Hyundai Sonata CRDi SLX and Elite

Not so much
>> Some build quality and NVH issues
>> No reach adjustment for steering
>> Boot lid lacks a strap or handgrip

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0

OVERVIEW
It tends to be forgotten, but Sonata is now Hyundai's oldest nameplate in Australia. Introduced locally just three years after the original Excel hit Aussie roads, the original Sonata was very much a product of Hyundai's dependence on Mitsubishi for design and engineering.

Through successive generations, the midsize Hyundai has improved. Indeed, the most recent model, introduced for 2005, represented a marked gain in vehicle dynamics. With styling rather reminiscent of certain higher-priced Japanese and European models, it has been an enduring -- albeit slightly workmanlike -- stalwart of the Hyundai range.

This year's facelifted model brings with it a new diesel powerplant, effectively replacing the V6 engine of the superseded model. In addition, the facelifted Sonata benefits from revised suspension settings that are specific to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Hyundai has also enhanced safety with added reinforcement and the cosmetic upgrade, subtle as it is, draws parallels with the Sonata's big brother, the Grandeur.

The new car, despite the apparent minimalism of the upgrade, packs in core engineering features (safety especially) and -- in the case of the entry-level petrol model -- a revised engine with continuously variable valve timing and better power and torque.

So despite the hefty price increase, the Sonata still represents pretty good value. Try finding a diesel midsize car with this much equipment anywhere else for a price so close to $30,000.

Prices for the range are as follows:
Sonata SLX 2.4 petrol five-speed manual $27,990
Sonata SLX 2.4 petrol five-speed auto $29,990
Sonata SLX 2.0 CRDi six-speed manual $30,490
Sonata SLX 2.0 CRDi four-speed auto $32,490
Sonata Elite 2.4 petrol five-speed auto $34,490
Sonata Elite 2.0 CRDi four-speed auto $36,990

The SLX rides on 16-inch steel wheels with covers. Standard features include air conditioning with pollen filter, electric windows/mirrors, remote keyless entry (with alarm), cloth seat facings and a full complement of safety equipment including stability control and curtain airbags.

Other SLX equipment includes: cruise control, an input jack and USB port for the MP3-compatible CD audio system, remote audio controls on the steering wheel, reach and rake-adjustable steering column, two cupholders in the centre console, two more in the rear-seat centre armrest, 12-Volt auxiliary power outlet in both centre console and boot and a 60/40-ratio splitfold rear seat.

Over the SLX grade, the Elite is fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, leather trim and chrome-finish door handles.

MECHANICAL
Both the revised 2.4-litre petrol engine and the new 2.0-litre turbodiesel are four-cylinder units, driving to the front wheels. The default transmission for the diesel is a six-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic option, whereas the petrol engine is matched with a standard five-speed manual and the optional automatic is also a five-speeder.

The 2.4-litre DOHC petrol engine is coded 'Theta II' in the upgraded Sonata and has been reworked for the new range with dual continuous variable valve timing (previously inlet cam only) and a variable induction system.

As a consequence, Hyundai claims a power gain for the revised powerplant (now 127kW at 6000rpm) and a new torque figure of 225Nm at 4000rpm. Combined cycle fuel consumption figures are 8.0L/100km for the manual and 8.4L/100km for the automatic.

The diesel is a SOHC engine (but with four valves per cylinder), featuring common-rail induction and a variable geometry turbocharger. Peak power of 110kW occurs at 3800rpm and the engine produces 305Nm of torque between 1800 and 2500rpm.

Combined cycle fuel consumption figures for the Sonata CRDi (diesel) are 6.0L/100km with the six-speed manual or 7.0L/100km with the four-speed automatic.

Double wishbone suspension at the front is complemented by a multi-link IRS system. This set-up has been recalibrated for the Australian environment and, as part of the same program, Hyundai engineers have also reduced the number of turns, lock-to-lock, for the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering from 3.3 to 3.0.

All variants of Sonata are braked by ventilated rotors at the front, measuring 280mm diameter for the petrol models or 300mm for the diesels. At the rear, solid rotors measure 262mm for the petrol models or 284mm for the diesels.

Kerb weights range from 1530kg (2.4 manual) to 1711kg (diesel auto), with a GVM of 2030kg for all petrol Sonata variants or 2150kg for the diesels.

PACKAGING
In a world of large-car wannabes in the medium segment (hang your heads in shame, Accord, Camry, Mondeo and '6'), the Sonata remains resolutely midsized -- which is not to say that Hyundai might not be party to a larger Sonata down the track.

However, the Grandeur is large enough and a Sonata that approaches that car in size is likely to take sales from its sibling rather than generate more sales across the range.

So in the here and now, packaging is not going to compare ultimately with the cars already mentioned, but the Sonata still offers plenty of headroom in both front and rear.

There's also lazyboy-loads of leg and knee room in the rear, just not as much as some of the larger mid-size cars. And returning to the Sonata's middle-ground packaging, the rear-seat width won't comfortably fit three adults either.

