Is Hyundai Building A Camry Or An ES Killer With The 2011 Sonata?

LOL, in short, NO!

— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:14:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Hyundia vs. Lexus? Again? Really? Good lords.

— thetruth01 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:17:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

At a first quick glance, I thought that was an ES350. Another copy, what a shocker...

— golfer38 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:19:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

This will be an interesting dogfight...

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:36:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Wow, was a play station 2 game controller the inspiration for that steering wheel?

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:41:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

DUMB question.

Every midsize sedan, in it's fully loaded version is a possible ES/MAXIMA/TL killer.

Question is, is the 4 cyl. base model, without NAV, sunroof, fog lights, leather and loaded with steel wheels with hubcaps is an ES killer ? no. Is the fully loaded version is one ? maybe, but same can be said of a fully loaded Camry, Accord, Mazdas6 or Altima.

Is a fully loaded Sonata a better value than a ES ? Well, if you only consider the price tag, maybe, but if you look further and take resale value into consideration, absolutely not.

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 5:54:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

NO 009.

This reincarnated Solara is aimed at your precious Audi

— Lemonade (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 6:10:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Head of design at Hyundai has no shame!

— mpls (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 6:10:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

man, that car is ugly from the front...

— synx (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 7:10:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Another YF Sonata Interior Version Pix:

http://file1.bobaedream.co.kr/multi_image/national/2009/09/17/67310/dsc00689_clubkoup.jpg

http://file1.bobaedream.co.kr/multi_image/national/2009/09/17/67310/dsc00691_clubkoup.jpg

YF Sonata Movie and Commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP21zS_V3qE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX9uC_Z_g3s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlcn68iiZME&feature=related

ENJOY!

— onetime (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 7:23:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Well done, Hyundai, well done.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 8:54:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

More like VW killer.

— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 9:34:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

More crap from 009. A Hyundai exec had indicated that this vehicle is aimed at VW in Asia.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 9:38:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

If I were Lexus, I would not be worried... if I were Toyota, I would watch my back...

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 10:17:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

So what you are saying is that Hyundai decided to build the ES300 to go against Lexus? Gee, how long will Hyundai play the "let's recycle everybody else's designs to go against them"? I mean, they actually bought the tooling to reproduce the 90's Acura legend! And they sold their own "Acura Legend" in Korea.

— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 10:21:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

It's a Camry tribute for people who wish they had an ES but can't afford a Camry.

The Genesis can't take out the Avalon so what makes Hyundai think this will have a better chance at the Camry?

Without incentives, this car has no future.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 10:41:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Agent 009 is a moron.

— g2ok (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 11:18:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

Obviously they targeted the Camry by putting ES features on the new Sonata.

— wins555 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/17/2009 11:31:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Lets say all you anti-Hyundai are right that nothing on this car is original. You may not be worried about this car but Toyota is concerned.

A while back, in the heyday of GMs rein, circa 1970s thru much of the '80s, GM was the top selling maker of cars in the U.S. and Toyota was just beginning to come into its own as a brand. GM sold millions of cars in the U.S. while Toyota sold 100k per year. Fast forward to the future and Toyota is now on top.

The pendulum continues to swing and no one brand can expect to stay on top forever. There was a time when Toyota produced really good looking and gotta have designs but now they're playing it safe. Too safe.

This car is going to be a strong seller for Hyundai.

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 12:04:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Either the bloggers here are Wayy too young or have a memory lapse, but there was a time when ALL Japanese vehicles were seen as cheap, disposable, econo-box death-traps.

How quickly the tides turn.

I think Hyundai is doing a GREAT job with their new designs and in incorporating new-technologies in an affordable package. Being a consumer, whether a Hyundai fan or not, is a great thing as they are spurring innovation and cheaper prices through competition.

There was a time I wouldn't be caught dead in a Nissan or Toyota, albeit a while ago, times have changed and now I would be honored to have a Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota or Nissan added to my fleet. Hyundai's time will come and IMO they will achieve such a perception and following MUCH faster than your Japanese counterparts.

Now if they can only build a car better and cheaper than my M5. haha j/k you BMW haters, we all know that's impossible. :-p

— kablaam (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 1:43:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

neither

— CarCrazedinCali (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 3:18:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Badgewhore your ranting claims that Hyundai builds "junk" is invalidated by authorities such as Consumers Reports, Edmunds, J.D. Powers, Motortrend.com, Cars.com and other leading automotive authorities.

In addition, Hyundai has received several prestigious awards and recognitions. Hyundai's automotive group is also the 4th largest in the world.

Your post would've played much better had you just come right out and stated your intense dislike for Hyundai rather than spew and twist your perception of reality as truth.

— acronis (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 5:15:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Acronis,
How is it Toyota is playing it safe when Hyundai's designs are stolen straight from Toyota/Lexus? I see, any design on a Toyota is dull and safe, change the brand to Hyundai then it becomes cutting edge and youthful. Hyundai's marketing budget must be enormous.

