier vintage — premium unleaded fuel only, please.

Compare: Hyundai Sonata vs. Ford Taurus vs. Honda Accord

Safety

Mercedes has a well-deserved reputation for safety, and the E-Class is certainly packed with safety features. Standard are anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist — which can automatically boost braking during emergency stops — as well as stability control. The E-Class also comes with Mercedes Pre-Safe, which tightens seatbelts, closes windows and optimizes seating positions for maximum safety when the system senses a potential crash. There's even a drowsiness monitor that checks how the driver is performing, and gives audible and visual warnings if the car thinks you're dozing off. Plus, the E-Class comes with airbags from every direction and 4- and 5-star crash ratings for front and side passengers, respectively (at least for the 2010 model, the last one that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested).

As it turns out, the Hyundai Sonata gets the exact same crash-test ratings as the E-Class. (Actually, the Sonata may even prove to have more impressive ratings, since its 4- and 5-star results come from NHTSA's revised and tougher 2011 tests, which the E-Class has not yet undergone.) The Sonata also has ABS, stability control, a full complement of front and side airbags and Hyundai's own version of brake assist. The truth is that both cars are safe enough to keep all but the most inattentive drivers from killing themselves in traffic. If we had to give the award for safety zealotry, Mercedes would win because of the advanced built-in nanny tech.

Read More: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184001

REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Four Seasons Update - April 2011

Miles to date: 24,555
Months in service: 10

The drive from Michigan to New York City takes roughly six times as long as hopping on a plane, but that didn't stop associate web editor Evan McCausland from making the ten-hour trip in our Four Seasons Sonata last month. Our Sonata was the affordable way to travel, as the frugal 2.4-liter four squeezed 35 miles out of every gallon of regular over the 1378-mile journey. And sacrificing time means big rewards in comfort. "The Sonata's cabin is by no means luxurious," he reports, "but it's far more hospitable than a cramped coach seat on a Bombardier CRJ."

Days before McCausland's trip, we took a look at the mid-April sky, said a little prayer, and finally removed the winter tires. The Sonata is back on its original eighteen-inch wheels and Hankook Optimo all-season. We're exited to have the Sonata back on stiffer rubber that brings more responsive steering, better handling, and an improved ride -- exactly the stuff that earned the Sonata its All-Star award last year. And our timing proved to be just right.

Although the bitter cold has disappeared, the rattles that we first noted a couple months ago have not. "When you're driving on a rough road and have the radio off or the volume low, it can be very annoying," noted copy editor Rusty Blackwell. Several drivers have traced the noise to the sunroof area and observed that closing the shade either stops or significantly dampens the chatter.

While our Four Seasons fleet has plenty of utility vehicles, the Sonata's large trunk proved just as practical for new homeowner McCausland, who loaded the car with provisions for cleaning: "Mops, vacuums, folding chairs, card tables, et cetera. I was able to fit everything in the trunk, although I folded a portion of the rear seatback to make room for a tall vacuum." Not long thereafter, senior web editor Phil Floraday easily filled the trunk with "a big roll of plastic (to replace the rear and side windows in a race car) plus a couple pieces of luggage." His home-brewed beer would have fit, too, but it rode in the air-conditioned cabin instead.

Floraday's Ann Arbor-to-Chicago trip was flawless save for a minor hiccup in pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth but playing audio through the USB cord. "Unfortunately, the phone wanted to communicate with the Sonata's stereo through Bluetooth streaming instead of the dock connector," he grumbled. "Each time I got in the car, the iPhone would play music through the dock connector for a few seconds before defaulting to the Bluetooth audio connection."

The solution is fairly simple, but inconvenient when you want to jump in the car and drive without fussing with the phone. To send the audio through the phone, the audio source has to be changed on the iPhone after both connections are made. "I presume this is an Apple software issue since I recently upgraded my iPhone OS and I don't remember this happening with our Sonata before," he noted. "It was a bit annoying to have to manually change the audio source each time I got in the car, but the system worked very well once I did my part to make it work."

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1105_2011_hyundai_sonata_se_april_2011/index.html

KBB: Top 10 Family Cars of 2011

These days more than ever families come in all shapes and sizes, so it only makes sense that the family vehicles of today follow suit. Whereas back in the dark recesses of time the typical family owned a sedan or station wagon, contemporary families can choose among SUVs, crossovers, minivans, wagons and hatchbacks in addition to the prosaic family sedan. Certainly, it is nice to have options, but a wide variety of choices can also make the choosing all the more difficult, so each year we at Kelley Blue Book put our collective heads together to sort out the Top 10 Family Cars.


Among the wealth of criteria we use in the spirited judging are the characteristics that make vehicles family-friendly - safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value tops among them. Just as there is no perfect family, there is no perfect family vehicle that is right for all families all the time. But that being said, we believe that all of the worthy vehicles on this list will provide excellent service and a fine ownership experience for the families who choose to make them their own. Here, then, are our choices as the Top 10 Family Cars of 2011, presented largest to smallest.

2011 Hyundai Sonata The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has taken the mid-size sedan market by storm with a compelling mix of design, quality and value. The Sonata is also chock-full of safety features, comes with one of the best warranties on the market, and even offers a fuel-sipping hybrid model. With enough style and versatility to transform effortlessly from child-hauler to client shuttle on a daily basis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is an easy choice for someone who needs to impress while still being practical.

Read More: http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/top-10-family-cars-9

HYUNDAI SONATA NAMED A BEST CAR FOR COMMUTERS BY FORBES

Hyundai Sonata made the Forbes list of this year’s Best Cars for Commuters

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata , acclaimed for it’s modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment, made the Forbes list of this year’s Best Cars for Commuters. Forbes recognizes Sonata’s fuel efficiency, reliability and space to get drivers through daily commutes with ease.

