Class on wheels
If this were a movie review rather than a road test, and I were a film critic instead of an automotive writer, I'd have to give the Hyundai Sonata two thumbs up, or five out of five stars.
Unfortunately, we haven't any such gimmick for the cars we test.
The closest we come to that is a grading of various major functions and components. And if you look at the accompanying report card, you'll see this car earns straight A's.
Our long-term 2006 Sonata GLS has now been returned to Hyundai Canada's Markham headquarters, but the fond memories will linger with my family for a long time. In all, we rolled off 14,200 happy kilometres in the Sonata, which quickly became the vehicle of choice for all three drivers in the household shortly after its arrival in our driveway last summer.
This may well be my favourite affordable car of all time.
And it certainly is affordable, starting at just $21,995 for the GL model with its 2.4-litre inline four and 5-speed manual transmission. Even our loaded GLS, with 3.3-litre DOHC V6, 5-speed automatic and every convenience feature you really need, was stickered at a bargain $29,120.
All Sonatas come with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows/locks/heated mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, full centre console and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with six speakers. Standard passive safety items include dual front airbags, side and curtain air bags and active head restraints.
Included as standard equipment in the GLS price are anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), telescopic wheel, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, leather seating, power driver's seat, front heated seats, power sunroof, sliding centre armrest, fog lights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Our car also had a $1,400 option package adding even more useful features such as traction control (see data box).
It's a handsome car and comes in an attractive variety of exterior and interior colours. Our test car was painted in aquamarine mica with a grey leather interior and metal-grain trim. Attractive and functional as it was, I'm such a traditionalist that if I were ordering one myself I think I'd go for either dark cinnamon or golden beige with a beige leather interior and woodgrain trim.
Classic, and classy.
Here's a list of some of the things I like best about this car.
- Excellent fuel economy, meaning the range on a full tank of gas is almost 700 km, which cuts down on stops at the pumps.
- Buttons to activate the speed control are mounted on the steering wheel and easy to use.
- Quiet engine at all speeds and a smooth dual mode automatic transmission with Shiftronic.
- It's sinfully fast for a family sedan. As I wrote in the first installment of our long-term test, the V6 GLS can be driven sedately, as befitting a family vehicle, but it has the heart of a sporting sedan when you hammer the throttle
- Foolproof controls with big rotary knobs for both the audio and climate control systems that are easy to use even with mitts on in the dark of a Canadian winter
- A well-modulated ride that strikes a nice balance between comfort and sportiness.
- Easy-to-clean interior with light grey rather than black or charcoal leather seats and few nooks or crannies in which dust can accumulate.
- The back seat is almost as comfortable as the front, with lots of legroom even when a taller driver or passenger have their seats shoved back as far as they'll go.
- The trunk is enormous with 462 litres of cargo volume.
- The standard halogen headlamps clearly light your way, even on the darkest of nights on the remote country roads I travel.
- Last, but not least, it's fast. The 235-hp V6 packs a lot of punch and the GLS can rocket from 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds.
Now here are some of the things I don't like -- and this is going to be a much shorter list.
- It's annoying that the car will automatically lock itself if its been opened with the remote fob and then left unattended for a minute or so. That means if you go back into the house to retrieve something you've forgetten, the door is usually locked again by the time you get there.
- The lid of the bin in the centre console doubles as an armrest and slides fore and aft for drivers of varying size. But when it's in the forward position, the rear cupholder is no longer accessible.
- I like the heated front seats, but they're either on or off -- there's no in-between. So you've got to keep manually switching them on and off to keep your buns toasty but not overcooked.
Now ask me if this is too hard to do on a frosty day, and if I'd rather not have them and the answer is a resounding no. I don't think anyone ordering a Sonata GLS will be sorry. Not only do you get a loaded sedan at a great price, but it comes with Hyundai's excellent warranty and a growing reputation for quality (In a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey on initial build quality, only Porsche and Lexus owners reported fewer problems).
It's a solid performer, well thought-out and well built -- a car to keep you happy for years and years to come.
---
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6
Base price: $27,595
As tested: $29,120 (includes premium equipment group consisting of electronic stability control, traction control, power adjustable pedals, automatic climate control, air quality system, trip computer, HomeLink system and electrochromatic rearview mirror with digital compass, $1,400; mica paint, $125)
Destination charge: $1,345
Fuel test: 9.2L/100 km (30 mpg)
Fuel required: Regular unleaded
Layout: Front engine, FWD 4-door sedan
Warranty: 5 years/100,000 km comprehensive; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 3 years/unlimited roadside assistance
REPORT CARD
PERFORMANCE: A
RIDE: A
HANDLING: A
BRAKES: A
FRONT SEAT: A
BACK SEAT: A
TRUNK: A
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