Hyundai Hits A Grand Slam

(Photo: Hyundai)

NORTHBROOK, IL (July 19, 2005) - As I approached the car, my first impression was how much it looked like a cat - agile and ready to pounce. Though just a hint, in motion the 2006 Hyundai Sonata LX lived up to that promise.

On the road, the Sonata LX hugged the road with a smooth, quiet and responsive ride. City, highway or country roads - the LX gripped the road firmly and held true through corners. A new four-wheel independent suspension system has increased suspension stiffness and improved suspension geometry. The double-wishbone suspension features upper and lower A-arms and features an L-shaped lower arm design and larger bushings. Driver impact? Reduced vibration, less road noise, increased handling precision and improved ride quality - surprising driving value for its price.

The Sonata has all new powertrains for each of its three models this year. The LX we drove was powered by a new 235 horsepower all-aluminum V6 block, which promises to deliver 20 mpg city/30 mpg highway. Hyundai has combined power and fuel economy into this year's model. The improvement in acceleration both from both a standstill and while in motion were very evident to Motor Age. The revamped five-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission features an overdrive lock-up torque converter to improve fuel economy at highway speeds. In this driver's opinion, however, working the gears manually involved some stretching to work the stick. 

The Sonata LX surrounds the pilot with a spacious and elegant package. The car squats confidently, feels solid on the road and driver visibility was unencumbered. The Sonata's eye-catching elegance outside is reflected in a concave-shaped front hood, integrated bumpers and smooth roof and rear deck lines. Although midsize in class, its interior space was rated "large class' by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This results in more leg, head, and shoulder room for the occupants. Cargo space is above average its class, but for a family with two or three small children, space could be an issue on vacation getaways or family get-togethers.

(Photo: Hyundai)

An abundance of standard personal amenities and conveniences in the cabin provide for occupant comfort and and put the Sonata right up with others of its class. Keyless entry and alarm, power windows and locks, heated mirrors, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with six speakers, air conditioning, cruise control and an in-cabin air filter are just some of the standard features offered. Extra interior storage compartments are included, but some aren't reached as conveniently as this driver would have liked while moving, and some compartments were too small to be useful.

For a mid-sized vehicle, the Sonata LX goes "large" on safety features and amenities. Six airbags are standard, including dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags for front and outboard rear seat occupants. Active head restraints provide whiplash protection. Braking and cornering were effectively tended to by Hyundai's inclusion of front and rear antilock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control system - again standard on all models. We noted that the 2006 Sonata is the first midsize car to include ESC as standard equipment.

Sonata faces off against the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. In 2004 and 2005, J.D. Powers and Associates rated the Sonata as the "Most Appealing Entry Midsize Car," and the research firm also recognized Sonata as having the "Highest Initial Quality" in 2005. Hyundai has raised the bar with its 2006 Sonata, having improved performance and comfort beyond the accolades for previous model years.

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata's airbag system.
(Photo: Hyundai)

And when its pricing is factored in, anyone seeking a midsize vehicle would be well advised to consider the 2006 Sonata. The base GL model starts at $18,945; the GLS with the 2.4L four-cylinder starts at $19,995; the GLS with the V6 is offered at a base price of $21,495; and the top-end LX nets out at $23,495. The impression left on this driver is simply this: the 2006 Sonota LX demonstrates the value is built from within, not arrived at by deep discounting prices.

Pete Egus, Hyundai's national manager for service technology, noted that Hyundai continues to back its products with a class-leading warranty - which includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, a 10-year/100,000-mile limited power train warranty, five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage. Given this is in an environment where many automakers have reduced or eliminated warranty coverage, Hyundai quality and durability is more than skin deep.

Overall, the 2006 Hyundai Sonata LX touches all four bases of the American consumer - power, packaging, safety and value. Built in Montgomery, AL at Hyundai's brand-new plant, the automaker responded to constructive feedback from its U.S. buyers, and shifted the Sonata to being a vehicle built in America for American tastes. "We try to make cars from a customer's point of view, not from an engineer's," said Oh Sung Hwan, deputy general manager for production control at Hyundai. 

Joel Piaskowski, chief designer for Hyundai's California Design Center in Irvine, CA told Motor Age, "We feel this new Sonata will appeal to a lot of drivers who may not have considered Hyundai in the past." Motor Age's experience with the 2006 Sonata LX suggests he may well be right.

(Source: Hyundai)