Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Nu Test Drive Review
When the Hyundai Sonata was first launched in 2010, we were absolutely blown away by what we saw. The emphasis in that sentence is on the word ‘saw’ because as it turned out, the Sonata wasn’t exactly a delight to drive. It had the style, equipment, and value to bloody Japanese noses, but once on the road, its argument fell flat – its engines were uninspiring, and dynamics unengaging.
We stopped short of labeling the Sonata disappointing partly because of the tremendous progress made from its predecessor, and also because other aspects of its package were rather strong. The Sonata is a beautiful car to look at and it is so overflowing with equipment that it makes the equipment lists of Japan’s best looking no better than a Proton Saga’s.
Despite its flaws, the value part of the Sonata’s preposition is difficult to ignore, and its stylish looks alone has certainly helped secure a few signatures on Hyundai’s order books. Still, the room for improvement is there, and Hyundai has dutifully brought us a facelifted and improved Sonata to renew its D-segment assault in 2013.
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Prices & Variants
The Sonata continues to be available with a choice of 2.0 and 2.4-litre engines, the latter of which we will cover in a separate review in the future. We will be looking at the 2.0-litre model today, which is offered with a choice of four variants priced from RM137,888 to RM151,888 with insurance.
Our test car, being a Sport-trimmed variant, resides at the top end of that spectrum, but our recommendation is that the cheaper Executive or Executive Plus variants (RM145,888 – RM149,388) will suffice for most needs – the extra money you pay for the Sport variant goes primarily for its body kit which you don’t really need, to be honest. Those constrained by a tight budget are unlikely to feel shortchanged by the entry level Elegance model.
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| Sport bodykit adds visual weight to the Sonata, and makes it look bulky. Not recommended. |
Specifications
Beyond its cosmetic nip/tuck which we will explore in greater detail shortly, 2.0-litre versions of the Sonata have been refitted with an all-new engine from the Nu family. Power and torque are both lower than the outgoing Theta II, 161hp/194Nm vs 165hp/198Nm, a deficit which Hyundai seeks to offset by shaving 30kg from the engine’s weight, although the quoted fuel consumption improvement of 1% is frankly unremarkable. The in-house developed 6-speed automatic transmission is retained, but its interface switched from a gated lever to a button-locked inline gear shift.
All variants come standard with auto headlights, leather seats, tilt and telescopic steering, keyless entry, push-start button, steering-mounted controls, rear air-con vents, ABS, EBD, and dual airbags. The Executive model gains a panoramic sunroof, electric driver’s seat, and more crucially, stability control. The RM3,500 leap to Executive Plus adds a multimedia touchscreen entertainment system with GPS navigation and reverse camera. Equipment-wise, this really is as far as you need to go.
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| Ergonomics of controls are improved. Now easier and more intuitive to operate. |
Design
Hyundai did not effect any changes to the Sonata’s ‘fluidic sculpted’ sheet metal, making only minor tweaks to what has been a hugely successful styling exercise. The new LED tail light cluster is the most noticeable difference along with the new multi-spoke alloy wheels, whilst sharp-eyed observers will spot the subtly inserted matte grey finish on the front grille louvres. The side mirrors are usefully enlarged, giving rear visibility a welcomed boost.
As we pointed out earlier, our Sport-trimmed test car is clad with an aggressive-looking all-round body kit. Its role is purely aesthetic, however, as only two out of the four pipes that extend out of its posterior are actually functional. One pipe flows out from the muffler, and it is split at the tip to form the two pipes on the right. The two pipes on the left is actually one long pipe bent into a U shape.
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| The two pipes on the left are fake. |
Interior
As it has done with the exterior, Hyundai made only minor tweaks to the Sonata’s cabin. Overall architecture of the cabin has been retained, but Hyundai has revised the centre console control scheme with a new switchgear layout that is decidedly more intuitive. The landscape is now dominated by the central touchscreen with operation of climate control compressed into three dials.
Hanging conspicuously from behind the rear view mirror is the Korea-sourced locally-installed Lukas black box that keeps a continuous recording of the view ahead, thus providing a visual evidence to aid accident settlement disputes. The unit has an notably aftermarket appearance, which is unavoidable as it is added at the initiative of HSDM rather than Hyundai Motor Corp. Considering its potential usefulness and that no other car in the market currently offers this facility, we have more reasons to be thankful than to complain here.
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| Lukas Black Box is locally fitted by HSDM. |
Driving Impressions
With a new mill spinning under the hood, the first question we inevitably ask of the new Sonata revolves around the performance of its brand spanking new engine. It starts off well enough with strong take off and a convincing mid-range, but as you clock the miles, it becomes clear that this engine, like its predecessor, does not enjoy being worked hard.
Pleasant and refined under low revs and part throttle load, the veneer of civility is completely stripped away when you bury the accelerator. The all-aluminium unit is strained and trashy when coaxed hard, and not helping matters are the slow and hesitant shifts of Hyundai’s in-house 6-speed slush box. The best means to attain brisk progress with the Sonata is to gently ease it to speed. This is not a car which you can force the issue with.
Dynamics have been noticeably improved, with chassis composure clearly bumped up a notch. The differences are particularly noticeable at low speeds, where the ride over pavements and poor surfaces seem less busy than before. It is not what you would call a sporting setup, but Hyundai deserves credit for sensibly focusing its attention on improving comfort, thereby making the Sonata much more pleasant a vehicle to perform the urban commute in. The Ford Mondeo and Honda Accord remain better options for a grin-inducing B-road blast.
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| Transmission selector lever is now button-locked rather than gated. |
Verdict
Though far from being the best car in its segment to drive, the Sonata is a compelling option on the grounds of its sophisticated style, generous equipment, and unbeatable value. Hyundai clearly took a few of the criticisms that were leveled at the Sonata to heart and improvements that were made in this facelift, although minor, are clear to see.
The new 2013 Sonata builds on the strengths that were inherent to the original product and also addressed some its flaws, though not all of it convincingly. There is still work to be done to further improve its driving experience, which is the only thing lacking in an otherwise complete and competitive package.
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