No question about it, this car is going to be a major hit for Hyundai…..the new Sonata is absolutely STUNNING!

This feels like the Toyota of 15 years ago . . . they’ve really hit their stride. I really hope Ford keeps their game up.

So basically it’s a poor man’s Passat CC, which is itself the very poor man’s Mercedes CLS. Nice.

Good looking car with a very reasonable price tag. Will still be built in Alabama. Quality will still be quite good (well, maybe first year there will be some quirks, which will be worked out reasonably quickly….TOYOTA!!!)

The Limited also removes the SE’s sport suspension, sadly (per Hyundai press release). Slated for summer of fall is a 4 cyl turbo version predicted at 275hp and Hyundai claims it will get 23/35 mpg. Total game changer.

This car has a hell of a lot of promise and I’ve read all over that it looks tighter in real life than in pics (where it’s kinda fleshy), and that the front end comes off way better in person. I’ll wait and see. Otherwise, this thing is larger inside than the new Taurus but in a smaller package, and with awesome mileage in a stand-out package in the segment at one helluva price. This thing’s gonna sell like Fritos on a fatfarm.

Somehow 2 dimensional pictures do not appeal to me, perhaps in the flesh it is better looking. But I realize a great bargain here: you have 6 of them for the price of 1 Alpina.

One other thing – the curb weight on the GLS is around 3150lbs and for the Limited is something like 3370. This is around 15% lighter than the competition, so the 200 ponies will be a lot more pronounced. when you throw in the turbo its about 12 lbs per pony – not bad.

Front looks like a Solara.

Hyundai Lineup Prices to make more clearer:
Model
Engine
Transmission
MSRP

GLS
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed M/T
$19,195

GLS
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$20,195

GLS with Pop. Equip. Pkg.
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$20,945

GLS with Pop. Equip. Pkg. + Navi.
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$22,645

SE
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$22,595

SE with Navi. & Sunroof Package
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$25,195

Limited
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$25,295

Limited with Navi. Pkg.
2.4-liter GDI I4
Six-Speed A/T
$27,395

This new Sonata is a game changer, gotta put this one on my list as well. Can you say, the new Camry of this decade and decades to come?

But only one small tiny problem, I wish it had a more aggressive stance that the sketch had before it was unwrapped. Maybe wider fenders and tires. (with that said I mind as well get the Gen coupe huh?)

“This feels like the toyota of 15 years ago… they’ve really hit their stride”

Sounds like if I trade in my 1996 Camry (14 year old Toyota) for a 2011 Sonata, I’ll be winning the marathon?

It’s my gameplan regardless. Just gotta save up the rest of the $25,295 I need to buy the limited (or perhaps SE). Which reminds me, I gotta do my taxes.

I took a very extensive look at the one in the autoshow in St. Louis and I will say it’s impressive. More so than I would have thought too – the interior of the loaded one wasn’t missing a thing. I wish it had used less chrome and glossy materials, but the outside too looked like it was put together well.

This could be a very interesting year in this segment. No way in hell can I see the Camry retaining top spot for obvious reasons. I’d give it to the Accord by default with the Fusion running a close second, but the Sonata could and should surprise a lot of people.

Good stat about the weight Smegley. And you’re right, if there’s a turbo version it could be the sleeper of the decade.

As recently as a year ago, or even less, most of you were bashing Hyundai left and right.

I love the side and back of this car. It’s so well designed to say it’s competing with such boring cars.

howsmydriving

Its natural, When Honda cars first came out, don’t you think that everyone and GM was laughing at them because here’s a lawn mower company trying to make cars? Now look at Honda

I saw the new Sonata at the L.A. car show and thought it Sonata might have been the surprise hit of the show. The public’s approval of the car was overwhelming. I saw people walk up to the car just to touch it, a sure sign that the design is on the mark. It’s roomy inside and the back seat will surprise, I’m nearly 6′ and I was fine with the leg room and head room plus there’s a good sized trunk. The proof of course is in the driving but it seems to me that they surely have a big hit on their hands. It’s hard to go wrong with better mileage and room than the competitors. It almost convinces you it’s a Lexus but the interior is closer to Camry and Accord standards.

The front end is fugly, but keep up the good work Hyundai.

Overall not bad for Hyundai. Some opinions: I can’t get past the line between the hood and the fenders. I know something had to be done to break up the thickness there, but it looks a little too bold if not unfinished. Second, maybe it’s the lighting, but the hood and grille look like the result of a 5 mph crash test. I see what the design intends, but at first glance, it appears crumpled. While I don’t know the feel of the interior materials, etc., the interior doesn’t really look all that competitive with the offerings of Accord, Camry, Fusion, or definitely the CC. The rest of the car looks great, especially the roof line and the rear.
This is not your father’s Scoupe.

“the Sonata is a fresh design that takes some cues from the Subaru Legacy”

WHAT??? How could it be fresh then? Especially if the Legacy is anything BUT a fresh design.
Auto writers really need to stick to the facts and leave the commentary out.

I could see the CC though.

Outstanding looking auto. I have a couple friends that own sonata’s. They love their cars, and never had an issue. One has almost 190k miles on it, not one issue besides maintance.

