Hyundai isn't stupid. They realize this, which is why over the past decade or so, they have been busying themselves bringing their product line more into the mainstream. The company has done extremely well in this regard, with enough awards and accolades piled on them to make any manufacturer envious, especially in the vehicle safety area.
They are like the wild young adolescent who finally comes of age and astounds the world with his brilliance, and yet somehow, still finds it difficult to shake off that former label.
That to me is strange, as the manufacturers of the aforementioned Beetle now produce cars like the mega-buck Volkswagen Phaeton, and the humble Mini is now sold at less-than-humble rates by BMW.
Perhaps it is now time for the coming of age of Hyundai? Maybe those former students with their fond memories of the brand will help drive a new vision for the company. After all, nobody can say that they haven't worked hard enough to deserve it.
Well, with that said, let's take a little look at their Sonata GLS premium model and see just what you get for your Hyundai dollar these days.
From the outside, I have to say that the Sonata has truly "arrived". It would be no problem to mistake this vehicle for a Toyota, a Honda, or any other Japanese vehicle for that matter. The bodywork is of impressive quality and the overall styling is bang up to date.
However, that is not what sold me on the vehicle. Oh no, what grabbed my attention was the interior. Hyundai has excelled themselves in this department. The leather seating appears to be out of a vehicle with a much heftier price tag, and the wood effect accents which the GLS model boasted certainly add to the high-end feel of the vehicle.
Then there is the long list of standard features which the Sonata GLS carries. Hyundai has built their reputation in the past few years by giving you more than you expect, but I have to say that "they have outdone themselves with this model". Now I'm not going to bore you by listing them all, but I will point out a few which I personally found surprising on a vehicle in this price bracket. It carries a front windshield de-icer, telescopic steering, Home-link garage door opener, heated mirrors, adjustable pedal box, and of course, XM satellite radio.
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| Few manufacturers offer this level of quality and equipment for the price. |
They are like the wild young adolescent who finally comes of age and astounds the world with his brilliance, and yet somehow, still finds it difficult to shake off that former label.
That to me is strange, as the manufacturers of the aforementioned Beetle now produce cars like the mega-buck Volkswagen Phaeton, and the humble Mini is now sold at less-than-humble rates by BMW.
Perhaps it is now time for the coming of age of Hyundai? Maybe those former students with their fond memories of the brand will help drive a new vision for the company. After all, nobody can say that they haven't worked hard enough to deserve it.
Well, with that said, let's take a little look at their Sonata GLS premium model and see just what you get for your Hyundai dollar these days.
From the outside, I have to say that the Sonata has truly "arrived". It would be no problem to mistake this vehicle for a Toyota, a Honda, or any other Japanese vehicle for that matter. The bodywork is of impressive quality and the overall styling is bang up to date.
However, that is not what sold me on the vehicle. Oh no, what grabbed my attention was the interior. Hyundai has excelled themselves in this department. The leather seating appears to be out of a vehicle with a much heftier price tag, and the wood effect accents which the GLS model boasted certainly add to the high-end feel of the vehicle.
Then there is the long list of standard features which the Sonata GLS carries. Hyundai has built their reputation in the past few years by giving you more than you expect, but I have to say that "they have outdone themselves with this model". Now I'm not going to bore you by listing them all, but I will point out a few which I personally found surprising on a vehicle in this price bracket. It carries a front windshield de-icer, telescopic steering, Home-link garage door opener, heated mirrors, adjustable pedal box, and of course, XM satellite radio.
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| The 2.4L 4-cylinder is not as cultured as the V6. |