Review and photos by Paul Williams
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Photo Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Sonata
Toronto, Ontario - Consumers and competitors took note a couple of years ago when the 2007 Hyundai Sonata was named Best New Family Car (under $35,000) by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
Not that Hyundai hadn't been winning its share of awards from other organizations, and not that they weren't deserved -- far from it -- but this was definitely a feather in the cap of the Korean maker. Best Family Car, after all; that's a tough league to play in.
2009 Hyundai Sonata V6 Limited. Click image to enlarge
The spotlight doesn't stay in one place for long, though, as consumers have a lot of choices in this segment. Honda's got an all-new Accord, Toyota's got a new Camry, Chevrolet has a surprisingly good Malibu, and after two years on the market, the Sonata gets a "mid-cycle" refresh for its 2009 model. Happily, it's enough to keep the Sonata on your list if you're shopping for a mid-size sedan.
For those living in parts of Canada where winters are severe (that's most of it, I guess...), "standard heated seats across the range" may be all they want to know about the '09 Sonata. But wait, as they say on TV, there is more.
Sonatas can be purchased in three trim levels: GL, Sport and Limited, with two engine options. Standard equipment includes USB/iPod auxiliary inputs that enable your device to be controlled through the car's audio system, XM satellite radio, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, six airbags including side-curtain airbags, power windows and locks, and air conditioning. Sonatas are well equipped, in other words, even in base trim.
2009 Hyundai Sonata GL four-cylinder. Click image to enlarge
Starting at $21,995, the 2009 GL model benefits from an upgraded version of its 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine (I4) with dual overhead camshafts and dual continuously variable valve timing (DCVVC). It makes 175 horsepower and 168 foot-pounds of torque. If you select the GL with automatic transmission ($23,395), you'll find it's now a five-speed, and that it achieves the same highway fuel consumption (6.2 L/100 km) as the manual (which is only available on the base GL), along with an exceedingly quiet highway ride.
You can also buy a Sonata GL with a Sport Package ($25,595). It has special seats with leather bolsters, a performance-oriented suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, performance all-season tires, a rear decklid spoiler, fog lights, sunroof and an automatic transmission.
Like the four-cylinder engine, the 3.3-litre V6 is also more powerful and more fuel efficient for 2009 (it, too, uses the DCVVC technology). Horsepower is up to 249 (an eight per cent increase) and combined city/highway fuel economy has improved by five per cent to 9.05 L/100 km. All Sonata V6 models receive standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control and brake assist.
The $27,795 GL V6 features cloth upholstery with 16-inch alloy wheels, dual chrome tipped exhaust, fog lights, solar control glass and power driver's seat.
For $29,995 the GL V6 with Sport Package features the same accoutrements as the four-cylinder equivalent (17-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, sport suspension), and adds dual chrome exhaust tips, solar glass and the power driver's seat.
2009 Hyundai Sonata GL four-cylinder. Click image to enlarge
If you prefer luxury to sportiness, the Limited V6 ($31,495) includes leather seating surfaces, Infinity premium audio system, an eight-way power driver's seat, power sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, auto dimming rearview mirror, woodgrain interior trim and chrome exterior accents, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Exterior changes on the Sonata line are several, including a revised grille and bumper at the front, complemented by a new headlamp and fog lamp treatment. At the rear, the lights lose their clear turn signals with amber bulbs in favour of an all-red lens.
And on the roof, the standard XM satellite radio antenna bears a striking resemblance to the type found on BMW models.
Interior changes are significant, with the all-new instrument cluster and centre stack. This is a fully modernized interior treatment that brings the Sonata into line with other Hyundai models like the Santa Fe and Azera. The interior has excellent head, leg and hip room, and its generous dimensions actually categorize the Sonata as a large car, according to U.S. EPA standards.
While the steering wheel in the base GL may feel a bit rubbery in your hands, and the upholstery in the door panels may seem a bit carpet-like to some, these are small criticisms when contrasted with the overall quality, standard equipment and expensive touches (like the hood strut and space-saving trunk hinges, heated seats) found on the Sonata. That said, we would like to have seen standard ESC on all Sonatas.
2009 Hyundai Sonata GL four-cylinder. Click image to enlarge
Notable is the performance of the 2.4-litre four with the new five-speed automatic transmission, which really has to be experienced if you're in the market for this type of vehicle. The four-cylinder engine/automatic transmission combination is fuel efficient, powerful and smooth in the city, and totally quiet on the highway. This is a most impressive combination, and while it may not stampede like the 249 horses of the V6, the I4 will be more than adequate for most drivers.
With its big trunk, big interior, big performance, and competitive pricing and fuel economy, the Alabama-built Sonata continues to be highly recommended.
2009 Hyundai Sonatas are making their way to showrooms now.
