2011 Hyundai Sonata

[Leviathan]

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS vs. 2010 Honda Accord vs. 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Comparison Test

Speed Read

1st Place: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS
With its winning combination of features, price and fuel economy, the all-new Sonata probably didn't need a stylish package to win. But it didn't hurt, either.

2nd Place: 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring
Clearly, the Mazda 6 is still the benchmark when it comes to driving dynamics, but the relatively aged powertrain and creeping price put a strain on our reigning favorite.

3rd Place: 2010 Honda Accord LX
Honda has built an empire on finding the safe spot in the middle of the mainstream, but the rushing waters are growing crowded with ankle-biting interlopers. Honda needs a refreshed Accord, and quickly.

[Ontariodriver]

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS vs. 2010 Honda Accord vs. 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Comparison Test

LOL. Yet I'll still only buy the Accord. It will be worth more than both cars in the long term. IMO 6 and Sonata should only be used buy. They loose way too much when you drive them off the lot. Who's buying 6's anyways.

[Shnak]

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS vs. 2010 Honda Accord vs. 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Comparison Test

LOL. Yet I'll still only buy the Accord. It will be worth more than both cars in the long term. IMO 6 and Sonata should only be used buy. They loose way too much when you drive them off the lot. Who's buying 6's anyways.

Sure, long-term, the Accord will be worth more than the Sonata... but it's also a lot more expensive initially. You might pay $30k for your Accord initially and get $18k back when reselling it after 4 years where as you might pay $26k initially for the Sonata and only get $12k back after 4 years. So with the Accord, you lost $12k in 4 years, or $3k per year, whereas you lost $14k in 4 years with the Sonata, or $3.5k per year. Those are just fake made-up numbers, but you get my point.

Low purchase price/better incentives/low financing will often make up for faster depreciation.

[carcrazy]

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS vs. 2010 Honda Accord vs. 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Comparison Test

LOL. Yet I'll still only buy the Accord. It will be worth more than both cars in the long term. IMO 6 and Sonata should only be used buy. They loose way too much when you drive them off the lot. Who's buying 6's anyways.

It depends on how long you intend to keep the car. If you think the car is an investment, go for it. In any case, you pay upfront (higher purchase price) for a potential amount you may recover in couple of years when selling the car. That amount also diminishes over time so it may be completely washed by the time you sell the car.
I think a better way to look at this aspect is to divide the difference between the purchase price (including tax and financing cost) and the resale price to the number of years of ownership.

[dougjp]

Everyone is solely going by past history. I agree about the Mazda 6 because its too high priced and hasn't become that popular in terms of sales numbers. However the depreciation on Hyundai's from now forward is THE BIG question. I consider it a safe bet that they won't depreciate as fast as they did in the past.

[carcrazy]

I agree Mazda6 is not popular in this segment, but I don't think it's high-priced. I think one factor that prevented the Mazda6 to attract the buyers is that the segment itself is prone to preference for appliance-type cars.
It appears that the new Sonata struck a good balance for the segment and I believe it will sell very well.
If I were to buy a car in this segment, Mazda6 would be.

[airbalancer]

 they won't depreciate as fast as they did in the past

That all depends on how long Hyundai has cheap money out there and what stories media digs up
I think it a bad idea to think of resale value when your are buying a car

[Jaeger]

Finally drove the Sonata - the top of the line fully loaded version.  I liked it a lot - but not enough to keep it on the possible purchase list.  A few short observations:

• Engine - a bit loud and a bit coarse, but not ojectionably so overall.  Really only noticeable in the upper end, and the slushbox doesn't really want you there anyway. Power delivery is adequate - but only just.  Frankly, I was a bit underwhelmed by the seat-of-the pants feeling.  I remember thinking that the 4-pot / CVT Altima felt more lively and responsive.
• Exterior styling - really like the look, though the chrome grille seemed more "loud" in person than in pics.  Maybe because I was driving a balck one.
• Interior - Very attractive dash layout - high on aesthetic and ergonomic appeal.  This is offset by some visibly cheap materials that have that "this will look pretty scruffy in 3 years" feel to them  Overall, I thought it ranked behind my Altima in interior quality and WELL behind the Passat CC
• Ride / Handling - pretty good.  Again, not as sporty as my SE Altima but far from floaty or soft.  Just a touch more body roll than I would like, but overall quite good.  A little harsh over broken pavement, but I'll take that over a marshmallow ride any day.

Hyundai remains on the potential purchase list however - 'cause I drove the Genesis Sedan V6 and was VERY impressed.  The only thing that car needs is a slightly more firmly sprung sports suspentsion and it would be darned near perfect.

Jaeger

[Juke1]

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS vs. 2010 Honda Accord vs. 2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Comparison Test

LOL. Yet I'll still only buy the Accord. It will be worth more than both cars in the long term. IMO 6 and Sonata should only be used buy. They loose way too much when you drive them off the lot. Who's buying 6's anyways.