I like the CC look of this car, without the super low back seat height as in the vw.

dr.fillwithcrap will be driving and selling hyundai’s next 5 years. hahaha

there has been a lot of hyundai bashing here, but mostly by the mouth-breathing types that haven’t had an intelligent thought in a year or more…

is the accord really a shoe-in for topping the chart this year? i’m a honda guy, but i see this thing and the fusion as very stiff competition this year…given the roll that hyundai is on, anything is possible…

Lefty, this car did not enter showroom. Granted majority of Hyundai drivers are not looking for handling, road feel, steering balance, etc. but that has been Accord owners pet peeve. So perhaps folks will jump from Camry to Sonata, but to reach a bit more sophisticated driver the car has to have something besides powerful motor and good mileage. And we all can’t judge that of Sonata today. Sonata maybe even better then Accord, but until I driver it, I will not pass the judgement.

Am I the only one who thinks this thing looks hideous?

The front is an overwrought mess. Looks like a child designed it. The side view with the accent line that flows thru the door handles and ends up nowhere is laughable. They even added a piece of chrome that goes from the side mirrors into the headlights. If a domestic automaker tried that, they’d be laughed out of town. The rear of the car is ok, but nothing special.

I’m ashamed to hear this thing was designed in the US…

No V6 anymore? No thanks, I’ll roll over you with a 265HP Mazda6. AT least that car isn’t trying to copy the lame ass grille of a Camry.

Sprockkets
This Hyundai Sonata takes liking to the Genesis concept grille back in 2007 I believe, the Camry that’s out now, was recently changed. I don’t think they are trying to copy Toyota.

Also ( now correct me if I’m wrong) I believe this Sonata is getting a Turbo as well, so thats a plus.

The Malibu still looks better, IMO

Possibly, but even so, the grille in question is just been widely expanded from the previous model.

If anything, like already mentioned, it looks more like a Solara with those headlamps and the lines on the hood.

That is a very, very serious contender and a Camry-beater even without Toyota’s current difficulties. Excellent execution, Hyundai.

This will not be the game-changer you all are talking about, and I’ll tell you why:

No V-6

Most people will look at this and wonder why they can’t get a V-6. I see why they don’t have a 6, only about 15% of Sonata’s were sold with 6 cylinders last year. But considering sales of other mid-sized and full sized sedans, most of them have about a 60% take on 6 cylinders…

Honda Accord will take first spot, with Fusion either slightly behind the Accord, or immediately behind the Camry in terms of sales.

Re: the V-6… the bread-and-butter family sedan market is shifting towards fours. It’s a gamble by Hyundai but in my view a good one. More people are opting for fours.

This is going to be a promising hit for Hyundai. The Genesis worked up an appetite for the consumer market and now this will capture the rest of the leery buyers. Good job

I just test drove a Limited 2011 Sonata. It seriously felt like a ES350. I was very impressed with quality of materials, and design. It was lacking the v6 torque of the es350. But, it did have some pep. Toyodaa has more then sudden acceleration to deal with, regarding the new Sonata If hyundai had the supply and dealer network, they would blow the pants off the camry. .

I’m not bashing Hyun at all, I just don’t like the looks of the front end.

I’m sure it will be a hit, as they have been deserving the sales and attention.

NEW KIA SPORTAGE!!!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/S2jitlR1wEI/AAAAAAACd4c/VdFoY0Uy0WM/s1600-h/2011-Kia-Sportage-2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/S2jityjA-uI/AAAAAAACd4k/Y3ZMvqwL9jc/s1600-h/2011-Kia-Sportage-1.jpg

I’m really glad to hear that Hyundai is going to offer the Sonata in a manual trans. I hope when the turbo edition comes out, they will place it in the M/T, I’d consider trading in my Speed3.

Your Comment

no v6 is not a problem, low take rate was very low on the previous gen, especially last few years. and given the trends of EPA requirements and gas prices the flow is going to the 4. Also modern 4s are as powerful as V6s just a few short years ago (remember the 200hp V6 being a big deal?)….so there is absolutely nothing wrong with not having a 6 in the lineup. Hell, in the CUV market the CR-V doesn’t offer a 6 and is the next best seller after the Rav-4 (which does, but take rate can’t be more than 50%), and the Rogue is selling quite alright for nissan with only a 175hp I4 + CVT as the only engine/tranny choice.

I would also imagine not giving people a choice will do 2 things:
reduce development and manufacturing costs (b/c you only need to design / plan for 1 version)
increase reliability (b/c you have a much more limited set of parts to worry about)

Hey people the reason Hyundai isn’t offering a V6 for this is because they do not want to eat away at the sales of the Azera and Genesis as both offer a V6. In turn the Sonata gets the better alternative: A light weight, fuel efficient and V6 surpassing turbo 2.0 DI I4 that will have the best in class fuel efficiency and a rumored 275 hp. That my friends will be game changing.

I say the Accord is still the best, with the Fusion and this new Sonata tied for second.

I just test drove and then BOUGHT a 2011 Sonata gls with a popular equip pkg… I absolutly love it!!! For the v6 naysayers i was in the same boat when i was told it was no longer available since i was trading in a 2006 sonata with a v6.. But let me tell you with a 6spd automatic and 200hp and 180ft/tq+ this thing moves out!!!! And i was told they did away with the v6 because as mentioned it was NOT a great seller and also by deleting it from the line up it upped over all mpg average for the entire line up… Oh and as for size i cannot believe the room in here!!!! If i put the passenger seat all the way back my feet do not even touch the front of the vehicle under the dash I FEEL LIKE A LITTLE KID AGAIN with my feet swinging oh yea and IM 6′1″ !!!!!