Test drive Hyundai Sonata 1996 - 1998 sedan

We play the third "sonata"

Let me remind you that the premiere of Hyunde Sonata-III took place in Moscow at the International Motor Show. This car was among the best new models and therefore received the Grand Prix of the magazine at the wheel.
And that is true: the bright, expressive appearance of the Third Sonata attracts the eye, the sonata has finally found its, not like a similar face.
Hyunde followed the path, beaten by such authorities as Mercedes, BMW, Alfa Romeo: she focused the viewer's attention on the radiator lining. I must say, it turned out great: the grille was enlarged and rounded, it was noticeably advanced forward. And slanting-frail eyes brought on the side of the body. In addition, intricate forms of headlights, gratings, body parts - all this demonstrates high technological capabilities.
The design of the rear has also become more expressive. A spoiler emphasized the swiftness of the silhouette manifested on the bend of the trunk cover. The niche under the license plate has become a noticeable design element. The lanterns were grouped into large light blocks that captured part of the rear wings.
The rear bumper, as well as the front one, got rid of the small, crushing elements, was poured and rounded. In other words, it became stricter and older.
Under the hood, everything is packaged quite tightly. The two -liter sixteen -valve engine (on the provided sample), of course, with distributed fuel injection, rests on the hydraulic power supply, so noise and vibration from it are almost not felt in the cabin. The generator, the power steering pump and the air conditioner compressor hang in the upper part of the motor compartment - another place, better protected from dirt, simply cannot be found. All drive belts of attachment equipment are clearly visible, located so that it is convenient to tighten and change. It is also easy to control and add the engine oil and liquids.
Sonata is a front -wheel drive car. In her transmission of the semi -shafts of equal length. Their interchangeability in Russian conditions is a positive quality. In the hubs of the front wheels - three -row bearings: they are able to carry a large load. The front suspension of the McEferson type, the back - the independent remained practically unchanged. And the drum rear brakes gave way to disk.
Having examined the car outside, I sit down on the driver's place. The seat has a rich set of servo drives, which are controlled by only two handles (they are below under the left hand). He moved the oblong handle forward - the chair went closer to the pedals, moved back - moved to the salon. The regulation range is huge, as in sonata-II. In the extreme back position, I (with a height of 184 cm) did not reach the pedals, and in the front, as it seemed to me, a 12-year-old child could control the machine. He pulled the entire handle up - and the seat rose after it. The same pen can be adjusted and tilt of the pillow if you pull it by the nose or tail. A separate small handle controls the back. You can fit the seat with such control in a matter of seconds. This, in turn, involves a more common adjustment to the conditions of movement: in the city - higher, so that it is more convenient to enter and go out, it is better to see, and on the highway - a little lower, but more comfortable. Adjusting the position of the steering wheel seems to be a kind of gift for lovers of getting comfortable. But in the right front seat - only two traditional adjustments (longitudinal and tilt of the back), and even those manual.
The leather upholstery of the seats is an indispensable attribute of an expensive car. However, the instrument panel is still without excesses and twists: there are no wooden inserts, simply and modestly. The steering wheel does not look very massive, although the pillow is sewn in it, and the rows of cruise control buttons are built into the knitting needles.
On the central part of the panel turning into the console, all unchanged. Here is the heater control unit, a clock, a receiver, but already with Si-D-Chenger-a player of CDs (by the way, ten speakers were placed in the cabin). Under it is a retractable holder of glasses and a block for smokers (cigarette lighter and ashtray). On the floor part of the console near the hand gear lever, two small keys to the seats of the seats.
On the armrest of the driver's door - the windows control panel, external mirrors and locking door locks. It lacks the little things, without which the machine loses a little in weight. There is no automatic machine for a complete lifting of glass of the driver's door. It is inconvenient to raise glass - for this you need to cling and lift the front of the keys.
Heating governing bodies are arranged in different ways. The distribution of air and the recirculation mode are controlled by buttons, the temperature changes by the slider movement, and the fan electric motor is turned on with a rotating handle. This is good - it is impossible to confuse one with another. There is also a highlight: when air is supplied to the windshield, the speed of the electric motor automatically increases, even if the maximum, fourth speed is turned on. At the feet of the rear passengers, warm air seeps under the front seats, special ducts never appeared. I think that on very frosty days this is unlikely to appeal to the back. But the rest of the time they will only experience pleasure.
The rear seat is gorgeous. A well -chopped back with a pronounced lumbar subpoen has a charming tilt. The lateral rollers, a leaning wide armrest invite you to spend time on a trip comfortably - from a few minutes to a dozen hours. This is also facilitated by a large space for the legs, as in a limousine! True, unlike the latter, in the sonata you can still push the back of the seat in parts - 1/3 and 2/3 and the salon will connect to the trunk.
Its lid can be shut on outside with a key or from the inside, pulling the lever located on the upholstery of the driver's door below the armrest. Inside, the luggage compartment looks less than outside. I believe that a full -size wide margin of 195/70 R14 is to blame for this, which does not allow the floor of the trunk.
Now it's time to try the car on the road. The key to start, but the engine did not even jerk. He squeezed the clutch - and the motor immediately and quietly gnawed. I met this only on American cars, where it is a prerequisite for starting, if the transfer is enabled.
As experience shows, the first impressions are the most faithful. At this time, you listen to the car and look closely, determining the mistakes of the designers, shortcomings, positive aspects. Then you forget about them, because you quickly get used to everything.
What first words come to mind? Soft and even. Already in the third minute he could unmistakably, without being distracted from the road, to use all devices and mechanisms - from the lever of the gearbox to the sun visor. A lot of this was facilitated by an elastic motor. He allowed the car to go in the fourth gear from 40 km/h. The steering wheel, albeit with a hydraulic wiper, sensitively tracked the car even on a slippery road in critical situations. The steering mechanism by designers is correct. It helps when it is required, for example, when parking, and does not interfere with pulling the car out of the drift, as sometimes happens on cars with a similar mechanism. The brakes are very effective. ABS allows you to keep the car on ice within a given path when braking the pedal to the floor. Excessively clear gear shift was also pleased, it is not necessary to move the lever in search of transmission: clicking - the second, click - the third. And no noise, vibrations. The smoothness of the course is also high, but still individual irregularities are noticeable.
The third sonata is a very convenient, calm and comfortable car, which does not reject an active dynamic driving. The engine is silent, but sharply accelerates the car. And only when the arrow of the tachometer will pass in five thousand revolutions, the motor becomes heard inside the car. Sonata confidently holds on the road, showing a typically front -wheel drive character. When dumping, the gas is neatly in the turns, without throwing the tail too much. There is also enough information content of the steering wheel - the force smoothly increases when turning the steering wheel even at a small angle.
The third -generation sonata is noticeably different from the previous one. Well, her character has become more flexible, the level of comfort has increased significantly. However, the car did not become indifferent and calm: the adherent of the sports style will receive (what I was convinced) no less pleasure than another - with a calm ride.

