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Has Hyundai's Sonata Finally Matched The Accord And Camry?

In 2006, Motor Trend's long-term test fleet made good use of a then-new Hyundai Sonata. It lived a solid year with us, working hard every day, with no problems to speak of, and earned far more praise than complaint. But it was a Wish List car. "Wish the interior were a little better designed and finished." "Wish there were a little less noise and road rumble." And the proverbial "Wish it had a little more power."

We can't claim to have had anything to do with it, but as the Sonata is now halfway through its five-year product cycle, it's been given a substantial freshening that appears to have addressed our issues. The segment has since moved forward, too, but the Sonata is now an even more competitive player than when launched. Power is up, emissions are down, mileage has improved, and the cabin is a place in which you'll be happier to spend time.

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Has Hyundai's Sonata Finally Matched The Accord And Camry?



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w209w114w209w114 - 4/21/2008 1:13:05 PMView My AgentSpace
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Better than Camry or Accord?

This Sonata: NO, although the interior is a vast improvement over the pre-facelifted version of this car.

The next Sonata: Theres a good chance it will if hyundai keeps the momentum and quality improvement surge going.

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EL34EL34 - 4/21/2008 1:27:53 PM
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Has Hyundai's Sonata Finally Matched The Accord And Camry?

Yes, and the Maytag and the Whirlpool and the Kenmore :-)

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_43LE_43LE - 4/21/2008 2:34:10 PM
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While still maintaining its lead over most of the mainstream American competition.


AnthonyAnthony - 4/21/2008 2:02:32 PM
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This class of cars has definitely seen some major changes with the Chevy Malibu, the Hyundai Sonata, even the Ford Five Hundred (and soon the Taurus) making great strides in quality and feature content. And it is all a result of these manufacturers striving for the bar set so high by the Camry and the Accord.

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MadibaPMadibaP - 4/22/2008 10:08:25 AM
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And the tooth fairy really is real!

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Designer1Designer1 - 4/21/2008 2:04:49 PM
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Hyundai is advancing quickly but not really it hasn't matched the Camry and Accord, but it could in the future if they fix their reliability issues.
This interior design started it the Lexus RX, then of course the Hyundai took it then Infiniti G35/37 and finally Cadillac CTS, but the last two is distinctive than the original RX but not the Hyundai's.

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lexusis350lexusis350 - 4/21/2008 2:13:17 PM
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The Sonata won't ever be better than the Camry or Accord because Honda and Toyota have decades more experience building good cars and Hyundai, if they really are good cars, has about 5 years. They won't catch up.

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tattedtwicetattedtwice - 4/21/2008 11:01:40 PM
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Every time you start in about Hyundai, that stick you have up your @ss about them shows more and more. Saying Hyundai will never match honyota is like saying lexiniti will never match BMW. I'd bet you wouldn't be willing to admit that, though, would ya?

But it's cool, believe what you wish. There are just as many people who think lexiniti wont catch the big boys, the same way some of you think Hyundai won't.


lexusis350lexusis350 - 4/21/2008 11:43:05 PM
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Hyundai will not match Honda or Toyota. Hyundai doesn't even have a reputation other than their skill copying other cars. They can't even offer what Honda or Toyota can. It wasn't even until just now that they offered a navigation system, for crying out loud. Honda and Toyota will always be two steps ahead of Hyundai.

As for Lexus, they may not ever beat BMW. But according to magazines, neither has Mercedes, Audi, or Infiniti and all of those cars are good in their own way. What does Hyundai have that sets them apart from the pack? They aren't cheap anymore, they don't have the best warranty anymore, their long-term reliability hasn't been proven yet, etc.


tattedtwicetattedtwice - 4/22/2008 2:43:22 PM
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Yea, ok. And lexus is the industry leader in innovations and technology; they've NEVER copied the competition.

Dude get over yourself and this obvious bias you have. Hyundai is growing by leaps and bounds, and if honyota doesn't come with it and up their game and stop trying to sell on just NAME, they're going to end up playing catchup to the koreans.


lexusis350lexusis350 - 4/22/2008 7:18:26 PM
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I never said Lexus was the industry leader! Read again. And I'm not biased for Lexus. There are plenty of other cars that I like. Hyundai just isn't one of them. It's obvious that you have the bias, though.


PlanBPlanB - 4/21/2008 2:47:36 PM
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If Hyundai continues on the path they're currently on, the next generation of this car WILL BE on equal ground to the other cars in its category. And depending on who you ask, they're already there.