The boot was fully lined and extended forward a long way, but proved a bit shallow, which could be attributable to the Sonata coming with a full-size spare. There was no strap or recess in the boot to pull the lid down, but the lid closes with space-saving struts in lieu of hinges.

SAFETY
For the upgraded Sonata, the front end and dashboard have been reinforced with two-way box-sections and upper tunnels. Hyundai has strengthened the cowl and the join area between cowl and A-pillars. Further safety gains stem from the use of single-pressing body side inner panels and reinforcement for the roof corners and the rear shelf.

Active head rests fitted as standard on all models reduce the prospects of whiplash and active safety features include four-channel ABS, EBD, traction control and ESP to avoid the collision in the first instance.

Driver and front passenger front, driver and front passenger side and outboard side curtain airbags are fitted standard across the 2009 Sonata range.

The Sonata scores four stars in EuroNCAP testing.

Whilst not a safety feature per se, HALO (Hyundai Active Locking Operation) is a new security feature which locks the doors automatically once the car is on the move and automatically unlocks the doors when the key is removed from the ignition. The system, which reduces the likelihood of car-jacking, also incorporates manual unlocking, deadlocking, immobiliser, keyless entry and alarm.

COMPETITORS
If one were to dissect the medium car segment and separate the larger models mentioned previously in this review, that would leave Holden Epica, Honda Accord Euro, Sonata platform twin Kia Magentis -- and possibly the Skoda Octavia.

The Accord is probably just that much more expensive than the Sonata that it's a bit of a stretch. The Magentis meantime is a good car, but at present something of an orphan until Kia can find some way of raising the car's profile in the market.

Unlike the Sonata, it doesn't offer a diesel alternative, so Hyundai has the advantage and the Sonata has probably crawled ahead with the latest changes.

Holden has announced a diesel version of the Epica and we expect that to join the market within a month or two, but unless the Epica undergoes a much needed infusion of charisma at the same time, the Sonata remains ahead on points.

The Octavia, if anybody thinks to cross-shop it, is the danger for the Sonata. Its packaging is hard to beat and it's more compact externally. With a strong-performing diesel and European-style vehicle dynamics, it's a lot of car for the money.

Some buyers might consider the Sonata as a value alternative to larger small cars (especially diesels). There's only about a thousand bucks' difference between some of the more expensive European small cars with diesel engines and the significantly larger Sonata.

Sonata might lose sales to the Citroen C4, Ford Focus, Holden Astra, Mazda3 diesel (Okay, not a Euro as such, but with similar cachet), Peugeot 308, Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf, but it might just as likely pick up sales from people who are less concerned with brand image.

ON THE ROAD
The Sonata proved a pleasant surprise in a lot of ways. Being told that the suspension had been recalibrated for the Australian environment didn't perhaps prepare us for how well the car rode over broken bitumen. It's tending more towards ride comfort than European levels of handling, but that's where typical Sonata buyers will want the car to be headed.

And it has to be said, considering the Sonata's combination of very well isolated suspension and properly controlled ride, the car also handled reasonably well for a midsized family car.

The steering too, was light but offered improved feel over the old model. Response was undeniably what one might call a strong second-tier result, with Mondeo and Mazda6 being in the first tier for medium segment cars.

Our exposure to the Sonata was limited to just 20km of driving -- not a lot by which to judge a car. The drive program was cut short due to flights delayed by fog, so what can be said about the diesel manual Sonata SLX (the only one the Carsales Network was privy to drive), is that it may be hindered by a slight gap in the gears, but the engine is a strong performer -- albeit noisy at idle, settling down once on the move.

The manual transmission shift was notchy, but light and easy to use. We didn't get to try the diesel model with the four-speed automatic, but expect the engine would have enough torque to leave the 'lack' of a ratio unmissed. Unlike some diesels around at the moment, the Hyundai unit slows in the rev range from 4000 to 4500rpm, encouraging drivers to change up at around 4000rpm (which will provide faster acceleration in the higher gear.

From within the car, there were some creaks and vibrations from loose interior fixtures, including a rattle from a light metal piece in the front passenger door and a persistent minor vibration from within the dash, around the centre console vents. Most plastic panels appeared to fit together well, with the exception of lids in the centre fascia for storage bin and ashtray.

Wind noise was more apparent than road noise at 110km/h.

The seats were comfortable and grippy, by the standards of the medium segment median. It seemed like the cloth trim for the door mouldings had been stretched to fit, with a strangely non-parallel fabric repeat, but it was actually designed, rather than made, that way. Guess, it's one way to hide in plain sight any potential quality issues...

The dash layout was attractive, uncluttered and functional. There were no problems with instrument legibility, which was just as well, since the steering is only adjustable for rake, not reach. Still, from this tester's point of view, the driving position in the Sonata was more comfortable, even without the reach adjustment, than some cars offering that flexibility.

Features that added appeal were the extending sunvisors and the iPod connection in centre armrest.

In conclusion, the Sonata is one of those cars that, with the benefit of the diesel engine's frugality and the ease of use for the manual transmission, will appeal to more conservative buyers on a budget. As a bonus, it's well specified for the money and has a lot to offer the right sort of customer.

To comment on this article click here