All the usual appointments are there of course, but Hyundai even managed to make those seem better by not charging extra for things like the power sunroof, keyless entry system, etc.
All in all, for interior refinements per dollar spent, I doubt that any other manufacturer could compete with them.
Of course, having a pleasant cabin area is all very well and nice, but what is it like to drive?
Well, once again, the Sonata GLS surprised me. I drove the 3.3L DOHC V6 model for a week and I found it to be quiet and refined, yet quite responsive when required. The 5-speed automatic transmission supplies smooth, and almost unnoticeable gear changes. The suspension offers a well-balanced blend of comfortable ride and roadholding capabilities. Indeed, the vehicle handled the tight twisting roads around where I live with relative ease.
To me, the Sonata GLS drives like a luxury vehicle. It has the interior of one and makes you feel as if you are in a much classier vehicle. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I have driven vehicles which were priced 10k or more higher that didn't impress me as much.
However, to be fair, I also drove the 4-cylinder version in the same GLS trim for a week and was rather less enamored of it. I found that it lacked the smoothness of the V6, and in some ways it subtracted from the luxury feel of the vehicle. When you consider the $2,000 or so price difference, I would opt for the V6 model anytime.
You may have noticed that I have not actually mentioned the price of the Sonata GLS premium model yet. That is because like all good storytellers, I wanted to save the best bit for last.
The sticker price on the '07 Sonata GLS V6 Premium is only $29,295!!!
Think about that for a moment! This vehicle supplies the feel of luxury motoring at a price which is almost unbelievable. In fact, I believe that if I took the name badges off this vehicle and showed it to the average personoin the street, they would most likely guess it to be at least 5-10k more expensive.
That, in a nutshell, appears to be the company's cross to bear. It now has products to compete with the best of the competition. However, Hyundai still needs to shed its previous budget vehicle maker image. One possibility is that it could re-shuffle the product lineup with its sister company KIA, leaving the Hyundai brand to surge even more upmarket.
Whatever the company decides, I feel quite certain that it has a bright future ahead of it, and with the products which they are now producing, I could see myself one day boasting of owning a Hyundai.
Value for money, it's just about unbeatable!
If considering the 4cyl, drive the V6 first.
If you can think of something to put here, well done, because I couldn't.
photo:Kevin Corrigan
All in all, for interior refinements per dollar spent, I doubt that any other manufacturer could compete with them.
Of course, having a pleasant cabin area is all very well and nice, but what is it like to drive?
 |
| The Sonata's 3.3L DOHC V6 is quiet, refined and quite responsive. |
Well, once again, the Sonata GLS surprised me. I drove the 3.3L DOHC V6 model for a week and I found it to be quiet and refined, yet quite responsive when required. The 5-speed automatic transmission supplies smooth, and almost unnoticeable gear changes. The suspension offers a well-balanced blend of comfortable ride and roadholding capabilities. Indeed, the vehicle handled the tight twisting roads around where I live with relative ease.
To me, the Sonata GLS drives like a luxury vehicle. It has the interior of one and makes you feel as if you are in a much classier vehicle. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I have driven vehicles which were priced 10k or more higher that didn't impress me as much.
However, to be fair, I also drove the 4-cylinder version in the same GLS trim for a week and was rather less enamored of it. I found that it lacked the smoothness of the V6, and in some ways it subtracted from the luxury feel of the vehicle. When you consider the $2,000 or so price difference, I would opt for the V6 model anytime.
You may have noticed that I have not actually mentioned the price of the Sonata GLS premium model yet. That is because like all good storytellers, I wanted to save the best bit for last.
The sticker price on the '07 Sonata GLS V6 Premium is only $29,295!!!
Think about that for a moment! This vehicle supplies the feel of luxury motoring at a price which is almost unbelievable. In fact, I believe that if I took the name badges off this vehicle and showed it to the average personoin the street, they would most likely guess it to be at least 5-10k more expensive.
That, in a nutshell, appears to be the company's cross to bear. It now has products to compete with the best of the competition. However, Hyundai still needs to shed its previous budget vehicle maker image. One possibility is that it could re-shuffle the product lineup with its sister company KIA, leaving the Hyundai brand to surge even more upmarket.
Whatever the company decides, I feel quite certain that it has a bright future ahead of it, and with the products which they are now producing, I could see myself one day boasting of owning a Hyundai.
 |
Value for money, it's just about unbeatable!
 |
If considering the 4cyl, drive the V6 first.
 |
If you can think of something to put here, well done, because I couldn't.
photo:Kevin Corrigan
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