The sixth generation of Sonata is now being delivered to Canadian dealers, and Hyundai Canada is acting like the proud parent of a new baby. Since this Sonata showcases everything from their concept of Fluid Sculpture to new applications of direct injection for gasoline engines, they probably have the right to act this way.
Fluid Sculpture is the part that is going to catch your eye first. The car seems to sweep up from the new front fascia, with its chrome-slatted signature grille and a character line that runs along the headlamps and carries on in the form of a chrome trim at the base of the windows. A second design line, this time just body coloured, comes from the front door handle and carries around to the rear, defining the trunk lid and the rest of the car.
While this is all going on, the main shape of this four-door sedan carries on in smooth lines with only slight changes in angle at the hood and front window. As the air goes over the roof, it stays with the car right down to the trunk lid.
Inside, Fluid Sculpture carries over into the all-new interior. The driver’s seat is the busiest with the instrument pod out front consisting of round gauges and a series of integral idiot lights for every other function. The steering wheel is both a tilt and telescopic unit so there is no excuse for not being comfortable.
The centre stack is neutrally placed so that both driver and passenger have equal access to the controls. Stereo controls and the navigation system, if so equipped, are all above the climate controls. The latter use a much more effective display of where the air is going by showing how it streams out of the vents to areas of your body, much like Volvo’s system.
Back-seat space is quite good with plenty of leg room, knee room and head room. If you order the Limited version, the back seat cushion can be heated. The reason that the seatbacks aren’t heated is that they are part of a 60/40 folding seat, so that the already cavernous trunk can be expanded.
Actually, sitting in the back seat is both comfortable and, if you are not feeling good to start with, a bit nauseous. The ride quality of the front seems to be a bit rougher in the back and you move about a bit more than when you are up front hanging onto the steering wheel while going through the twisties.
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| Hyundai Canada feels confident in predicting more than a 50% increase in Sonata sales. (Photo: Charles Renny/Auto123.com) |
Fluid Sculpture is the part that is going to catch your eye first. The car seems to sweep up from the new front fascia, with its chrome-slatted signature grille and a character line that runs along the headlamps and carries on in the form of a chrome trim at the base of the windows. A second design line, this time just body coloured, comes from the front door handle and carries around to the rear, defining the trunk lid and the rest of the car.
While this is all going on, the main shape of this four-door sedan carries on in smooth lines with only slight changes in angle at the hood and front window. As the air goes over the roof, it stays with the car right down to the trunk lid.
Inside, Fluid Sculpture carries over into the all-new interior. The driver’s seat is the busiest with the instrument pod out front consisting of round gauges and a series of integral idiot lights for every other function. The steering wheel is both a tilt and telescopic unit so there is no excuse for not being comfortable.
The centre stack is neutrally placed so that both driver and passenger have equal access to the controls. Stereo controls and the navigation system, if so equipped, are all above the climate controls. The latter use a much more effective display of where the air is going by showing how it streams out of the vents to areas of your body, much like Volvo’s system.
Back-seat space is quite good with plenty of leg room, knee room and head room. If you order the Limited version, the back seat cushion can be heated. The reason that the seatbacks aren’t heated is that they are part of a 60/40 folding seat, so that the already cavernous trunk can be expanded.
Actually, sitting in the back seat is both comfortable and, if you are not feeling good to start with, a bit nauseous. The ride quality of the front seems to be a bit rougher in the back and you move about a bit more than when you are up front hanging onto the steering wheel while going through the twisties.
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| Back-seat space is quite good with plenty of leg room, knee room and head room. (Photo: Charles Renny/Auto123.com) |