2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36
The revised Hyundai Sonata is not a street sweeper. But as a touring limousine, it makes an impression with its 2.4 liter petrol engine.
Jürgen Wolff
It is number 1 in its home country of Korea. It was voted the most reliable car in the US. With us, however, the Hyundai Sonata has never played a leading role. That should now change thanks to a thorough revision.
No more baroque exterior
At least externally, the new Hyundai Sonata has arrived in Europe. No longer a Korean baroque style like the previous one: Contoured bonnet, curved roof line, clear glass headlights, wide rear lights, clear lines.
The Sonata is built in Asan, Korea. It has not only gained shape, but also space and technology. The Asian touring limousine now has a length of 4.80 meters. The wheelbase grew to 2.73 meters - which gives the knees in front of the back seat three centimeters more space than in the predecessor.
Long-distance quality in the interior
Hyundai's head of Germany, Karl-Heinz Engels, praises his newcomer as a touring limousine. Inside, the Sonata offers plenty of space and good seats as well as a 523 liter trunk - long-haul quality. Instruments, switches and levers are easy to see and use, not overwhelmed by technical overkill. You can drive this car without taking a computer course beforehand.
Inside, however, it also shows that Hyundai still has a lot of design work to do with the Sonata before it could become a street sweeper in this country too. The interior design and the appearance of the material do not yet really match the significantly higher quality exterior. Many levers and surfaces look pretty inexpensive. The dashboard is just as clear as it is boring and the radio looks a bit hard-pressed to be squeezed in above.
The “world engine” works under the hood - the first engine from the Global Engine Alliance of Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi. The 2.4-liter light-alloy 4-cylinder puts 119 kW / 162 hp on the road and has no problems with the 1.5-ton truck. 212 km / h top and the sprint from zero to 100 in 8.9 seconds - these are decent values.
Economical in consumption
The engine runs smoothly and has a good grip on the gas, but its consumption is still modest. It needs an average of 8.5 liters per 100 kilometers - normal gasoline, mind you. And Euro 4 is also included. Since Hyundai has not only optimized the noise insulation on the engine, the Sonata also has a better soundscape than its predecessor.
The chassis is also European - no wonder, as it was tuned in Hyundai's research and development center in Rüsselsheim. The Sonata has not mutated into an athlete - but neither should a touring limousine be. What it should, it can do: take unevenness and lateral grooves calmly, circle corners with neatly precise steering without any problems. No stress.
This is also ensured by the many small and large amenities that the Sonata comes with as standard: automatic air conditioning and pollen filter, fog lights and a steering wheel that can be adjusted in height and depth, heated exterior mirrors, central locking and electric windows, leather gear knob, on-board computer, useful storage space.
Security is very important
Plus a decent safety package with active headrests, ESP, ABS, front, side and curtain airbags - everything is included. Therefore, the list of surcharges is pleasantly short. The comfort package - with heated seats in the front, electrically adjustable driver's seat, partial leather seats, rearview mirror with automatic dimming and rear parking sensors - comes to 1990 euros. The optional 4-stage automatic system costs 1550 euros extra. Sunroof, metallic paint and Grundig sound system (299 euros) - the list is ready.
If the worst comes to the worst, this all adds up to the basic price of 22,990 euros. That's good value for money. And always cheaper than the competition. If you want more power, you have to wait until the summer - then the 235 hp V6 comes with a top speed of 230 km / h and 7.7 seconds from zero to 100. And in 2006 Hyundai wants to push a common rail diesel with a particle filter.
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