Honda Accord yet is some 70 kg lighter than before. All engines are now four-
cylinder: a 2.4L, a turbocharged 2.0L and a 2.4L hybrid, the latter two scheduled to
arrive late in 2010. It also gets a new six-speed automatic transmission. The Hyundai Sonata 2011
is offered in four trims, GL, GLS, Limited, and Limited Navigation.
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| Hyundai Sonata 2011 |
Interior and trunk
The front seats are easy to access and very comfortable, even without lumbar
adjustment in the GL. It should be noted that heated seats are not available with
the manual transmission. A telescoping steering wheel and good headroom and
legroom make for a good driving position. The doors open very wide and, when
completely open, can be hard to close from inside because the door handle is out of
reach unless you lean way out.
Access to the rear bench is relatively easy as long as you are careful of the slanted
roof. The outboard seating positions are comfortable but not the middle, because of
the shape of the seat and the floor tunnel. Legroom is quite generous but headroom
is very limited for tall people. When the 60/40 split-fold seatback is folded it is
about 6 cm higher than the trunk floor, and the trunk opening is only 31 cm high.
The trunk is very spacious and well served by a relatively large lid.
Convenience and safety features
The interior is very well finished in good-quality materials. Road noise is not
sufficiently dampened, though the Limited seems to be better isolated than the GL.
There are several good storage spaces.
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| Hyundai Sonata 2011 Inside |
Though gauges and controls are well laid out, the shape of the spokes complicates
access to the wheel-mounted audio controls, and the dashboard radio buttons are a
bit small. Everything is illuminated at night except the outside mirror and power
door lock controls. Climate control is efficient.
The windshield washer nozzles under the edge of the hood can easily be blocked by
snow and ice.
Safety equipment includes six airbags (dual front, side and curtain), four-wheel disc
brakes with ABS, stability control, and five head restraints (active in front). The
three head restraints in the back do not adjust high enough for tall people. Visibility
is very good in all directions except to the rear, on a three-quarter angle and when
backing up. The rear-view mirror can create a blind zone on an oblique angle to the
right for some drivers. The headlights are adequate in the low-beam position, but
the high-beams lack range.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Sonota a Good rating, its
highest, for roof strength, for driver protection in a frontal offset collision, and for
all-occupant protection in a side or rear crash.
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| Hyundai Sonata 2011 |
Engine and transmission
The all-new, direct-injection 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine produces 198 horsepower
and 184 pound-feet of torque, for easy performance and lively acceleration. This
engine climbs eagerly through the gears and compares more than favourably in
terms of smooth overall performance.
The six-speed automatic transmission always functions very smoothly. Gears are
well spaced, and it allows the car to be driven off in second. Manual mode is
relatively quick. Hyundai took four years to develop this transmission, which
weights 12 kg less and has 62 fewer parts than the five-speed it replaces.
On the road
The four-wheel independent suspension generally delivers a very smooth ride. Some
uneven patches can set off a firm reaction, at times accompanied by suspension
noise. The Hyundai Sonata 2011 has a good grip but enough lean in some curves to temper an
excess of enthusiasm.
Heavy, especially at low speed, the electric assist steering is stable, precise and
relatively quick. It provides very little road feedback. The brakes are powerful and
fade resistant.
Inspection
In an inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre, we saw that the
Sonata has a sturdy platform with good rust proofing. Electric connections are well
protected and wires are well secured. Debris can get through the openings under
the front bumper and damage the air-conditioner condenser. The engine’s overhead
camshafts are chain driven.
Conclusion
The new-generation Hyundai Sonata 2011 is not only a serious player, it ups the ante with its
naturally aspirated direct-injection engine, the only one in its class for the time
being. More than ever a presence to be reckoned with, the Sonata is also
distinguished by its quality-to-price ratio and an excellent warranty.
PROS: front comfort, well-adapted engine, smooth automatic transmission,
roadability, roomy trunk, fit and finish
CONS: road noise, heavy steering, rear and three-quarter-rear visibility, rear
headroom (tall people), wheel-mounted controls need work, washer nozzles under
edge of hood
HYUNDAI SONATA 2011
Engine: 16-valve, 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 198 hp at 6 300 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft at 4 250 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic
Suspension: fully independent
Brakes: disc/disc
Wheelbase: 279.5 cm
Length: 482 cm
Width: 183.5 cm (without mirrors)
Height: 147 cm
Weight: 1,437 to 1,507 kg
Tires: P205/65R16; P215/55R17
Maximum towing capacity: not recommended
Airbags: dual front, plus two side and two curtain airbags
Fuel consumption with automatic transmission:
- Natural Resources Canada rating:
City: 9.4 L/100 km (30 mpg) Highway 5.7 L/100 km (49.5 mpg)
- Test result: 9 L/100 km (31 mpg) Test temperature: 13°C to 27°C
CO2 emissions: 3,558 kg/20,000 km
Fuel tank capacity: 70 litres
Fuel requirement: regular grade gasoline
Acceleration
0–100 km/h: 8.7 seconds 60–100 km/h: 5.6 seconds
Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Honda Accord,
Kia Magentis, Mazda6, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Suzuki
Kizashi, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat
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