Test Drive Hyundai Sonata I45 since 2009 Sedan
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The first Sonata appeared in the fall of 1988. This pyramid of three boxes on Mitsubishi's licensed units had a good sales in Europe as the largest of the cheapest (and cheapest from large) family sedans. The second Sonata made his debut in 1993 and was evidence that the Koreans finally discovered for themselves design. In the form of a car, at least some hint of aerodynamics appeared, and she could already be called a car without the Korean epithet. In 1996, Sonata II made Sonata III. After a thorough restyling, it could see that the Jaguar XK120 itself went to her distant ancestors, and behind Hyundai designers was not one Classic Car. And so, for no reason with this, in the spring of 1998 (that is, less than two years), the fourth Sonata was drawn. Thus, in less than 10 years, Hyundai norodilated four generations of one model. (For comparison - before in the depths of the Volkswagen concern, the fourth Golf was ripe, 23 years old ...) Koreans in the search. On the one hand, it's commendable. On the other - the search for this is painfully chaotic. The proof is that every new Sonata externally was radically unlike the previous one (if they do not take into account their common identical image of inexpensive cars), and the fact that even for a short time that is released to every generation, he has time to become outstanding.
So while the fourth sonatoo did not comply with this fate, it is necessary to meet her as soon as possible. Moreover, before the third our hands-legs did not get ... The design of a fundamentally new body is not burdened by moldings and chrome - only as if negligent strokes of sending sidewall surface membership, and it gives silhouette rapidness and ease. It is unlikely when looking at a new car, something in it will remind you of cheap pomposiness of the predecessor model. The new Sonata looks exactly as much as it costs. And from this she only wins.
Salon does not demonstrate any special delights. Everything is quite simple, democratic, spacious and ... gray. The finishing and content of the dashboard is sufficiently stingy. In terms of the Ergonomics of Sonata, it does not impress the unfinished - at least the attention located in the right places and buttons with understandable algorithms attention does not dispers.
Inside the large and comprehensive ranges of the front armchairs and the steering column are found, which is rare for the Koreans of all classes. Naturally, the list of standard equipment for the machine of this class should include (and enter) a full electropacuit, climate installation and a good audio system.
The car is not a carrier of truly new motors, transmissions and, moreover, electronic stabilization systems. The machine is trivial both in form and content. It seems that Koreans do not see sufficient grounds to complicate the design and offer to their customers something more than simply abs. And Thank you.
About us modifications with 2 liters 125-strong motor and 5-speed manual box. The engine is present in the entire range of revolutions, starting with one thousand. The car is very easily and easy to touch. The engine is elastic, which allows to be placed at a speed of 30 km / h on the fifth and accelerate to 90 km / h to the second. And even in the latter case, the tires will dominate among all components of noise sources - so seriously the designers reacted to sound insulation of the engine compartment and the cabin, as well as aerodynamics. The switching mechanism with a sufficiently short lever finally gained the corresponding moves and is delivered from the previous long-flowing and refined movements (on the previous Sonata, the lever has ever been diagonally relative to the longitudinal axis). The suspension is harsh. But in this, there is almost a major advantage of Sonata models in front of the non-moderate relevant neighbors-competitors: Kia Clarus and Daewoo Leganza. In any case, having embraced Sonata suspension resistance to large rolls, the driver is immediately configured to a more active ride style. It can not but like it.
Otherwise, Sonata remains not so much advanced as the car is not so much advanced, as in the measure of improved, which is able to two or three years to lead local market war against other Korean cars. But to the level of modern Japanese models, he is clearly far away. The comfort of the owner of Sonata can serve what it is the best of everything that is more than the middle class and at the same time below in the price. Do not discount and relatively small operating costs. At least, this is exactly what attracts. A source: Magazine Motor [№10 / 2001]
