The melody of a Hyundai Sonata
he drive was so smooth, I could hear
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy playing in my mind. The version I recalled is the one that played towards the end of the movie Ocean’s 13.
Driving is a heavenly experience for me, or at least it is what I believe heaven to be like: a place with beautiful cars to drive, roads to travel, and lots of pets. So, too, is listening to beautiful music, I was told by my friend “F.”
F grew up listening to music; I guess it explains why she is such a good singer. She said, wonderful music is so powerful — it can open up emotions, take you back to a wonderful time in your life, or remind you of something important in your life at the moment. She added Clair de Lune is one of those pieces.
And so it was with the Hyundai Sonata. Its seamless drive is the result of Hyundai Sonata’s being awarded the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s highest accolade for safety, a 2016 Top Safety Pick award.
“Occupant safety, above all other things, is the single most important factor when designing and engineering Hyundai Motor’s vehicles,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning at Hyundai Motor America, in a statement. “Given the increasing demands of the test, receiving this award is a testament to our emphasis on safety at every price point, and is a point of pride for every Hyundai Motor’s associate.”
“While Sonata received the same Top Safety Pick award in 2015, the vehicle’s structure was improved to raise the small overlap front ratings from acceptable to good,” said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “With a more rigorous test environment for 2016, receiving another Top Safety Pick award acknowledges Hyundai Motor’s commitment to occupant safety by consistently engineering strength and quality improvements into its vehicles.”
To up the ante of safety the Sonata 2016 added Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Other advanced safety options available on the 2016 Sonata lineup include Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Smart Cruise Control with spot/start capability, rear-parking sensors, Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross-traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control System, driver’s side blind spot mirror, seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, four-wheel disc brakes and ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with indicators for each tire.
TIME TO HIT THE ROAD
If you like sedans that have lots of room and even cooler features, then perhaps it is time you got into a Sonata. The features start with a backup camera, adjustable passenger seat (height, too!) as well as automatic mirrors, that’s just for starters.
For backseat passengers, there is ample legroom and the seats are truly comfy.
Best of all, the ride inside the Sonata is quiet, perfect for an endof-a-working-day drive when what I look for is time alone — and some peace.
I also liked the Sonata’s infotainment system, which begins with a seven-inch touchscreen unit that reduces input errors by virtue of its bigger surface area.
The cabin is comfortable, with loads of room in the backseat for when you need to ferry the kids, kid friends or adult friends. The Sonata also drives confidently, boasting a smooth ride quality.
The Sonata is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, air-conditioning, cruise control, full-power accessories, heated mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and a 60/40-split folding rear seatback.
It had been another long day at work, and I looked forward to the drive home, no matter the traffic situation because I was driving the Sonata. I was truly amazed at how quiet the ride was. No matter the noise outside, inside the cockpit it was peace and quite for me.
It took me nearly three hours to make it home from The STAR office in Port Area to Pasig — but I rather welcomed the traffic, and for the first time in long time. I was not to be bothered by the motorcycles that weave in and out, or by the buses that push their weight and bodies beyond their lanes or even by other cars that overtake without looking back. I was too busy enjoying the drive to be bothered. There are days when I can’t wait to get home — this was not one of those days. I was having too much fun behind the wheel of the Hyundai Sonata that I wanted this drive to go on and on and on.