Hyundai wouldn't survive in its home market if the gov't didn't restrict foreign brands (much more so than Japan). Koreans love anything that makes them appear Western and Korean cars don't do that. Moron Westerners are the only people cheap enough to buy knockoffs.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 7:11:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I mentioned in another thread but the car that has the most to fear is the Genesis.

Just like Santa Fe eats into Veracruz sales, Hyundai Camry sales will eat Genesis sales. Why buy a $37,000 copy when you can get it for $18,000 after incentives.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 7:13:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Since Shempy did not make a big enough fool of himself yesterday, he wanted to try even harder today. Looks like it's working.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 10:48:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I don't think it is possible for people to have a lower opinion of Shempy. Shempy was even banned from another website where most of the posters are on his same level! That's bad!

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 11:12:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Shempy, you hurt me so bad! My self esteem has never been so low. But, you're absolutely correct! Invisible and I are joined at the hips, literally....

But seriously, it's funny when things gets backed into a corner, the kinds of things they resort to saying is interesting...It's so pathetic when someone tries to use the "gay comment" or joke. It's so old-school, like anyone even really cares anymore! What are we? in high school still? Well, maybe he is.

I have to say, he's still an interesting case study after all these years.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 1:12:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

It's funny how you think I would be offended or get angry by that comment. Yup, old school Shempy.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2009 12:36:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I beg to differ, shemply. i have seen many gay people get offended when people negatively refer to them as "gay."

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 8:19:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Love the interior. Exterior is nice except the headlights seem too stretched out and the grill is ugly.

— SHOWTIME (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 9:13:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I have seen the new YF Sonata in person today at one of the Hyundai dealers here in Seoul. It is a totally different car from the previous NF Sonata. It looks way more upscale than the Camry or Accord. No joke. It is a stud. In my opinion, it can compete with the ES.

— onetime (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 9:54:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

A styling disaster in my honest opinion. It looks like they copied the third and fourth generation Ford Taurus.

Third generation Ford Taurus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:96-97_Ford_Taurus_.jpg

Fourth generation Ford Taurus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2000-2003_Ford_Taurus_SES.jpg

— richard112360 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 11:45:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Yeah, much like the Veracruz was supposed to annihilate the RX. Whomp whomp whomp!

— delan (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 2:35:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Why can Hyundai only sell in Europe and N.America and at huge discounts? Because nobody in their right mind would buy one if they sold them above cost.

delan,
The Veracruz can't even outsell the 4Runner and the Santa Fe barely matches the Highlander (top line Santa Fe just touches base Highlander), and this is with huge discounts from Korea.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/18/2009 6:46:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

This is great car and Hyundai has done a great job. One could say Hyundai is to Toyota what Samsung is to Sony, but even decades ago when Toyota and Honda entered the US market and were considered junk, they really were not; whereas Hyundai had a lot of problems.

They also had proper dealers. The dealers really are bringing the image down and it needs to be addressed.

Japanese-German companies are known around the world for excellence. A lot of Americans would not buy from the former Axis powers, since the memory of post-war horrors were still fresh. These companies overcame a lot more obstacles in the market than Hyundai, but I hope this car does well.

— g2ok (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2009 11:59:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

foez,
boohoo, stop your crying little girl. Asian-pride! LOL

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/19/2009 12:12:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

HYUNDAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 5:58:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Dont Worry Lexus people, this an Es Undercutter. This is for the Misers who might go for a Lexus Es but only buy one every 10 years, and then they see this and the price, and they hear Hyundai makes this improvement and hyundai wins this awards, etc

Well.....

They will give this car a chance.

Therefore this is not an ES Killer and Definately Kills the Camry, this is more of an ES undercutter. It will also help keep even more younger people out of Lexus, making it an even older brand.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:13:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

So in the Short term it wont kill the ES but in the long term as Lexus becomes even an older brand. Well the ES is FU-KED!!!!!!

Long term, this car will Kill the ES not just the Sonata the whole range range of Hyundai cars filled with Gen Xers and Gen Yers looking for a new age luxury with superior fuel economy, etc.... Might do what Lexus did to Buick and Cadillac.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:16:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

My Arguement:

1. Buick, Mercury, Lincoln, and Cadillac were the Main Stay Luxury Cars of Generation V "The Greatest Generation"

2. Lexus, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, SAAB, Acura, Infiniti are the Main Stay Luxury cars for
Generation W "Baby Boomers".

3. Hyundai, Subaru, VW, Mazda if they play their cards right are slowly but surely going upmarket and will be the Mainstay Luxury cars for Generation X/Y.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:23:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

"This is great car and Hyundai has done a great job. One could say Hyundai is to Toyota what Samsung is to Sony, but even decades ago when Toyota and Honda entered the US market and were considered junk, they really were not; whereas Hyundai had a lot of problems.

