Hyundai Sonata 2001 test drive - 2004 sedan

Korean Sonata in a new performance

Hyundai family sedan changes the image
At the end of summer, official sales of a new, fifth generation of Hyundai Sonata cars began in Russia. Unlike its predecessors, a new model is positioned in the market as a business class sedan. Attempts to break into a higher level segment have recently been taking many automotivemen recently. For example, the Volkswagen concern promotes the Passat model in a business class, and Ford is a new Mondeo. The success formula is simple: cars are added in size, a list of basic equipment is expanding, and new options are added. In principle, the Korean company went along the same way with the only difference being that the developers of the new sonata managed to create a car that embodied the features of the most prestigious brands. Moreover, this is not only about appearance.
A careful study of the exterior of Hyundai Sonata V is fraught with exacerbation of Deja-Wu syndrome: almost Mercedes headlights, a fake-up grate a la Lexus, in the outlines of the back of the body there is a strong influence of Jaguar. It is felt that, having received an order for the creation of a business class sedan, Korean designers worked for fame, trying to bring the maximum elegance and respectability to the appearance of the new sonata. I must say, they succeeded: the appearance of the new product does not cause.
The sensations before what was seen is not left in the cabin. The combination of devices reminded the Volkswagenovskaya, and the look thrown through the windshield on the hood again gave rise to associations with Stuttgart models: only a three -beam star did not have enough sensations. Compared to the fourth sonata, the interior of the novelty undoubtedly looks more solid. This is not even about the abundance of pseudo -driven plastic surgery under the wood characteristic of Korean cars before. The feeling of respectability is created by a radically updated and become inclined central console (a modern climate control unit is now located under the radio), the already mentioned combination of devices and a new form with more developed lateral support. By the way, in the presentation booklet it is especially noted that the seats are made using Johnson Control technology, which is traditionally used on luxury vehicles. Sitting in the new sonata and really became much more comfortable. Although it is still not easy to set up a chair with the help of the predecessor of five mechanical adjustments. The low ceiling is especially annoyed: he presses the tall driver even with the seat pillow lowered to the limit.
Similar problems arise in front of sitting. True, solving them is much easier: an extended 37 mm salon allows you to sit on the sofa reclining. The new sonatas add convenience and safety to passengers of the new sonata that appeared on the back of the rear seat of the headrest. True, the sightseeing due to this was somewhat worsened. The seat itself can now be folded in a ratio of 40/60. The cover of the roomy trunk finally received the upholstery and the inner handle.
The riding character has also improved. Having inherited the magnificent smoothness of the course of its predecessor, the new Sonata has become much more collected. Previously, getting on irregularities in a tense bend, the car strove to get off the course, and when trying to perform a classic exercise, the snake scared quite strong rolls and a clear tendency to drifts. Now the car is much more willing to allow the driver active maneuvers. And at the wheel of the sonatas with a new 2.7-liter engine, and is drawn to shoulder enough. A powerful 178-horsepower motor in combination with a mechanical five-speed gearbox transforms the driving sonata into real pleasure. Energetic starts with a screech of labels, dynamic accelerations, confident riding in a tense city stream and excellent stability at far from urban speeds all this is available to the driver of a sonata with a V-shaped six under the hood. However, a modification with a two -liter engine with a capacity of 139 hp, inherited from the previous model, also does not disappoint. Even in tandem with an automatic gearbox, this motor provides quite acceptable running qualities. By the way, unlike the previous automatic machine, the new automatic transmission allows you to change gear manually. True, to completely take control of the vigilant electronics to the driver still does not allow: even in manual mode, the machine switches the transmission both up, when the tachometer shooter is too close to the red zone, and down, when the engine speed falls almost to idle.
To apply for membership in the Car club of the segment E of the new sonata allows a substantially improved acoustic comfort. Comparing the novelty with the previous generation car, it should be noted that the salon has become much quieter. Using the technology of maximum filling of space, the developers, in particular, placed the air conditioner compressor directly on the side of the cylinder block, which allowed to significantly reduce noise and vibration.
However, perhaps the main concern of the creators of the new sonata was an increase in the level of active and passive safety of the driver and passengers. The supporting body design is made of composite materials for maximum absorption and distribution of energy during impact, the doors are reinforced with steel beams. The basic configuration now includes ABS, two airbags and front fog lights. In more expensive executions to them, the course stability system (TCS), side pillows and seat belts with pretensors are added. The most interesting novelty was the intellectual sensory system that controls the operation of pillows and seat belts, climate control, fuel system and power steering. Electronics can, for example, if there is no front passenger, block the pillow, allowing the owner to save on subsequent repairs.
In general, having met a novelty better, we have to admit that, positioning the sonata as almost a business class, its creators are not so far from the truth. This, by the way, is also confirmed by prices: the dealers ask for the Korean sedan today (depending on the configuration and the type of engine and the transmission) $ 20 thousand $ 30 thousand. About the same VW Passat cost ($ 20.1 thousand $ 27.5 thousand), Ford Mondeo ($ 20.1 thousand. $ 21.1 thousand) and Mitsubishi Galant ($ 22.9 thousand $ 29.99 thousand), revered by Koreans for the main competitors in the Russian market. The desire to compete with well -known manufacturers is very commendable (especially since all inclinations are available for this). However, in the case of the new sonata, the Koreans actually changed their traditional principle to offer a lot of car for little money. Whether the time of Hyundai will agree with such a statement of the question.
Andrey Tsybulsky
 

Source: Wheel (company)