Hyundai's midsize sedan made a big
splash with its redesign for the 2010 model year. Its aggressive, daring
exterior and high-tech, attractive interior made for a compelling package that
put the Korean automaker in a competitive position in the segment for the first
time. And while the design itself may have been polarizing to a degree, it's
impossible to ignore the Sonata's
impact on Hyundai's
presence in the market. Years of growth in both sales and market share back
that up.
But for
2015, Hyundai took the
Sonata in a different direction. The new Sonata's exterior is handsome and
conservative--in many ways a throwback to the 2009. Is this Hyundai's way of visually
repositioning the Sonata as an established competitor rather than an ambitious
newcomer? If so, the execution seems spot-on, but Hyundai seems displeased with
the results.
Why?
While
Sonata sales volume has been consistently up since the introduction of the
2015, recent reports have indicated that Hyundai isn't thrilled with
the conquest rate on the updated car. But is that a sign of failure? Hyundai
has been offering cash to move them, but that by itself isn't a strong
indicator. Incentive spending industry-wide has been up lately in this segment
due to low gas prices and the run on SUV and truck inventory. In short, family
sedans aren't hot right now.
But Hyundai remains unimpressed,
and it appears that a return to the 2010 model's more outlandish styling is
coming. It's impossible to fault Hyundai for wanting to recapture the magic of
the 2010. Who wouldn't? But that may not be attainable in the current industry climate.
What is it?
The Sonata Sport 2.0T lives up
to its name. It's the most powerful, most buttoned-down variant in the lineup,
boasting a turbocharged, 245-horsepower engine and a sport-tuned suspension (a
Sport model sans turbocharger is also available). And if specced with the
Ultimate Package, as our tester is, it's also among the most feature-rich of
the Sonata clan. The only
trim with more bells and whistles standard is the Limited, which essentially
bakes the Sport 2.0T's goodies and the Ultimate Package add-ons into one.
What
sort of goodies? Highlights of our Sonata's feature list include a tilt &
slide panoramic sunroof, rear window shades, adaptive cruise control, lane
keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert and heated/ventilated front seats.
What works?
The new
Sonata is the 2014's better
in driving dynamics, for sure. The previous model's steering was acceptable at
best, lacking weight and precision and requiring far too much attention even in
straight-line cruising. No more. While it still can't match the benchmarks in
this class for steering accuracy and feedback (look to the Mazda 6 and Honda
Accord Sport), the Sonata has come a long way in a short period of time. If
anything, the steering may be inappropriately heavy for a car whose mission is
more A-to-B than back-road-runner, but the formula is better than before by
miles.
What doesn't?
There
are two salient head-scratchers hiding in the Sonata's spec sheet, so let's
address those up front. First off, there's the power rating. 245 horsepower
isn't a painfully deficient power figure, especially from a turbocharged
four-cylinder, but it's not segment-leading by any stretch. In a class where
260-290 horsepower is par for the course for top-trim engines, 245 does seem a
bit anemic.
In a
lightweight car, that wouldn't matter, and therein lies our second gripe: curb
weight. The Sonata Sport 2.0T tips the scales at just a hair under 3,600lbs. A
Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited, with its bulky boxer-six and all-wheel drive, is
only ~60lbs heavier. There's a mileage penalty, too. At 23 mpg city, 32 highway
and 26 combined, the Sonata's EPA figures aren't much better than, say, a
Chrysler 200 V6's, and our real-world mileage backs that up.
Leftlane's bottom line
The
2015 Hyundai
Sonata 2.0T Sport is a whole greater than the sum of its parts. It may be
slightly underpowered and slightly overweight, but it is comfortable,
feature-rich and affordable. If you can look beyond its spec-sheet
deficiencies, you'll be more than happy with driving experience.
2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport
2.0T base price, $28,575. As tested, $34,460.
Ultimate
package, $4,950; carpeted floor mats, $125; Destination, $810
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