2006 Hyundai Sonata First Impression

SAN FRANCISCO, 4/20/05 – South Korea is getting the hang of this car-building thing. The latest example: the refined, more powerful and much-improved 2006 Hyundai Sonata. Due to arrive on dealer lots in the next few weeks, the redesigned Sonata’s styling, power, price and content make it a big step forward for Hyundai, and – based on a first impression – a great choice for consumers. The 2006 Hyundai Sonata will be offered in three trims: GL, GLS, and LX. Sonata GL models are available with a 2.4-liter, dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine good for 162-horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 164 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a Shiftronic four-speed automatic is optional. The Sonata GL will start at $17,895 plus a $600 destination charge. GLS models are offered with either the four-cylinder engine mated to the four-speed automatic, or a 235-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 with 226 lb.-ft. of torque joined to a Shiftronic five-speed automatic transmission. Four-cylinder GLS models start at $19,395 (plus destination) and GLS V6 models start at $20,895 (plus destination). Sonata LX models come with the 3.3-liter V6 and five-speed automatic, with prices starting at $22,895 (plus destination). All 2006 Hyundai Sonatas come with front side-impact and two-row side-curtain airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, and active headrests.

Interior

The first thing people will notice after a few miles in a Hyundai Sonata is how quiet the ride is. According to Hyundai representatives, engineers used Lexus models as the Sonata’s benchmark for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Whatever they did – or whoever they benchmarked – it paid dividends. After driving the 2006 Hyundai Sonata LX model and the GLS V6 model, we discovered that this EPA-classified large sedan is virtually quiet inside, with the exception of a bit of wind noise at high speeds and some noise from the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 225/50R17 tires on the Sonata LX. Only after opening a window at a tollbooth did we realize just how quiet it is. You can add some noise of your own with the standard six-speaker audio system, but don’t expect concert quality sound – it’s a fine system, but not the best on the market. Most of the interior materials are what you’d expect from a budget-oriented sedan. The leather in our Sonata LX felt like it was of decent quality, but the cloth in the GLS felt cheap and not very durable. On top of the dash is a padded plastic panel, with the same material used on the upper door panels. All armrests are padded and large enough for an elbow. The lower dash, center console, lower door panels, and pillars are covered in a hard plastic that resists flex, but its abundance gives the interior a down-market feel. Still, all of the plastic grains match, gaps are all consistent and minimal, and all of our vehicles were virtually rattle free. Front seats are firm enough to be supportive, but are not stiff. The rear bench bottom is too soft, with bolsters that easily give way, but the seatback is firm and comfortable. Small retractable headrests add to the 2006 Hyundai Sonata’s already impressive visibility. All of the controls are within easy reach – the radio sits atop the dash and features knobs and simple buttons, as well as steering wheel controls. The climate system sits below the radio and, again, features basic knobs and buttons. All power controls are on the driver’s door.

Driving

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata’s 3.3-liter V6 offers plenty of punch for all driving situations, and Hyundai suggests that the engine will return as much as 30 mpg on the highway. Planting the throttle results in an impressively quick take off, with very little noticeable engine noise, even at redline. This is a refined and capable powerplant. There’s also plenty of power for multi-car passing on two-lane roads, and high-speed passes on the highway. The transmission does a good job of managing the power, but stays clear of the rev limiter by shifting a little too early at times. And once, during a merge onto a highway from about 40 mph, a full plant of the throttle resulted in a delay of a second or two before the transmission downshifted and the Sonata delivered the necessary power. A short spin in the four-cylinder Sonata GLS revealed that 162 horses is more than enough to provide for peppy acceleration around hilly San Francisco. The high-revving four-banger never felt underpowered, though it did get a little thrashy at redline. Adding a full load of passengers and cargo will likely make the reasonably priced V6 model look like a more attractive buy. The four-wheel-disc brake setup worked like a charm, providing excellent pedal feel and modulation, and we didn’t notice any fade or deterioration in braking performance after several long, downhill runs. With the 17-inch tires on the LX, this Sonata takes the corners without hesitation. There is little body roll, and if there was any tire squeal, the NVH engineers made sure we didn’t hear it. The Sonata LX is a surprisingly good handler, and can be fun to drive. The Sonata GLS we drove had the smaller, less aggressive Michelin Energy MXV4 215/60R16 tires, and provided a soft, yet controlled ride. In comparison, the 17-inchers seem to give the Sonata a sportier, Accord-like demeanor, whereas the 16s give the Sonata a pillowy, Camry-like attitude. Time will tell if the 2006 Hyundai Sonata takes a significant piece of Honda Accord or Toyota Camry sales, but it’s styling, power, price, and content may edge out periphery sedans like the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Galant, and possibly the four-cylinder Nissan Altima.

Photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America