The Volkswagen Passat’s base 1.8-liter turbo engine is in the same situation, making less power but feeling considerably faster around town. The new Chevrolet Malibu is a prime example, easily blowing past the Sonata with a much smaller base turbocharged engine that makes 25 less hp but 6 more pounds-feet of torque than the Sonata’s non-turbo motor. Meanwhile, in terms of driving experience and powertrain sophistication, the Sonata’s competition has become even fiercer.
Opting for the Sonata Eco or 2.0T makes it a much more enjoyable car to drive. The Sonata’s chassis and brake performance serve only to make the base powertrain that much more frustrating. Hyundai has put a lot of effort into body control and chassis engineering, and it shows in the car’s excellent balance between cushiony ride and firm handling response.īraking feel is also excellent, with a firm, progressive pedal. Steering is nicely weighted, with good feel and feedback. The Sonata’s ride is one of the best in the class, providing a smooth, well-damped experience to put passengers at ease. The Hyundai Sonata’s ride and handling attempt to redress this grievance with newfound sophistication and poise.
Even in the Sonata Sport, there isn’t any sportiness to be found in that base powertrain. Either of those drivetrains makes the Sonata much easier and more entertaining to drive, thanks to turbocharged torque curves that provide more usable oomph at lower engine speeds. The optional 245-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is another story, as is the smaller, 178-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine in the Sonata Eco, which has a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. There’s no sprightly urgency or immediacy with the base powertrain, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a competitive 185 horsepower. In its lower trim levels, the Sonata is just plain slow, with a disappointing lack of enthusiasm in acceleration during around-town driving and out on the highway. Updated competitors like the Honda Accord Sport, Mazda6 and the totally redesigned Chevrolet Malibu all offer interesting styling along with their performance, while the Sonata has simply decided not to play in that sandbox. Take away the passion, and it gets judged as an appliance instead. One can overlook a lot in an ownership experience if a car inspires passion. This Hyundai Sonata is indeed more mature, but without stellar styling it has to win without question in other areas – such as driving experience, reliability, comfort, equipment, price and more. Hyundai says it wanted to project a more mature, grown-up image with the new car. Why Hyundai chose to eliminate one of the big differentiators that drew customers in to its showrooms seeking a Sonata is a matter of debate. Nose to tail, the angularity of the Sonata is clean, certainly, but it’s also utterly invisible.
#1978 AUTUMN SONATA FULL#
I defy anyone to park one in a lot full of Subaru Legacies and easily pick it out.
To look upon the new Sonata is to experience blandness incarnate. Given the field has changed, can our old champion still play ball – and win?
A half-dozen updated midsize competitors for 20, however, have us looking at Hyundai’s midsize sedan in a new competitive environment.
#1978 AUTUMN SONATA ANDROID#
But while a redesign for 2015 brought dramatically improved ride quality, powertrain refinement and a much quieter cabin, the unique style and pizzazz of the old Sonata was lost.įor 2016, a few updates to the Sonata - such as the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - have brought it to our attention again (compare the 20 models here). The swoopy-styled, comfortable, feature-packed family sedan finally put Hyundai on the map it was a competitive, appealing midsize car. We really liked the previous-generation Hyundai Sonata. Its utterly invisible styling makes it less appealing than the Chevrolet Malibu or even an Accord Sport. It offers some strengths versus the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, like a better multimedia system and more standard features, but falls short of rivals like the Volkswagen Passat in quality feel and interior space. Versus the competition: In the highly competitive midsize segment, the Hyundai now falls midpack. The verdict: The car that won our 2015 Midsize Sedan Challenge has been surpassed by newer, nicer, quicker offerings.
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