The Hyundai Sonata has been a long time favorite among many and draws a certain loyalty for the great value it offers. Having to compete against the long time standouts in the midsized sedan class, the Sonata has had to continually offer more and better features to keep its fan base happy. For the car buyers, this can only be a good thing as the different automakers clamor to be the choice of many rather than be pushed to the back of the pack and eventually into oblivion.
The list of competitors for the Sonata includes some of the most popular cars in history such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Passat and Chrysler 200. Add to this list the corporate cousin of the Kia Optima which also vies for attention and it’s easy to see why the Sonata has to maintain its own following and continue to offer a difference shoppers can see and enjoy. For the 2015 model year the Sonata has been redesigned inside and out as well as adding a new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all added to help gain more attention and popularity for a car that is quickly becoming a best-seller.
The Sonata offers two different steering systems, one found on most models and the other offered for the 2.0T model. Both steering systems are very responsive easily keeping the car under control, offering plenty of confidence on the road. The 2.0T model has a slightly more responsive system and offers a more attractive steering wheel for owners to enjoy. The suspension found under the Sonata is finely tuned and easily handles and road blemish, keeping the occupants secure and still inside the vehicle.
Four engines can be found across the Sonata lineup. Staring out with the Sonata Hybrid the engine is a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine plus a 35-kW electric motor. The engine alone brings in 159 horsepower and when put together the pair will bring 199 horsepower and 154 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is matched up with a six-speed automatic transmission helping to achieve the 36 city/40 hwy mpg of fuel efficiency for this model.
The next engine is the one found in the Sonata Eco model with comes in the form of the new 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine offers 177 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to the new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Third in line is the engine for the Sonata SE, Sport and Limited which is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine bringing in 185 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque. This is the most popular engine for the Sonata and comes attached to a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain offers a fuel efficiency of 25 city/37 hwy mpg for owners to enjoy.
Finally, the top of the sport models for the Sonata is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine found under the Sonata Sport 2.0T. This engine offers a strong power performance at 245 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. This beast is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and when working together the pair allows a fuel efficiency of 23 city/32 hwy mpg.
The cabin of the Sonata offers plenty of space for as many as five full-sized adults to fit and enjoy the ride. All materials are soft and comfortable making it easy to snooze during a smooth ride for any of the passengers. The control center has been given a complete upgrade with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an eight-inch touch screen control center. In all aspects the interior is ergonomically designed and ready for drivers and passengers to enter and enjoy.
On the outside the Sonata is appealing, beautiful, athletic and very sharp. This car can easily be mistaken for a luxury model or a fine sports sedan. In either case the Sonata offers eye-catching good looks that start at the grill and swept back headlights and continue across low and long lines and angles to make the Sonata one of the favorites of many car buyers. Even the wheels add a bit of sport and upscale style with the split star spoked look that simply but elegantly increases the overall appeal of this awesome car.
For the base SE model sedan of the Sonata, the standard equipment found includes air condition, power windows with pinch protection, power locks, a blind-spot mirror on the driver’s side, stability and traction control, cloth seats, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40 split rear bench to allow more cargo configurations and iPod, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. With all of this just in the base model, the Sonata can easily appeal to the budget conscious crowd and allow them to enjoy a fun and feature packed car.
The optional equipment for the Sonata adds a lot of great features to really enjoy the ride in this very nice midsized sedan. The list of options includes automatic headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an eight-inch touchscreen navigation system, an upgraded audio system, heated front and rear seats and HD radio. Some equipment is only offered for the higher trim levels of the Limited and Sport 2.0T models. These items include a ten-speaker Infinity sound system, smart cruise control with start/stop capability, automatic high beams, ventilated front seats and a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof. Regardless of the optional packages chosen, the Sonata adds more enjoyment and entertainment on the ride with many of these options.
The Sonata opens the pricing for the base SE model near $22,000 which is very reasonable for this very enjoyable midsized sedan. The Sport comes into the pricing list around $24,000 and the Eco reaches over that same mark for the fuel efficient model. Heading up to the limited model with ask a price around $27,300 and the 2.0T Sport model starts at $29,400. Adding any optional features will increase these numbers, but overall, the Sonata comes in as a very reasonably priced and great looking midsized sedan for many to enjoy.
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