Sure, long-term, the Accord will be worth more than the Sonata... but it's also a lot more expensive initially. You might pay $30k for your Accord initially and get $18k back when reselling it after 4 years where as you might pay $26k initially for the Sonata and only get $12k back after 4 years. So with the Accord, you lost $12k in 4 years, or $3k per year, whereas you lost $14k in 4 years with the Sonata, or $3.5k per year. Those are just fake made-up numbers, but you get my point.

Low purchase price/better incentives/low financing will often make up for faster depreciation.

And this holds true only if you trade Accord for Accord and Sonata for Sonata

[Jaeger]

they won't depreciate as fast as they did in the past

That all depends on how long Hyundai has cheap money out there and what stories media digs up
I think it a bad idea to think of resale value when your are buying a car

I think it a bad idea NOT to consider resale value.  It shouldn't be the primary factor, but to ignore it completely would be unwise, IMHO.  Unless you have money to burn.  Value for money IS a key point in making what, for most people, is the second largest purchase decision after their home.  And future value IS a consideration highly relevant to that assessment.

Jaeger

[Iso Octane]

Saw of these in the flesh on the road yesterday for the first time. 

In my rearview mirror first in fact...  and that front end is offensive.  It's such an amateur and garish and tacky attempt at something dramatic. "Oooooh look at me, I'm really really really aggressive and pissed off.  Note my many triangular shapes and lines and flame surfacing and bulges all meeting in the centre like furled eyebrows.  GRRRRR.  Oh I'm also a sedan-coupe.  Yea sedan-coupe like the CLS."

Doesn't do it for me.

[dougjp]

Saw of these in the flesh on the road yesterday for the first time. 

In my rearview mirror first in fact...  and that front end is offensive.  It's such an amateur and garish and tacky attempt at something dramatic. "Oooooh look at me, I'm really really really aggressive and pissed off.  Note my many triangular shapes and lines and flame surfacing and bulges all meeting in the centre like furled eyebrows.  GRRRRR.  Oh I'm also a sedan-coupe.  Yea sedan-coupe like the CLS."

Doesn't do it for me.

Saw a black one out on a test drive yesterday, first from a view of the front as it was about to turn in front of me at a light, and then the side view and back. I had the same impression of the front, well described. Simply annoying. That part of the car looked out of place. The rest of it looked OK, sort of like a Mazda6 clone although I must say I like the Mazda6 lines better. Perhaps black isn't a good colour for this car.

Add the reports of a rough unrefined feel from the engine and power/torque feeling well short of specs. Interest level has dropped.

[DrJay]

they won't depreciate as fast as they did in the past

That all depends on how long Hyundai has cheap money out there and what stories media digs up
I think it a bad idea to think of resale value when your are buying a car

I think it a bad idea NOT to consider resale value.  It shouldn't be the primary factor, but to ignore it completely would be unwise, IMHO.  Unless you have money to burn.  Value for money IS a key point in making what, for most people, is the second largest purchase decision after their home.  And future value IS a consideration highly relevant to that assessment.

Jaeger

I agree to a point however ..the once accepted formulas (dare I say assumptions) regarding resale and residual values no longer apply, in that todays vehicles (non luxury/exotic) have reached a point of equal depreciation relative to their purchase values. Therefor a Sonata will hold similar value to an Accord on a percentage basis. They both depreciate at the same relative rate but you paid more for the Accord up front.  Same applies to most vehicles (luxury and exotics excluded) because most manufacturers have reached (subjectively) a level of parity (no-one really builds a bad car anymore). The two competing variables will increasingly become 1.Fuel economy and 2. Perceived Quality/reliability.

BTW good observations on the drive Jaeger pretty much what I found too I drove a LTD. so perhaps I didn't see as much cheap stuff but I see your point . However It would seem as though almost all the manufacturers are using same or similar materials (perhaps its due to the realization that none of todays cars will ever end up at the Barrett-Jackson auction?) I suppose we will just have to endure the trend.

Mattesa...as much as I understand/agree that looks are subjective. I would hardly call the front end of the Sonata "offensive".

[Iso Octane]

Mattesa...as much as I understand/agree that looks are subjective. I would hardly call the front end of the Sonata "offensive".

I'll clarify.  As a whole I think the car is relatively pleasant to look at.  What I don't appreciate is the design philosophy which in my subjective opinion is best described as "trying too hard".  It just looks very pretend. The principle of it is what I find offensive.

Saw a black one out on a test drive yesterday, first from a view of the front as it was about to turn in front of me at a light, and then the side view and back. I had the same impression of the front, well described. Simply annoying.

The one I spotted was black as well, and it had a chrome grill.  It must be the colour combo because it looks a lot worse than the red one in the article from the above post.

