The mid-range sedan segment is a real dogfight in our industry probably due to the fact that almost every established manufacturer has an offering for the market. It used to be the domain of the Japanese with almost zilch non-Japanese competitors that could muster a reasonable punch.
All that changed though when the Koreans decided to throw their hat into the ring for a full on brawl that has left the Japanese slightly reeling and trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.
Hyundai’s weapon of choice, the Sonata YF, may not pack the largest calibre bullets or the sharpest aim just yet, but as an overall weapon it has the Japanese firmly in its crosshair and they better drop their sushis and get back to the drawing board if they want to avoid drowning in kimchi.
When we first reviewed the Sonata 2-liter a while back, to say it left us nodding in approval was quite the understatement. Nonetheless, all cars feel the same in the first hour or so of driving them, not that it’s a bad thing because countless research papers have proved that first impressions count big. Only a thorough review can yield the proper experience of being behind the wheel of the car and allow the bugs to crawl to the surface, because as you all know, no car on earth is perfect.
The Sonata has plenty going for it in all departments, it’s a pretty thing to look at, comes with an excellent powertrain package and could give a magic carpet a run for its money on a really good day. But if there’s something that Star Wars has thought us, it’s that all good is balanced by an equal amount of the dark side.
Exterior wise, the Sonata ticks all the right boxes with its fluidic sculpture that almost looks as if water is constantly flowing around it. Blasphemy is what it was if the word ‘organic,’ let alone ‘emotional,’ was ever used to describe a car that wasn’t Italian and packing at least 500bhp behind the driver so applying it to something out of Korea that shares space with cars that ‘uncles’ dream of buying once they near retirement age could enrage quite a few.
But having taken in the Sonata, those words seem about right in painting a picture of its silhouette. The front is bold and strong yet it impasses a firm sense of emotional fortitude to you, something that only a lot of thought on the planning board could produce.
It strikes quite a sporty pose as well with the steep rake of the front and rear windscreens giving it that cutting-through-air look. Even the shoulder line sits pretty high to further emphasize the coupe-esque side profile although it does give the mid-wheelbase area a bulky look, something that larger wheels could fix.
The defining factor for the design though is the sharp character line that stretches from just behind the wheel arch all the way to the tail lights. It’s this one stroke of genius that turned the Sonata YF from handsome to gorgeous.
At the aft, the fluidity is just as good looking and blends together with the other lines to form a very striking rear. Furthermore, the rear is instantly recognisable with its ‘music note’ tail and high-mounted brake light. Don’t be fooled by the small boot lid too as it hides a cavernous boot capable of swallowing a few golf bags whole. The small boot impression is merely due to the coupe roofline that stretches more rearward for a better profile.
Even the small bits are penned to fit the design such as the side view mirrors that have sculpted lines to fit in with the grand design. They also come fitted with LED indicators as standard on all specs.
The inside and things are just as flowing and beautiful as the exterior. You’ll notice that the steering wheel and center console share a similar shape as they extend onwards. Blue back-lighting used to give out a tacky impression but boffins at Hyundai have somehow turned it into a work of art on the Sonata’s dashboard.
The thing that has really taken a turn for the better here is not just the design, that has also made strident leaps, but the quality of the plastics used on the interior. It no longer feels cheap to the touch or that it’ll be deformed after a couple of years in our weather.
Quality is of the highest order in here, but don’t go mistaking it as level on continental machines. Nonetheless, the soft-touch plastics are nice to the touch and blends well with the premium mid-size sedan target. Everything is feels good to twist, turn or press and even the layout is very ergonomic and easy to use. Again, small bits like the start-stop button throw in a sportier feel into the mix that is definitely comfort-biased.
The Sonata’s interior is on par if not ahead of its competitors. Not only is space at a premium, with more than ample legroom and space to stretch, it comes with a panoramic sunroof that adds another dimension to the interior. The sunroof just adds to the spaciousness of the interior. The rear gets air-conditioning vents as well and enough legroom for a small adult to sit on the floor with space to move around.
Audio wise, the head unit is the usual MP3, WMA capable with excellent sound quality. There's even an AUX input and USB connectivity for you to plug in your pendrives or MP3 players. Par for course is maintained with audio control buttons on the steering wheel.
Under the hood, the powertrain is another of its plus points that will give the competition a run for their money. The Theta II series of engines, in a 2-liter derivate on this unit, is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that is maintenance-free for the lifetime of the car. Not many, if not any, manufacturer in this segment can offer that.
Delving into details, the engine is an al-aluminium lump featuring dual-CVVT and a variable induction system to further optimize performance and fuel consumption. It is indeed a very impressive list of specs for the engine and allows it to meet Euro 4 requirements. Power figures stand at 163hp and 198Nm of torque.
Sending all that power to the front wheels is the aforementioned six-speed auto that is maintenance-free for the life of the vehicle. The transmission is a very smooth unit and almost seamless in shifts. It does come with a gated-style shifter in the cabin and can be used in manual mode.
On the road, the Sonata shows that it does have the go to match its show. It offers a fine balance between its primary competitors, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. The ride is as more plush than an Accord and it tackles the bends that much better than a Camry.
Cruising on the highway or just spinning about the city, the undulations of the roads are absorbed with a solid yet well buffed thud and nary a jarring feeling in the cabin. On the other hand, it takes to turns decently as well and feels almost neutral through a corner with a slight hint of understeer. Push it that much more and the tyre noise is alarm enough to ease off but if you don’t the VSA will promptly kick in and save your derriere.
One shortcoming though is the power, or more precisely lack of it, at the top end. While 80 per cent of the engine’s torque is available from just under 2,000rpm, the variable air intake and straighter intake manifold still leave it just a pinch breathless at the upper revs. Take that statement with a pinch of salt though as us motoring journos are harsh when it comes to things like power.
Cruising on the highway is akin to gliding over the road but overtaking at those speeds can leave you a tad bit annoyed. Of course downshifting is a must but even then, it takes more than few blinks of the eye for the car to actually get going and push forward.
Furthermore, steering feedback is lacking slightly although the uncles buying it wouldn’t really mind that much.
Just to touch on that part of the dark side of the force balancing the good side mentioned earlier on, they’re aren’t things that weigh heavily in the grand scheme but should be taken into consideration as well. For instance, the body lines are fine to look at and border spankable but will your wallet feel the pleasure if there’s a fender bender and the lines have been affected?
Hyundai themselves mentioned that the best way to get the character line back to perfect in the event of an accident is to replace the whole door, or doors if it involves the front and rear doors. Furthermore, while the engine packs some fine tech in it, it’s still a feather short of the refinement that the Camry’s lump offers.
As a car that has to carry its weight against the likes of the Camry, Accord and Mazda6 with the Kia Optima coming soon as well, the Sonata is more than capable of handling itself. Not only can it stand up against the others but can even outperform them on certain occasions.
It has plenty going for it with the beautiful looks and impressive powertrain package but what gives it that defining edge is that the Sonata is the best value-for-money buy in its segment. That is a very heavy statement to make, taking into consideration its peers, but many of the Japanese offerings withhold the goodies for the premium spec in the range while the Sonata is generous with almost everything bar the sunroof (high spec model) and engine.
At RM143,888.00 (OTR w/insurance) the Sonata 2-liter high spec is the best bang for the buck in its class, so if you’re thinking of getting a D-segment car make sure you get a taste of this kimchi before signing the cheque.
