Hyundai Sonata NF 2004 test drive - 2008 sedan

The second violins

Recently, Hyundai has ceased to pay attention to its miserable pedigree and rushed in pursuit of the elite of the world auto industry. And all would be nothing if it were not for the pricing policy of the company. Elantra, for example, today stands almost like Mazda3, Verna has completely equalized with competitors. Line for getz, tucson and
 

Although in some places the parity is still observed, so in a number of segments Koreans hold from leaders even at a small but rather respectful distance. And the sedans NF and Grandeur are precisely from their number. True, if in the first case we are talking about the logical continuation of the Taganrog Sonata, then in the second about a kind of pen test in the representative class. Nevertheless, it was this fundamental, it would seem, the difference led us to a dilemma traditional for the post -Soviet man: to take small or large, but five?
 

The unforgettable hero of Roman Kartsev, however, was easier: unlike crayfish, these cars are designed for completely different buyers initially. And the point here is not in the banal size-financial classification, but in the drivership preferences of a particular individual. NF, for example, is clearly designed for a buyer from the Old World.
 

On the go, it is fast enough, but the main thing is assembled. On the one hand, this markedly affected the smoothness of the stroke, but on the other, the stability, maneuvering and efficiency of the brakes are drawn to the hard four, which was not noticed behind the previous Sonata. Grandeur at the same time on the road impressive and even lazy. The steering is less informative here, the rolls are larger, and the brake pedal seemed too cotton. But dynamic comfort is beyond praise. The suspension swallows literally all the bumps, including the notorious thermal seams of the capital's overpasses.
 

In general, the Korean first-class first-class first-a-way on the go is a typical American. This, in fact, is already noticeable by his exterior. A huge base, a classic three-breeze body, face a la adult Lexus and overloaded with various optics of feed is elaborate? Too pathetic? Perhaps, it is precisely such machines, as we know that voluminous, comfortable and non -trivial are valued behind the ocean. Speaking of comfort. If you have doubts about the orientation of this car, be sure to study its bowels. Everything here is an adult way: there is a lot of wood, a lot of skin and, of course, a lot of space where you can easily accommodate a five-a.m. and drive a couple of hundred kilometers without changing the position.
 

In a useful space, NF loses quite decently to a relative. On the back sofa, the three of us so much will not fall apart in front of the knees of the place is not enough, crowded in the shoulders, and there are not so many space left over the head. In general, the four of us will have to travel, and even then with some reservations. At the same time, as we have already mentioned, unlike Grandeur NF more imprisoned for Europe. Its interior is not so monumental that subjectively adds to the machine both dynamics and practicality. At least using this or that equipment, you do not need to bend anywhere all the necessary switches (and even a glove compartment) are located at the length of the outstretched arm. In addition, the Koreans in this case paid much more attention to the quality of finishing materials: yielding Grandeur in price, NF in comparison with it looks no worse, at least from the inside.
 

This seems to be its main advantage. To date, NF is presented in the salons of official dealers in six fixed performances, for which they ask for from 618 900 to 864 900 rubles. In the basic version, by the way, this car is more expensive than the new Ford Mondeo, however, unlike an American, it is already equipped not at the start of a low-calorie 1.6-liter engine, but a 161-horsepower 2-liter four quite decent in its characteristics. At the same time, the driver here will have to come to terms with the lack of refreshing the interior of visual effects (inserts for metal, leather upholstery of the steering wheel and handle of the KP, alloy wheels), horizontal steering wheel adjustment, as well as various useful options like a self -clever salon mirror, an on -board computer and even heated seats. Safety pillows, by the way, are also only two. Thus, the cost of a more or less acceptable configuration increases at least to 680,000 rubles for a version with mechanics and up to 713,000 per option with an automaton. The top execution with a 2.4-liter engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission, where all the equipment provided by the manufacturer will be installed, including a full set of pillows, ESP, climate control and a leather salon, will cost the buyer already 865,000 rubles.
 

In Grandeur, by the way, all this is included in the base. For the starting 1,072,900 rubles, the buyer will not receive perhaps an electrified hatch, xenon, parking sensors and a rear window curtain. But under the hood, it will not be found in a row motor, but a full-fledged 192-horsepower V6, also aggregated with a quite modern 5-band automaton with a manual gear function. And for an additional 67,000 wooden ones will find the most complete version of the sedan, in which absolutely everything will be. So at the next step there will only be the most powerful 3.3-liter V6 in the entire line, which issues 235 hp. And 304 Nm of traction, which allows you to disperse this sedan to hundreds in a completely acceptable 7.8 seconds and dial the maximum 237 km/h if desired.
 

And all this on 92th gasoline. However, a person who gave $ 50,000 as a car, such trifles, as a rule, no longer worry.
 
Vladimir Zhidkov
Photo: Yan Segal

 
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [December/2007]