Hyundai Sonata NF 2004 test drive - 2008 sedan

Solo party

HYUNDAI NF: New Middle Player
For the first time, Russian motorists alive saw Hyundai NF at the MIMS-2005, although the official premiere of the new generation of Sonata (they decided to supply it under the working name NF to make it from the Taganrog Fifth Sonata) last fall in Paris. Now, NF can not only touch the show rooms of the capital's dealers of the Hyundai brand, but also purchase for quite real money.

Since the appearance of the Korean market in 1985, Sonata has always been one of the most important models in the Hyundai Corporation program. It was on it that advanced technologies rolled up. The latter Sonata is no exception, it absorbed all the positive experience accumulated in 19 years regarding the design and directly design. And if the origin of the car was immediately guessed in the form of the previous Sonata, then the homeland of the new product can only be determined by the emblem on the radiator and the Hyundai wool of the radiator and the trunk. So far, the inscription Sonata remained on the thresholds (but this is already behind the door). A clear respectable silhouette with a slightly raised stern and narrowed NF headlights are more like a European design school. In addition, Hyundai NF became 55 mm longer than the predecessor, which retained the name Sonata, and its wheelbase increased by 30 mm. This change in size, of course, influenced the dimensions of the salon. The legs for the legs of the front riders increased by 10 mm, and the rear ones by as much as 30 mm, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe head there were more by 22 and 15 mm, respectively. The landing in the car was noticeably simplified, in addition, the range of movement of the driver's seat allows you to get a job (it received an altitude in addition to departure) even a two -meter basketball player. On the rear sofa NF, there is enough place for three, while both legs and ceiling heights will be plenty of the previous Sonata. The trunk has grown markedly its volume reached 462 liters (for Sonata 430 l). And parts of the split back in a folded state open a spacious hatch in the luggage compartment, significantly increasing the functionality of the car. To feel all these dry numbers, it is enough to compare the dimensions of the novelty with quite popular with us, at least in the capital, by cars. It turns out that Hyundai NF is only 15 mm shorter, for example, Toyota Camry, but at the same time wider than the Japanese and as much as 35 mm longer than the updated classmate VW Passat.

The forms of the dashboard and the central console emphasize the increased Hyundai NF status, and the decoration of the salon consolidates this impression. If cheaper plastic is used, then only in the lower part of the torpedo made of two halves. Moreover, here all without deception, both components differ not only in quality, but also in color. The darker upper part is soft and pleasant to the touch, and therefore a large chrome speedometer, tachometer and other signs organically look in it. In the middle of the panel is located and an audio center to order can be obtained by an audio system with a 6-disk CD changer built into the front panel, supporting the MP3 format, a separate amplifier and an 8-inch subwoofer. By the way, Russian dealers requested cars without audio systems, and Koreans sent NF, equipped with a cassette radio, as if as a gift to the first customers. Of course, the cassette is now not in fashion, but at all times our fellow citizens were extremely positive about free. The climatic installation stood below the central console, and looks like a stain in the overall structure, as it is trimmed with other, more solid material. In addition, it became more convenient to control her with two handles (instead of placing the buttons at Sonata).

If the buyer prefers the option with a leather salon (equipment 03 and was on the test in the editorial office), then he will not pay attention to some cheap inserts with more than cover high-quality skin, more often found on business class cars. But Hyundai NF is cheaper than German and Japanese classmates even in a chic configuration, and there should be saving on something. Miracles, as you know, do not happen ...

At the same time, all kinds of trifles such as make -up mirrors with backlight in anti -loner visors significantly affect the comfort of the cabin. But the main trump card of the Korean is excellent sound insulation. And although the fifth Sonata in this sense was and so on the height, NF managed to outline it. The laudable desire of the developers not to stop at a achieved, even quite high level.

In the three trim levels supplied to Russia, the main differences are only in the gearbox and leather salon. True, the most sophisticated version, in addition to the skin, also offers an additional set of electronic systems is the disconnected ESP course stability system, supplemented by Brake Assist. The engine is offered so far only one 2.4-liter capacity of 161 hp. A completely new aluminum unit with four valves on the cylinder, balancer shafts and adjustable phases of the gas distribution of Theta series got along well with the old Sonatovo 4-speed automatic. As a result of the advanced structure, the motor managed to almost approach the indicators of the 2.7-liter V6 used in the top version of the Taganrog Sonata. Its 160 horses are enough for a large sedan to confidently accelerate and bold maneuvers in a dense traffic flow. In the configuration with a mechanical gearbox, Hyundai NF generally shows the wonderful results of 8.9 C to hundreds, and the maximum speed is at a mark of 212 km/h. By the way, it is also supplied to the American market NF (there it is listed as Sonata) with a new 3.3-liter engine with a capacity of 233 hp, aggregated with a newly developed 5-speed automatic, you can imagine what abilities this car has.

It is impossible not to notice that not only externally, but also with habits, the car is now more like a European than a Korean or an American, which is more like a progenitor. At the same time, Hyundai NF did not at all become more sporty like his predecessor, he offers a soft comfortable ride. And everything is to blame not only the engine, but also mainly the new chassis. Sonata's two -leaf front suspension spaced in height is significantly modified, and the back is replaced by multi -link with the effect of steering. As a result of tightening the suspension, it was possible to improve controllability, while maintaining comfort. Hyundai NF got rid of the validity and tangible body rolls that the Taganrog Sonata suffers, but, as already mentioned earlier, did not fall into sports extreme.

As an option for NF Hyundai, it offers an innovative AGCS system (Active Geometry Control Suspension Active Management Geometry). This unique patented system regulates the values \u200b\u200bof the detachment of the rear wheels using two electric drives that change the position of the levers. This system (unlike the ESP affecting the dynamics of the car) optimizes the geometry of the rear suspension to increase the clutch with the road surface. It is a pity that it is not yet available to Russian customers. Although such an option will probably noticeably increase the price of Hyundai NF and require additional costs for servicing the AGCS system. By the way, the steering wheel with an amplifier of the performance variable was also heavier, adding a skewer from the stop to the stop, thereby the designers achieved a certain compromise in the behavior of the car. In the previous generation of car, the sharpness of the steering wheel was not very combined with a soft suspension.

Summarizing all impressions and observations, it is safe to say that Hyundai NF is far from Sonata, which is confirmed by its higher price. It seems that NF decided to seriously argue for a place under the sun not only with the ancestor, but also with eminent competitors, almost closely approaching them with their properties and, as often happens, worth.

Text: Andrey Konstantinov

Source: Mkobil magazine [24.10.2005]