Stylish Hyundai Sonata Emphasizes Safety, Technology
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is an important car for the Korean automaker. Fortunately, a recent test drive shows that the company is heading in the right direction with its popular midsize sedan.
When the last generation Sonata was introduced as a 2011 model, it was white hot. It accumulated lots of awards and was the first Hyundai to crack 200,000 in annual sales. Hyundai could have gone the safe route and simply tweaked the design of the 2015 model.
Instead, the new Sonata wisely incorporates successful elements of its predecessor, such as the chrome trim that wraps from the C-pillar in the rear through to the headlights. It’s a signature touch unique to the Sonata. As Chris Chapman, chief designer of the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, Calif., explained over dinner at the New York Auto Show, Hyundai didn’t want to blow up the design of the previous car and start from scratch because the Sonata has acquired what he called “brand equity.’’
Chapman also said Hyundai was hoping to achieve a design that suggests dignity, respect, and confidence. Borrowing a page from the Subaru playbook, Hyundai is evolving its designs so you still know the Sonata is a Hyundai but it is also distinct.
The turbo version is stunning with four chrome-tip exhaust ports. They are another element that is unique to the North American market. There are also subtle tweaks to the front fascia as well.
Call this a weird thing to observe but the Sonata also knocks it out of the ballpark with its rear design. The trunk is substantial thanks to a high design and its curves give it a mature look, suggesting a sedan worthy of its German counterparts a class above.
The Sonata is competing against the likes of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, and Nissan Altima. It handles the competition with ease. It drives as well as any of those vehicles (and better than maybe all save the Altima, which is its peer).
The 2015 Sonata SE, Sport, and Limited models are powered by a revised 2.4-liter Theta II GDI four-cylinder engine that makes 185 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque. New for 2015 is an Electronic Intake Continuously Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT) system that improves performance in low temperatures and reduces emissions.
A revised 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged with gasoline direct injection (GDI), also featuring E-CVVT, powers Sonata Sport 2.0T models. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is optimized for lower-rpm drivability and it produces 245 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque. The twin-scroll turbocharger features a smaller turbine and compressor wheels, which provide better responsiveness and more torque in the low and mid-rpm range. It also has barely noticeable turbo lag.
It’s going to be a personal choice if you want the Sport 2.0T, the 1.6-liter turbo Eco model, or the normally aspirated Sonata. I’d buy the 2.0T simply for the stunning Urban Sunset orange. But it also has leather seats with sports bolsters, a D-cut steering wheel with paddle shifters, aluminum pedals, and a unique gear shift lever.
You’re going to get the best fuel economy from the Eco model, which is rated at 28 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. The 2.4-liter model is rated at 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the 2.0T getting 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The EPA (which sets the fuel economy rankings) classifies the Sonata as a full-size sedan but it still gets midsize pricing.
The 2015 Sonata comes standard with seven airbags, including a new driver’s knee airbag designed to help prevent the driver from sliding down the seat in a collision, which allows the other restraint systems to be more effective. Hyundai engineers also implemented many active safety technologies for the 2015 Sonata to assist drivers and help prevent accidents. No longer reserved for luxury cars, advanced safety technologies such as forward collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and a lane departure warning system are all available in this mid-size sedan.
Pricing of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata ranges from $21,150 for the SE to $33,525 for the Sport 2.0T, plus $810 destination charge.
The midsize segment in the US continues to be the best currently when it comes to the sweet spot of value, design and performance. Hyundai with its new Sonata has put itself firmly at the top of the segment for consideration.
2015 Hyundai Sonata
THE BASICS
Price, base (with destination): $22,000. Fuel economy: 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway. Drivetrain: 2.4-liter, inline four cylinder. Body: Four-door midsize sedan.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 185 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm. Torque: 178 lb.-ft. @ 4,000 rpm. Overall length: 191.1 in. Wheelbase: 110.4 in. Height: 58.1 in. Width: 73.4 in. Curb weight: 3,252 lbs.
THE GOOD
A new design that has tempered the distinctive looks, improved safety features, and good onboard electronics.
THE BAD
Some would say the safer new design is a negative; a six-speed automatic transmission should be replaced by the seven-speed in the 1.6-liter model; and the Urban Sunset color is only available on the 2.0T Sport model.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata delivers class-leading levels of performance, interior space, and safety that make it stand out in the midsize segment, even though it’s technically classified as a full-size sedan.
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