Building a New Midsize Benchmark Just how good the upcoming Sonata is came as no surprise to me when I tested it last week in and around the San
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| Just how good the upcoming Sonata is came as no surprise to me when I tested it. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Francisco area. It seems that everything Hyundai has brought out in recent years has either been leading its respective market segment, for quality, driving dynamics and refinement, or on par with the front runners. I was duly impressed with the
current generation Sonata when it was introduced in 2001 as a 2002 model. It featured a well put together interior, comparable ride and handling characteristics to its Japanese competitors, a long list of standard and optional features for a value packed price, plus dramatic styling.
The new 2006 Sonata follows the same well-proven pattern as the old car, with tight, perfectly aligned body panel gap tolerances, an impressively executed interior worthy of comparison to the segment's best, Lexus-like silence from the engine compartment, a wonderfully sorted chassis that delivers a comfortable ride while still managing to feel sporty through the corners, an even longer list
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| The newest Sonata is slightly less dramatic than the outgoing model, but nevertheless has very attractive styling. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
of standard and optional features, and slightly less dramatic but nevertheless very attractive styling. Starting with my last point, the new Sonata isn't trying to appear like a premium product anymore, a criticism initially given to the current generation car that features a bold grille, Mercedes-Benz-like circular headlamp clusters, a Jaguar-like profile and a considerable dollop of chrome brightwork. I happen to like the old car's styling very much, and to Hyundai's credit, or more to the credit of the automaker's newly appointed head of public relations, one was on hand to remind all present at the event just how good the outgoing car is.