The editors thanks the Samara company Argo -F - the representative of Hyunde in the Volga region for help in preparing the material.

Hyunde Sonata -III is a middle -class model, one of the most prestigious in the company. It is equipped with three engines with electronic fuel injection: two 4-cylinder volume of 2 liters (8 and 16 valves) and a 6-cylinder 3-liter (the latter with an automatic 4-speed gearbox, and with a conventional 5-speed).
The price of sonata in Russia is from 26.5 to 35 thousand dollars.

Technical characteristics of the Hyunde Sonata-III car 2.0 16V
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 1330 kg; full weight - 1860 kg; maximum speed - 210 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 10, 2 s; fuel consumption at 90, 120 km/h and Hz - 6.6; 8.4; 10.0 l/100 km. Dimensions, mm: length - 4700; width - 1772; height - 1405; Base - 2700. Engine: gasoline, four -cylinder, in order, with distributed fuel injection; the number of valves per cylinder is 4; Volume - 1997 SMZ; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 85x88 mm; Compression degree - 9: 1; Power - 92 kW/125 liters. With. at 5800 rpm; The maximum torque is 168 N.M at 4600 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - mechanical five -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 3.09; II - 1.838; III - 1.22; IV - 0.89; V - 0.73; h. X. - 3.17; The main program is 4.67. Suspension: front - such as McEferson, the back is independent, with a reptile stabilizer. Tire size - 195/70R14H.

Summary. The third -generation sonata is a higher level in the development of this model. The main thing in the car is a strongly changed look, which, undoubtedly, made it a pleasantly standing out in the stream - catchy and bright. It also has a lot of technical innovations. Nevertheless, the sonata in its class is modest (but not at all devoid of abuse and aggressiveness).

Car suspensions: a - front (left) - traditional for front -wheel drive cars, such as McEferson; B - rear - independent spring.

For passengers from behind - a large luxurious sofa.

The instrument panel is replete with levers and switches. Nevertheless, it takes only a few minutes to master them.

Mirror control, glass windows, door locks are built into the door armor.
Sergey Mishin

Source: The magazine "Driving"