[DrJay]

Mattesa...as much as I understand/agree that looks are subjective. I would hardly call the front end of the Sonata "offensive".

I'll clarify.  As a whole I think the car is relatively pleasant to look at.  What I don't appreciate is the design philosophy which in my subjective opinion is best described as "trying too hard".  It just looks very pretend. The principle of it is what I find offensive.

Saw a black one out on a test drive yesterday, first from a view of the front as it was about to turn in front of me at a light, and then the side view and back. I had the same impression of the front, well described. Simply annoying.

The one I spotted was black as well, and it had a chrome grill.  It must be the colour combo because it looks a lot worse than the red one in the article from the above post.

Ok I get that... pretend how? pretending to be what? Trying too hard?...compared to what?  because it's a Hyundai? would you be saying the same thing if this was a BMW? (ex-chief designer from Bimmer designed it) The reason I'm asking is because it's not the first time I have heard that observation but no one has shared their reasoning for it ... no malice or offence intended here i'm just curious.

[Jaeger]

Mattesa...as much as I understand/agree that looks are subjective. I would hardly call the front end of the Sonata "offensive".

I'll clarify.  As a whole I think the car is relatively pleasant to look at.  What I don't appreciate is the design philosophy which in my subjective opinion is best described as "trying too hard".  It just looks very pretend. The principle of it is what I find offensive.

Saw a black one out on a test drive yesterday, first from a view of the front as it was about to turn in front of me at a light, and then the side view and back. I had the same impression of the front, well described. Simply annoying.

The one I spotted was black as well, and it had a chrome grill.  It must be the colour combo because it looks a lot worse than the red one in the article from the above post.

Ok I get that... pretend how? pretending to be what? Trying too hard?...compared to what?  because it's a Hyundai? would you be saying the same thing if this was a BMW? (ex-chief designer from Bimmer designed it) The reason I'm asking is because it's not the first time I have heard that observation but no one has shared their reasoning for it ... no malice or offence intended here i'm just curious.

I agree - not sure how this is "trying too hard".  It's a deliberately bold design that was very much intended to be a departure from the safe / anonymous / invisible design of the previous model.  Sometimes bold doesn't work at all (TL, IMHO).  I think it works here overall.

"Pretending"?  Did the Passat CC get criticized for "pretending" to be a Benz CLS?

I can certainly look at the Sonata and see why some might not like it.  Bold isn't for everyone.  But I have a hard time seeing pretense.

Jaeger

[Shnak]

Had a close look at a Sonata at a Hyundai dealership the other day... rear room is pretty disappointing. Legroom is fine, but headroom is terrible. Much worse than what I remember from many other mid-size sedans (Accord, Camry, Passat).

Lots of room in front though, even with a sunroof. It would be very tough for me to pick this Sonata ahead of other vehicles in this segment just because of the rear headroom issue.

I think Hyundai went too far with the "style over substance" on this one, unfortunately! 

[tortoise]

Lots of room in front though, even with a sunroof. It would be very tough for me to pick this Sonata ahead of other vehicles in this segment just because of the rear headroom issue.

Did your head hit the roof?  You're quite tall though, right?  Would someone who's 5'10" have any issues?

[Shnak]

Lots of room in front though, even with a sunroof. It would be very tough for me to pick this Sonata ahead of other vehicles in this segment just because of the rear headroom issue.

Did your head hit the roof?  You're quite tall though, right?  Would someone who's 5'10" have any issues?

Sorry, should've mentionned that I'm a hair over 6'3" and there was no way I'd be comfortable for a ride longer than 5 minutes in the back of the Sonata. I had to slide my butt forward quite a lot just so that my head didn't touch the ceiling, which resulted with my knees to be on each sides of the front seat. Absolutely horrible. I have more head room when sitting in the back of my Accent, which is a hatchback, but still.

Even someone 5'10" would find it tight, I think. I don't remember sitting in a mid-size sedan with as little head room space. I haven't tried a Passat CC though. At least VW isn't saying the CC is a mid-size sedan... they're billing it as a sporty 4-door coupe, which then excuses the low head room, I think. It just doesn't make sense for a vehicle aimed at the mainstream to be lacking in such an important aspect.

Unless Hyundai comes out with a wagon version of their Sonata, which would be awesome with better rear head room, I just don't think I'll ever own this generation of the Sonata. I'm hoping Kia does a better job when they re-do their Magentis...

[Jaeger]

There's a reason we have measured interior dimensions:

Rear Headroom (inches):

Accord: 37.2

Mazda 6: 37.3

Camry: 37.8

Altima: 36.8

Passat: 37.8

Sonata: 37.8

A whole inch separates worst from first in this group, but by no objective measure could the Sonata be described as "terrible" or "much worse" than the competition.

I am 5' 10" and have no problem with the rear headroom in the Sonata, or in my less accomodating Altima, for that matter.

Jaeger