They also had proper dealers. The dealers really are bringing the image down and it needs to be addressed.

Japanese-German companies are known around the world for excellence. A lot of Americans would not buy from the former Axis powers, since the memory of post-war horrors were still fresh. These companies overcame a lot more obstacles in the market than Hyundai, but I hope this car does well. "

What about the Honda Civic Gas Tank Explosions and Engine fires in the early 70s?

What about the late 1970s Toyota Coupes that all of a sudden has engine coolant and oil mix together and cause a catastrophic engine failure?

Datsuns used to overheat?

Mitsu's used to have everything go wrong. They would put a complimentary bag of rice with a note in the glove compartment when people first bought the cars. "The Note Said this rice to better compliment your driving experience."

Thats where the term Ricers first came from, man!!!!


Actually Hyundai cars had less problems than some of the old school Japanese cars, be it Hyundai had a lot of problems. The Difference is when Hyundai came on the scene we have more media sources with 24 hr cable channels that did expose' stories. It made Hyundai's rep just even worse than what the reality was. Excel Engine Fires, Hyundai Steering Columm troubles, and electronics were the main problems. KIA didnt have such a bad rep because we bought them and fixed them up immediately. Some people still actually perfer KIA cars over Hyundai just becuase KIA is mostly free of that rep, though KIAs never have been as reliable as Hyundais.

As KIA follows their "Defects to Zero" program, KIA like Hyundai will be near the top of the reliablity lists as well. The Company is really putting their eggs into the "KIA being the most reliable automaker on Earth basket."

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 5:49:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundai moving upmarket to me is the same as Datsun Changing their name to Nissan. This time however, instead of changing the name just change the product philosophy is the approach Hyundai is going.

Things might of been different if we didnt have KIA, but as we have KIA and we were both selling regurgitated products that cancelled each other out the market direction for brands needed to change.

Hyundai is the more established make, thus it gets to go upmarket. KIA is the young brand thus it gets to be sporty and youthful.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 5:57:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lexus will always have an older demographic because older people have money, young people just wish they did. Big reason why BMW's demographic is getting younger, more poor people rent their cheap cars to get the appearance of wealth.

The Sonata and ES will never be cross-shopped, different customers. Lexus person won't care too much about money, Sonata customer will compare to a Camry and if they can't afford the Camry, they'll settle for the Hyundai.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:14:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

If the ES destroys the Genesis in sales, what makes you think a Sonata with even less features will get any more consideration?

Genesis' worst nightmare is the new Sonata.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:15:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Hyundaismoke,
Not a major recall but somewhat serious. How these cars made it out of the factory is a mystery.
Hyundai/KIA faulty brake lights. 48,000 units
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90858/90863/6640921.html

How much does the extra valve cost that they left them off in the beginning? 250,000 units.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116396770.html

Faulty airbag sensor. 300,000 units.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSSEO19130020080415

This doesn't even include the recalls on crap transmissions.

Toyota has stumbled in recent years but Hyundai/KIA still isn't close to Toyota's reliability level.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:32:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

And we have a winner, the first Hyundai Genesis recall, ECM software not programmed properly.
http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=589

"reportedly, in several cases, a certain problem on ECM from Delphi caused the sudden stop of the car while driving in Korea"

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 6:36:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

While I like most aspects of this vehicle, unfortunately it will be sold through the Hyundai dealership network.

Lexus can't hurry fast enough back to the ES drawing boards.

— LuxuryFan (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 8:05:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Huu, Toyota/Lexus has had the most recalls out of any make lately.

Maybe its Toyota who cant reach Hyundai's superior reliablity level?

LuxuryFan, you have a point. Most Hyundai dealerships are well.... d@cks. They are better than they used to, but I have a feeling they might have to clean house and attract people from Cadillac, Lexus, Audi, BMW, Merc, Land Rover Dealers.

One of the 3 local dealers that sells Hyundais also sells Cadillacs, Land Rovers, and BMWs, on the same lot. Hyundai is pushing this dealer (Where I bought my Accent from) to hire some of these guys to work on the Hyundai side.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 9:53:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

There's another Dealer about 40 miles from my house that is superb. They should be the model of how every Hyundai dealer should operate.

They always wash and wax your car, they always do a free complimentary detail. They always get to the root of any problems. They are fast and attentive. The dealer has decent amenities so when youre waiting you wont even think about the service, etc... The delaer always has loaner cars, etc...

Its so good people that come from a 100 mile radius to get service done there.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 9:58:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hyundai cars are so simply built that you can do your own maintenace easy as well.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/20/2009 9:59:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Dealers and service still suck, even it they didn't build a POS people would leave after their first service. Lexus is NO 1 because of great products and service morons.

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 9/21/2009 12:38:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2