Car Review: 2012 Hyundai Sonata

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Review

Full Review by Andy: Making a Beeline for the Best in Class

The Hyundai Sonata underwent an ALT + CTRL + DEL in 2011. It rebooted and immediately began impressing pundits, making money on the market, and stocking its shelves with trophies. For 2012, the Sonata continues its interrupted beeline for the best in class.

Exterior
According to its creators, the Sonata has a “fluidic sculpture design.” That sounds as dull as fluid mechanics, so we’ll just call it salacious. Or better yet, ditching both the professional verbosity and the literary profundity, let’s say the Sonata is a sexy machine, sculpted with a coupe-like roofline, riffled grille and flowing character creases.

Interior
The first-generation Sonata was unimpressive in appearance. So was the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth. Then out of nowhere, Hyundai wowed the world. The interior of the Sonata is just as seductive as the exterior. The angles are so raked and the contemporary design so flamboyant it makes one wonder, “How did Hyundai manage to mass-produce anything this intricate and sell it for less than twenty grand?”

Packin’ a Powertrain
In base form, the Sonata carries a 198-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. On the SE trim, the four-cylinder is tweaked for 200 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of twist. A 2.0-liter turbocharged-4 is optional on the SE and Limited. Even with 76 more horsepower than the base engine, the turbocharged powerplant sacrifices only one mpg on the highway and two mpg in the city, making it the preferred choice. A six-speed manual is standard on the base GLS, but most shoppers will opt for the six-speed automatic, which comes with paddle shifters on select trims.

Random rant: Gearheads, their heads stuck in the cylinders they love so much, bemoan the lost resonance of the V6, but I say fuel economy trumps displacement in any affordable midsize sedan.

Driveline Performance
The Sonata is Hyundai’s Camry-Killer. That means the Sonata is built to appeal to Florida retirees, Michigan skiiers, New York financiers, and everyone else with two thumbs and a wallet. Thus, the ride is neither luxurious nor sporty. It is soft enough to travel cross-country without a chiropractic appointment, but stiff enough to handle male teenagers who will inevitably indulge in Grand Prix fantasies. The base four-cylinder has enough jounce to suit most, while the SE trim is geared for those who like to live on the edge.

Safety Information
One of 115 winners of the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick award, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata is equipped with BlueLink emergency telematics, six airbags, disc brakes, daytime running lamps, etc. There are few safety and security options.

Comfort & Cargo
The Sonata’s interior is huge. Huge, unfortunately, does not equate to tall. While both fore and aft quarters have prodigious legroom, rear headroom is nipped in the bud by the sloped roofline. The 16.4-cf trunk rivals that of many full-size sedans, but a few ergonomic glitches lessen its appeal. The trunk opening is small, the pass-through feature is small, and the rear seats don’t fold flat. So, in effect, the Sonata has a lot of room you won’t use. A few test drivers don’t appreciate the budget-conscious upholstery on the base trim. But on the whole, the Sonata can compete head-to-head with the Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry.

Feature Highlights
In its short lifetime, the sixth-generation Hyundai Sonata has won more “Best Of” awards than Elton John. Most of the accolades center on its incredible value. The base GLS trim is such a good buy, it’s unnatural. Bluetooth, heated mirrors, keyless entry, satellite radio, USB/iPod interface – everything that most competitors relegate to the options roster – the Sonata GLS has standard for $19,695. The SE ($23,095) adds various mechanical and convenience accoutrements, while the luxurious Limited ($26,345) has a panoramic sunroof, heated front/rear seats with leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate controls, and other goodies. Opting for the turbocharged engine on the SE and Limited adds even more features. That’s right, folks – Christmas comes early at your local Hyundai dealer.

Tidbit Trio:
1. The base engine can be PZEV-certified, but horsepower drops to 190 and torque to 179 lb-ft.
2. Though marketed as a midsize sedan, the Sonata is classified by the EPA as a “large car” due to its 120 cubic feet of interior volume.
3. Hyundai is pronounced HUHN-DAY.

Rebooted, restarted, rewarded: the 2012 Hyundai Sonata.

Details:
Engine: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder
Horsepower & Torque:
2.4-liter: 198 hp @6,300 rpm, 184 lb-ft of torque @4,250 rpm
2.0-liter: 274 hp @6,000 rpm, 268 lb-ft of torque @1,750 rpm
Transmission: six-speed manual, six-speed automatic (shiftable optional)
Drivetrain: FWD
Fuel Economy: Low: 22/32 mpg, High: 24/35 mpg
Base MSRP: $19,695

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