Seat Time is a chance for us to share our impressions of vehicles being tested in the Autoline Garage and at media previews from around the globe.
Reviewer: Sean McElroy
Manufacturer: Hyundai-Kia
Make: Hyundai
Model: Sonata 2.0T
Type: 4-door sedan
Competitors: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu, Volkswagen Passat
Price: Base: $25,750. As tested: $29,555 (including destination charges)
Made in: Montgomery, Alabama
Drivetrain: 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder 274hp w/ 6-speed automatic transmission
EPA Ratings: 21 city/ 32 highway/ 25 combined. Observed 22.1 MPG
Final Impression:
I’m not in the market for a new car, but if I were this would be the segment that I’d be looking at. So I thought it would be interesting to see how the Sonata fit my needs.
There was plenty of room for me, my wife, daughter in a car seat and dog. Back seat leg room is ample for an adult and so is trunk space. Ample trunk space for your stuff that is, not ample space for an adult. But I’m sure you could fit someone in there if you really wanted to. One drawback was that it was difficult trying to find a comfortable seating position in the driver’s seat. I’m a tall guy with long legs and while the seat went back far enough, the telescoping steering wheel did not come out as far as I would have liked so I was forced to sit closer, which I have found to be a common occurrence. Even still, the seats themselves were comfortable. As for the rest of the interior, it’s not the best looking in the segment but still looks pretty nice and the controls were easy to reach.
Driving the Sonata, even on some terrible Michigan roads was not too bad. Again, not best in the segment but was not overly harsh on bumpy roads and handled corners well. What really shown on this car is its powertrain. During normal driving conditions the car acts the way you would expect, smooth with crisp shifts. But when you put your foot down on the accelerator the turbocharged engine really comes alive. I mean I was really surprised. Although if I were the one buying the car I would most likely opt for the base engine. It was nice having all that power but it did not seem necessary for everyday driving. Not to mention that I like to think of things like cost of ownership and a turbocharged engine is more complex so it could cost more over the life of the vehicle. But if you’re not keeping it that long the turbocharged engine is the way to go. I would like to note that the 22.1MPG that I observed was mainly city driving, so that should explain the low number.
The new 2015 model is coming out soon, which I think it looks better inside and out, has more interior technology, the suspension has been upgraded and it uses the same powertrains as the 2014 model. So while this car is a good overall car, I think if you’re in the market for a Sonata it may be a good idea to wait for the new model.
John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.
