Stunning 2011 Hyundai Sonata Could Sell on Looks Alone

Filed in archive Hyundai on February 10, 2010

Some people's misfortunes can turn out to be other folk's good luck. The same can be said about automobiles, too, and that may well be the case with the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. It competes in the most popular vehicle class in North America, which just happens to be led by Toyota's Camry... and you know what's happened to the Japanese company's quality reputation lately. Toyota will come back, no doubt, but in the meantime prospective customers will be taking a hard look at what else is available.

Enter the 2011 Sonata, being launched precisely in the middle of the great pedal disaster. Although the introduction date was pure coincidence the new Hyundai is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the situation. That said, I think it would have been a hit, regardless. In a segment known for cautious, conservative styling, this Sonata stands out like a beauty queen in a nunnery. And it's a huge leap forward from its predecessor, which was a pretty good car even if it lacked visual excitement. But how does it drive? Only Consumer Reports knows for sure (among media critics, that is), having purchased a base GSL while the rest of the media awaits its turn for a free ride. CR had the audacity to opine that "while it does handle better than the 2009 equivalent, it still isn't quite up to the standard of the sportiest examples in the segment, including the Ford Fusion and Mazda6."

Buyers in this class seldom judge a car by its handling and for those that do, Hyundai offers a more aggressive SE model. I'll be watching for a review of that one because, having test-driven all the previous Sonatas, I thought the handling was more than satisfactory for the average driver. On the other hand Consumer Reports did feel "the interior was an improvement over the outgoing model, with higher quality materials and a particularly roomy rear seat." No V-6 is on offer but with a 4-cylinder engine producing 198 hp and a turbo version on the way, who cares? Especially with 6-speed manuals and 6-speed automatics on the menu.