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MrGunFunMrGunFun - 4/21/2008 2:56:54 PMView My AgentSpace
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Right now, not so sure. (I've driven quite few times)

For the next-gen Sonata the answer will be YES.

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NItePhireNItePhire - 4/21/2008 3:26:25 PM
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The enterior looks better and of higher quality. Now if only they can fix the ride and handleing dynamics. Its the ride and handling that have always pushed me away from it.

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JUGNUJUGNU - 4/21/2008 3:43:10 PMView My AgentSpace
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The pre face lifted model(till 2007) sonata is no better than the previous generation Camry, Accord and Altima. Faclifted model is a vast improvment. Nearly same quality as big Jap 3, Better interior, more smooth ride...etc but still no where near new Camry, Accord and Altima in overall package.

and V6 sonata are just as much sporty as 4 cylinder Accord and Altima. V6 versions of big Jap 3 are untouchable by the Sonata.

JUGNU

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goochgooch - 4/22/2008 5:26:01 PM
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And GrillKing's high school English teacher rolls over in her grave...

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ninenine - 4/21/2008 7:32:26 PMView My AgentSpace
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BoredBored - 4/21/2008 7:35:05 PM
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Hyundai is at the right place at the right time. No longer should consumers only consider the Accord or Camry -- a solid choice is available with the Malibu, Aura, and now, the Sonata.



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huu76huu76 - 4/21/2008 9:59:54 PM
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In looks perhaps. If they copied a little harder, it'd look 100% like a '99 Accord.

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EI34EI34 - 4/21/2008 10:01:29 PM
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Has Hyundai's Sonata Finally Matched The Accord And Camry?

Yes, and the Maytag and the Whirlpool and the Kenmore :-)

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_43LE_43LE - 4/22/2008 10:24:42 AM
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While still maintaining its lead over most of the mainstream American competition.


farabira1farabira1 - 4/21/2008 10:39:59 PM
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No way, the new Accord is just in a much higher league than it's current colleagues.

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M53RM53R - 4/22/2008 3:41:15 AMView My AgentSpace
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Some of you are just hyundai haters. Hyundai lacks NOTHING to be on par with the japanese. Look at the Genesis. It's an example of what the company can do if they wanted to. But current hyundai's are just cheaper alternatives of the Japanese. That will change soon, and the japanese will have to worry about the new Sonata!

When the pre-facelifted sonata came out, it was selling like hotcakes! And as far as I know, Hyundai has this image of a good cheap Honda alternative, at least here in the UAE.

Dont be badge haters... or badge wh*res -_-.

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M53RM53R - 4/22/2008 2:24:30 PMView My AgentSpace
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You failed to read my last statement. Read it again.


JUGNUJUGNU - 4/22/2008 5:44:24 AMView My AgentSpace
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M53R

ok u r right but do they drive like Hondas with great and futuristic interiors and Advance engine technologies.

They have no doubt improved a lot in everything especially meterials quality and designs but still big Jap 3 are far ahead.

JUGNU


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M53RM53R - 4/22/2008 2:26:51 PMView My AgentSpace
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Ofcourse they dont drive like Honda's or have their high tech engines, but they are still good cars, and everything comes at a price. Any Hyundai is cheaper than the Honda competiting with it in the same class.

I think the next generation Sonata will be on par with the japanese. Who knows.. maybe they'll introduce something groundbreaking?


MadibaPMadibaP - 4/22/2008 10:11:31 AM
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Stay off the rocks boy... really that stuff will kill you!

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_43LE_43LE - 4/22/2008 10:26:08 AM
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This evilm guy is still living in the 1940s.

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altdudealtdude - 4/22/2008 5:59:25 PM
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Hyundai has the driving dynamics down, but the quality just isn't there. I drove a '99 Sonata and it was decently powerful, surprisingly fun to drive, and relatively comfortable...the fact that half the body and the entire interior was made of cheap plastic notwithstanding.

Knowing a bit about the history of the car, with about 100k miles on it, showed that within the past 10k miles it'd been nothing but problems (and this car is owned by someone who maintains it very carefully). Leaks from everywhere you can imagine, the front axle being replaced, problems with the steering... I've driven 25-year-old cars more reliable!

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huu76huu76 - 4/24/2008 12:08:34 AM
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evilm,
You're an idiot.

In the Pacific, its always Japan that stands with the United States while the Koreans try to sabotage everything out of spite.

Anyway, when Hyundai carss start looking like Hyundai cars instead of cheap knockoffs, maybe they'll be taken seriously rather than simply a cheap alternative.

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