Hyundai now has variable valve timing technology and 2359cc DOHC ‘Theta’ engine came with the Mitsubishi. This CVVT unit will not be as composed as say the V-Tec engines of Honda, but it produces a healthy 161 bhp and 22.5 kgm of torque — figures that are better than that of the Accord 2.4. It is dissonantly silent at idle, but more throaty and metallic than V-Tec motors on the move. The front wheels spin in disbelief, and then hurl the car — which endures a bit of scuttle shake — to three-digit speeds well inside eight seconds.

 

The Sonata gives you an instant crash course in under steer before taking the direction dictated by the steering wheel. And that brings you down to earth. The earth is round, and front-wheel drive sedans don’t like too much torque too early in life. The steering could have been sharper, and given a chance to change one thing in the new Sonata.

 

Ride quality at almost all speeds is good and exceptionally so over rough roads. The ‘lifted’ suspension handles speed breakers easily, though the car still manages to look low-slung. At cruising speeds, the dynamics of the new Sonata can be termed as good as any car in its league. It gives Zero to 60 kph in 3.9 seconds. 100 kph in 7.9 seconds.

 

It has a power-monger of an engine and decent road manners. The new international styling of the car is a big hit back home in Korea and even in the United States. The new Sonata looks narrower than the older car, though that isn’t the case. And that could be a bit of a worry for Hyundai, since the Accord and Camry manage to fill up the driveway nicely. 

 

The interior fit and finish is unquestionably good, and even has a plasto-wood panel inspired by the S-Class Merc. The twin-tone dash is textured well but is not exactly ergonomically correct — the entertainment console on top of the aircon vents is the biggest culprit here. The ‘mercury rising’ theme of the dials and needles is a nice touch, but the designers lost the plot as they tried and illuminated it with bright colours.

 

The old Sonata is dead and the new Sonata is brilliant in many parts. It is comparable to the Accord in many ways and that in itself is a big compliment. And no, the overall build quality, finesse and refinement level is not yet comparable to that of the Camry. And unlike the small cars churned out by Hyundai in India, this D-segmenter will need a bit of help from the manufacturer when it comes to pricing.

Filed under: Hyundai Cars in India