2020 Hyundai Sonata: High-tech goes mainstream
To find out just how pleasant a car with a full array of modern technology can be, let’s go take a test drive in an all-new Hyundai Sonata.
Not in the market for a new car? No problem. We’ll lie.
The merchandising of vehicles remains a full-contact sport, as we recently learned firsthand purchasing a different brand, so it wouldn’t be the first time that truth has been slightly shaded on the floor of an auto dealership.
Hey, it might be instructive to take a salesman for a ride. C’mon, it’ll be a hoot. The walkaround
The first thing we’ll do is let the salesperson do their job. They spend a lot of time practicing the “walkaround,” a quick tour of the vehicle outlining its features and benefits. On the new Sonata, the list is mind-boggling.
We’re talking about a car that comes in seven trim levels, including three hybrid versions, that range from $23,600 to $35,300. If we were buying one, we’d look at the SEL, which sells for less than $30,000 and has more standard driver-assist tech than a Mercedes A-Class sedan.
It’s been nearly 40 years since my last walkaround, but if I were putting together one for the Sonata, I’d be sure to mention:
Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design not only creates emotional response through proportion, styling, and technology, it’s use of narrow, sweeping pillars at all four corners also enhances visibility.
A chrome line that flows from the wing mirror around the passenger windows and returns to the front of the car down the length of the hood to a strip that takes a sharp angle under the LED running lights. When the lights are on, hidden light lamps turn the strip into a light. When off, it turns back into chrome. It’s just cool.
Digital key using Near Field Communication allows owners to use an Android phone to lock, unlock, start the car, and set cabin temperature. It allows the owner to allow other users to drive the car and set limits on time and feature use (as in, a teen can drive for certain hours on certain days but only with the radio off). Driver profile settings can be tied to different phones.
A head-up display shows speed, speed limit, cruise control setting, nav directions and alerts from active safety and driving assistance features. This greatly reduces driver fatigue on a long trip.
Surround-view monitor that uses four cameras to give a 360-degree view
Remote smart parking assist, which allows the driver to remotely pull the car into or out of a tight parking spot
Automatic high beam control
A full suite of driver-assist tech, including dynamic cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision assist with braking, and the best lane-keep assist around.
Free maintenance, including oil changes and tire rotations, for three years
The best warranty in the business: 5 years/60,000 miles basic, 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain.
Take ’er for a spin
The salesperson no doubt will want to talk about much more, but he or she knows the best sales tool is to put us in the driver’s seat.
The first thing we’ll notice is that most of the cabin materials are of nice quality and fit and finish from the Tuscaloosa plant are quite good. Gauges and switches are laid out with care in a logical and precise function. Be careful with those transmission push buttons. They force you to take your eye off the road.
We probably don’t want the radio on for a test drive, but crank ‘er up a moment. It’s a nice system.
Hyundai’s third-generation vehicle platform allowed engineers to improve Sonata’s safety, fuel efficiency, and driving characteristics. Equipped with either the standard, naturally aspirated 191-hp 2.4-L four-cylinder engine or the optional 1.6-L Turbo-GDI 180hp four, the Sonata has plenty of power to scoot out into traffic.
The base engine has more horses, meaning a theoretically greater top speed. The Turbo has more torque, meaning faster acceleration. Both deliver about 31 mpg in combined driving on regular unleaded. Both receive passing marks from automotive critics. If I were buying the SEL — which I’m not, wink, wink, nudge, nudge — I’d go with the base engine,
Whoa, there! I know you’re happy to finally get around those trucks but troopers roam these roads. Still, you’ve discovered an essential truth about the new Sonata. It may not be a rocket ship, but it’s plenty capable of running with the big boys out on the interstate.
The ride isn’t as compliant as segment leaders like the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry, but the handling is more than competent. It’s plenty nimble for a four-door sedan. This is a car that is confident and composed at speed. Braking is up to snuff, too.
Relax a little and experience the lane-keep assist. While other manufacturers’ systems force the car bounce like a pinball from one edge stripe to the other, Hyundai’s keeps a dynamic balance between the two. Hands off the wheel, the car holds a steady line, even around gentle curves.
Turn on the signal to change lanes and look at the gauges. You’ll see the video from a side-mirror camera. It takes some getting used to, but there is no doubt whether the lane is clear.
Did you notice we can carry on a conversation at normal levels? Wind, road, and engine noise are all nicely damped.
The deal, art thou
Now we need to get out of here. Consumer Reports — correctly one thinks – ranks the Optima a notch below the Altima, Camry, Accord, and Mazda6. That means Hyundai dealers are dealing. Discounts are averaging 10 percent of the sticker price.
At that price point, and with those warranties, the Sonata becomes a value leader. C’mon, let’s get out of here.
What? You want to fill out a credit app?