There
are numerous shoppers seeking a midsize sedan. Why? Because this car works on
many levels, fitting the needs of a small family, a single person who logs
plenty of miles, and seniors who can't commit to anything smaller than a
midsize vehicle.
Easing
its way into the conversation these days is the attractive Hyundai Sonata. While previously it
couldn't hang with the class leaders, it was still a smart choice for folks who
wanted to save money and loved the Hyundai drivetrain warranty
of 10 years or 100,000 miles.
These
days the 2015 Hyundai
Sonata might not be on top, but it's not far from it. And that's saying a lot
considering its prime rivals are the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion,
Nissan Altima, Mazda 6, Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Passat, and the Kia
Optima, a cousin of the Sonata (Hyundai
and Kia production is closely related).
2015 Hyundai Sonata
*
Performance: 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, 185 horsepower; turbocharged 2.0-liter,
four-cylinder, 245 horsepower; 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, 177
horsepower
*
Mileage estimate: 25-37 mpg; 23-32 mpg; 28-38 mpg
*
Estimated price: $21,150 to $33,525
*
Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles; drivetrain: 10 years/100,000,000 miles;
roadside assistance: 5 years/unlimited; corrosion: 7 years/unlimited
The
Sonata remains at an affordable price and still can be characterized as
delivering a lot of bang for the buck. It's a sedan that provides strong
performance with a choice of three engines, delivers solid gas mileage (ranging
from 25-38 mpg), offers top-notch safety, rides with comfort, and features a
sizable list of standard features.
Looking
for improvements, Hyundai
redesigned the popular Sonata
for 2015. The focus was not on altering the design (new taillights is the only
major change), but more on interior refinements and adding a new 1.6-liter,
turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers good gas mileage (28-38 mpg) and
surprisingly good performance.
There
are two other engine choices for the Sonata. The
standard model that powers the SE, Sport and Limited is a 2.4-liter,
four-cylinder that produces 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque.
The
Sport 2.0T is a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 245 horsepower and
260 pound-feet of torque. Even though it sounds impressive, some drivers might
not like that the 2.0T only goes 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds.
A
definite plus for the new Sonata is its quiet
ride. Several auto reviewers have written that the Sonata cruises along in
"utter silence." The Sonata also has other fine qualities like good
braking, confident handling, and smooth ride.
The Sonata
interior also receives high marks. The 2015 model offers more interior room and
can easily accommodate four adults. Additional leg room is now available in the
back seat, but head room can still be confining for taller individuals due to
the sweeping roof line. The trunk space is 16.3 cubic feet, which is a little
more space than the average midsize sedan.
There's
nothing complicated with the Sonata
control layout. It's straightforward, a good thing for people who find it
annoying when an intuitive design is not part of the plan. Climate controls are
clear-cut and so is the touchscreen interface.
Perhaps
we've saved the best news for last: cost. The Sonata has five trim models (SE,
Sport, Eco, Limited and Sport 2.0T) with a starting price of $21,150, which is
around $800 to $1,275 less than a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Note that the Sonata price can climb rapidly
to a peak of approximately $33,525. Whatever the model choice, Sonata offers lots of value
for the price.
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