“More than 42 million Americans spend at least 30 minutes in the car on their morning commutes. Seven million spend over an hour,” said Forbes auto reporter, Hannah Elliot. “For that kind of time spent in traffic, it pays to have a reliable car: something spacious enough for comfort, small enough to get good gas mileage and durable enough to withstand the occasional fender-bender. This year mid-size sedans like the $19,395 Hyundai Sonata are best for surviving the slog.”

“The 2011 Sonata is a smart buy for commuters looking for class-leading comfort, a large interior and advanced standard safety technologies,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Couple that with a four-cylinder engine producing impressive fuel economy with the power of a larger V6, and the Sonata is the perfect mid-size sedan choice for drivers commuting to work.”
 

To compile the list, Forbes started with new vehicles listed as Consumer Reports “Recommended Picks” for 2011. “Recommended Picks” are models that have average or better predicted reliability and that meet Consumer Reports' safety standards and have performed well in accelerating, braking, handling, comfort and other user-oriented tests. Of these vehicles, the 11 with the best combination of highway fuel efficiency, legroom and headroom made the list. For more information about the Best Cars for Commuters from Forbes, visit http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/08/best-cars-for-commuters-business-autos.html.

HYUNDAI SONATA MOST SHOPPED VEHICLE IN ENTIRE INDUSTRY

Sonata Has Been on More Shopping Lists than Any Other Vehicle in Seven of the Last Nine Months According to Compete Data

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/22/2011

Hyundai Sonata, the game-changing midsize sedan with its emotional ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design and all four-cylinder engine lineup, was the most-shopped vehicle in January according to data from Compete, a Kantar Media company. Sonata has been on more shopping lists than any other vehicle in the industry in seven of the last nine months, continuing to top perennial leaders like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Ford Fusion, according to Compete’s analysis of consumer automotive shopping behavior.

Lead by Sonata, Hyundai demand continued its momentum with more than 268,000 in market shoppers in January, representing a 21 percent increase from December 2010. The all-new 2011 Elantra was the second most shopped Hyundai model achieving a six-month high in demand and a 39 percent increase from December. Industry wide, January shopper volume (2.8 million) increased 11 percent compared to January 2010, demonstrating the continued recovery in automotive shopping interest.

“Sonata’s ability to attract and engage consumers over the past nine months has been impressive and they have successfully converted many of these shoppers into actual buyers with Sonata sales up 150 percent in January," said Dennis Bulgarelli, director of Automotive at Compete. “Shopping activity for the entire industry is up 11 percent, starting off what we think will be a strong year for the automotive industry.”

Hyundai’s all-new 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, dynamic design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition. The Sonata launched with a new Theta II 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission.  The vehicle offers class-leading fuel economy of 22 mpg city/35 mpg highway and 198 horsepower standard. Sonata is also available in Turbo and Hybrid versions, with Hybrid achieving class-leading 40 mpg highway fuel economy.

With many safety features, including Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and Anti-lock Braking System, Sonata was the first midsize car to receive a five-star crash test rating under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new, more stringent 2011 system and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick honor, placing it in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry.

“A year after its initial launch consumers continue to be attracted to Sonata’s exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Starting off the year as the most shopped vehicle, Sonata is picking up right where it left off in 2010, when it set its U.S. sales volume record.”

Read More: http://www.hyundainews.com/Corporate_News/Corporate/2011-02-22_Sonata_Most_Shopped_Vehicle_Release.asp

Chicago Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata joins the cream of the midsize crop

It's difficult to knock the classics whether we're talking fashion (black tuxedo), literature ("Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck), or rock (the Beatles).

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is destined to join the classics of affordable midsize cars. That's not because of its fuel efficiency (22 mpg city, 35 mpg highway), its bounty of standard features (think sunroof with slide and tilt mechanisms) or its high-end styling. Rather, it's the entire package that makes the Sonata a standout.

Not that Hyundai was under pressure to rethink the Sonata. The previous generation was attractive if somewhat unremarkable, with some auto reviewers noting its look -- inside and out -- was reminiscent of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. There was nothing wrong with it, inside or out. Yet there was nothing that broke it out of the pack, either.

One look at the long, light, low exterior of the Sonata and you know those days have passed. What was once a bland box is now sleek and athletic with flowing lines and signature chrome extending from the headlamps, along the hood and through the belt line. Gone is the boxy grille, replaced with a long, sweeping grille that is an ideal focal point accented by the sloping fog lamps and headlamps.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/wheels/2011/02/2011-hyundai-sonata-joins-cream-midsize-crop#ixzz1Ej2WgM3u

2011 Hyundai Sonata Suppliers

Kiplinger Magazine - Deals on New Wheels

For the traditional gasoline engine, downsizing is the trend. Turbocharging and direct injection help increase efficiency without compromising power. J.D. Power forecasts that a fourth of light vehicles will have turbocharged engines by 2015, and a third will have direct injection. Transmissions with more gears and CVT transmissions boost fuel economy, too.

Hyundai's new Sonata exemplifies these trends perfectly. The redesigned 2011 model forgoes a six-cylinder version altogether -- unheard of in the midsize market. With its 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, the Sonata achieved best-in-class efficiency of 35 mpg on the highway while beating the power of its four-cylinder midsize competition. Rodney English of Chevy Chase, Md., gets 37 mpg on the highway in his leased Sonata with no trade-off in power or roominess. For $219 a month, he says, "the driving experience for the price is very good." The Sonata is also available as a hybrid and in a powerful, 2.0-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged version.

Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2011-best-car-values-deals-on-new-wheels.html#ixzz1D0iMLvRd

Hyundai Sonata Dealers