There are not many vehicles that surprise me these days; however the Hyundai Sonata certainly did! A medium-size family vehicle that replaces the i45, the Sonata is the complete opposite of the boring, mundane vehicle one thinks of when picturing the mid-size sedan segment. We recently had the pleasure of testing the top of the range Premium whose value-packed $41,990* price tag was just one of the surprises the Sonata delivered.
The Sonata Premium is powered by a 2.0L turbo petrol engine that produces 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque. This is a fantastic engine that produces smoothly delivered power from a stand-still, is quiet and is paired perfectly with a 6 speed automatic transmission. The handling is impressive and is once again a surprise as it handles a lot better than one would expect of a mid-size sedan.
From the get-go, the Sonata exudes sophistication and style with a body that is composed of a lot of sharp angles yet still manages to retain an overall fluidic design. Perhaps its most striking feature is the LED headlights that wrap around the edge of the bonnet. The Premium model also boasts 18” alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and chrome accents on the dual exhaust, door handles and grille.
Once inside you’re hit with another big surprise – the interior isn’t instantly recognisable as Hyundai. It’s also not the interior you expect for the price tag – it’s much better. Sitting in the driver’s seat you get a sense of real luxury. It’s difficult to describe – it’s not ostentatious, it hasn’t got any standout features but it’s well laid out and has an incredibly premium feel. Of course the leather appointed seats, carbon fibre effect dash and alloy look inserts add a subtle luxury feel.
The wide centre dash houses an 8” touch screen satellite navigation system with MP3 compatibility, AUX/USB, Bluetooth connectivity, DVD player and six speakers. Occupant comfort is taken care of with a 12 way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and an 8 way adjustable passenger seat – both of which are heated and cooled. The Integrated Memory System is especially handy when there are multiple drivers as I have a far different driving position to my 6”3 father.
The driving experience is made easier with all the technology packed in the Sonata including cruise control, Electronic Park-Brake, one touch turn signals and rain sensing wipers. A comprehensive trip-computer displays all the information you could need. The Sonata is full of technology and information which are accessed and controlled through intuitively laid out buttons on the dash and steering wheel.
Safety and security are of course taken care of in traditional Hyundai style with reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors, corner turning headlights and the long list of three letter abbreviations like ABS, EBD and TCS.
The only way to describe the Hyundai Sonata is that is truly a pleasant surprise! It exudes a sense of luxury, comfort and ease that is way beyond its price tag. Hyundai have really created a vehicle that exceeds expectations – a way to achieve all that’s on your wish list without going outside your price range.
