If any car had the potential to change the public’s perception of the Hyundai brand in the modern era, it was the last-generation Sonata. Available from 2006 to 2010, the Korean automaker’s bread-and-butter family sedan was packed with the engineering, quality and styling needed to give the big-boys from Japan a serious run for their money.
In the used marketplace, Sonata’s Korean roots and relatively short history as a family sedan contender mean that resale values will be relatively low compared to those of Japanese competitors. If you’re looking for a good deal on a used family car, the last-generation Sonata may be a great place to start-- especially considering that it seems to have fared out very well where reliability is concerned.
Standard was a 2.4 litre four-cylinder engine with 162 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. A manual-mode automatic was available, as was a V6 engine with 235 horsepower. The 3.3 litre engine was available only with an automatic transmission, and all models were front-wheel drive sedans. Note that horsepower was bumped towards the end of this generation’s life, with the four-cylinder unit making 175 horsepower, and the V6 making 249 for 2009 and 2010.
Shoppers in the used market will find entry-level Sonata models labeled with a GL badge, while GL V6, GLS and GLS V6 models filled out the model range. Sonata Sport and Limited models were available in later years as well.
Available features included a power glass sunroof, 17-inch wheels, stability control, automatic climate control, an Infinity CD-changer audio system, auxiliary audio device inputs, remote access, power leather seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Shoppers after a ride with a factory-installed navigation system won’t find it here, as the last-generation Sonata was never offered with navigation.
Owners taking to the web to share their Sonata experiences commonly praise the vehicle’s styling, roominess, massive trunk, comfort levels and overall refinement. The V6 engine is a favourite with performance buffs, who mainly say they enjoy the available power and acceleration. Long-haul comfort is rated highly too, as is fuel mileage with the four-cylinder engine.
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| 2006 Hyundai Sonata (Photo: Hyundai) |
In the used marketplace, Sonata’s Korean roots and relatively short history as a family sedan contender mean that resale values will be relatively low compared to those of Japanese competitors. If you’re looking for a good deal on a used family car, the last-generation Sonata may be a great place to start-- especially considering that it seems to have fared out very well where reliability is concerned.
Standard was a 2.4 litre four-cylinder engine with 162 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. A manual-mode automatic was available, as was a V6 engine with 235 horsepower. The 3.3 litre engine was available only with an automatic transmission, and all models were front-wheel drive sedans. Note that horsepower was bumped towards the end of this generation’s life, with the four-cylinder unit making 175 horsepower, and the V6 making 249 for 2009 and 2010.
Shoppers in the used market will find entry-level Sonata models labeled with a GL badge, while GL V6, GLS and GLS V6 models filled out the model range. Sonata Sport and Limited models were available in later years as well.
Available features included a power glass sunroof, 17-inch wheels, stability control, automatic climate control, an Infinity CD-changer audio system, auxiliary audio device inputs, remote access, power leather seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Shoppers after a ride with a factory-installed navigation system won’t find it here, as the last-generation Sonata was never offered with navigation.
Owners taking to the web to share their Sonata experiences commonly praise the vehicle’s styling, roominess, massive trunk, comfort levels and overall refinement. The V6 engine is a favourite with performance buffs, who mainly say they enjoy the available power and acceleration. Long-haul comfort is rated highly too, as is fuel mileage with the four-cylinder engine.
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| Photo: Hyundai |