REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Four Season Wrap-Up

It's fair to say that we were surprised by the Hyundai Sonata. Granted, the previous Sonata was a competent offering, but it was not exactly a standout. With the new Sonata, however, staff members suddenly started tossing around phrases like "best-in-class." Against such stalwart competitors as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry -- and solid challengers like the Nissan Altima, the Ford Fusion, and the Chevrolet Malibu -- that was a very big claim. The best way to find out for sure whether the Sonata was deserving of such enthusiasm was to spend a year with one in a Four Seasons test.

The Sonata comes in three flavors: GLS, SE, and Limited. We chose the midlevel SE, which is also supposed to be the (slightly) sporty version. For the SE, there's only one powertrain: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. You might think the six-speed manual would be available on the SE, but it can be had only on the base GLS. We added the navigation and sunroof package (which also includes an upgraded audio system) and a cargo net, bringing the total price to a still very reasonable $25,965.

The navigation system proved to be a key addition, and it garnered lots of praise for its ease of use. "I drove a Honda Accord recently," said senior web editor Phil Floraday, starting off our logbook, "and the first thing I noticed in the Sonata is how much more intuitive the infotainment and climate controls are." He argued that, given the relative parity among so many cars in this class, infotainment systems now take center stage, particularly for today's tech-obsessed buyers. Assistant editor David Zenlea put the Sonata's system alongside Nissan's at the head of the class. "Hyundai consistently nails in-car technology," he said, "something that utterly confounds most automakers." "There's no learning curve," added associate editor Eric Tingwall. "The controls for everything from the radio to the headlights to the HVAC are smartly placed, neatly arranged, and appropriately sized."

If its in-car technology makes Hyundai seem very au courant, so, too, does the Sonata's all-four-cylinder engine lineup. After we got our Sonata, Hyundai brought out a turbocharged version -- rather than a V-6 -- and a hybrid as well. Should we have waited for the turbo? Well, the turbocharged engine, a 2.0-liter, provides considerably more power and torque: 274 hp and 269 lb-ft (versus the 2.4-liter SE's 200 hp and 186 lb-ft). And the 2012 model does so with a minimal fuel-economy penalty of only 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway (2011 Sonatas had slightly lower EPA ratings). But numbers don't tell the whole story. "After driving the Sonata 2.0T, I'd say we picked the right one," argued Zenlea. "The turbo, much like most powerful, front-wheel-drive mid-size cars, has more torque than it can put to the ground."

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1112_2011_hyundai_sonata_se_four_season_wrap_up/index.html#ixzz1hNGbJv6Y

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