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Recently, the general manager of a local car dealership was reminiscing about his many years in the automotive industry and the variety of brands he’d sold during that time. When asked which brands in today’s market he felt provided their owners with value for their dollar, he readily brought up Hyundai. He pointed out Hyundai’s improvements over initial reliability...


Recently, the general manager of a local car dealership was reminiscing about his many years in the automotive industry and the variety of brands he’d sold during that time. When asked which brands in today’s market he felt provided their owners with value for their dollar, he readily brought up Hyundai.

He pointed out Hyundai’s improvements over initial reliability issues, its extensive warranty and the number of amenities for the price as his reasons. And, just so you know, he doesn’t sell Hyundais.

Hyundai truly seems to be coming into its own. The company is getting Japanese and U.S. car manufacturers’ full attention with its increasing share of the market. The CEOs of two of the largest auto manufacturers in Japan have recently been quoted as saying Hyundai, a Korean company, is currently the biggest threat to Japanese auto manufacturing.
Although getting a thumbs-up from someone in the automotive industry is nice and the international automotive intrigue is interesting, none of this is news to current Hyundai owners. They’re already convinced they’ve gotten their money’s worth when it comes to a reliable ride.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited I recently test-drove had a sticker price of $25,295. The Sonata is smack-dab in the middle of the company’s sedan lineup. Below it are the entry-level four-door Accent and the slightly bigger Elantra. Above it are the Azera, a luxury sedan, and the Genesis – Hyundai’s entry into the rarified air of high-end luxury sedans such as those from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

For a car that can best be described as a meat-and-potatoes vehicle for its manufacturer, there’s nothing middle-of-the-road about the Sonata. Its more angular exterior styling for 2011 reminds me of a lighter version of Mercedes’ and Lexus’ bigger sedans.

Its starting price of $19,195 for the GLS trim level makes it a highly affordable family sedan. For that price buyers get a comfortable and stylish sedan with a 2.4-liter 198-hp four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and doors, dual heated power mirrors, audio system with CD player and MP3 input, Bluetooth hands-free phone compatibility, steering wheel-mounted audio, phone and cruise controls, advanced trip computer with custom settings and dual illuminated vanity mirrors. Adding an automatic transmission costs $1,000.

Next in the trim line is the SE for $22,595, a sports trim that adds a sport-tuned suspension, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, 18-inch hypersilver rims, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and the seat bolsters.

Although all three Sonata trim levels come with the same engine, the dual exhaust in the SE bumps up the horsepower a smidge to 200 hp.

The top-of-the-line Limited trim level includes 17-inch rims (16 on the GLS), leather seating surfaces, heated front and rear seating surfaces, sunroof, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, mirror-mounted turn signals, proximity key entry with push-button start, dual automatic temperature controls with rear vents, Dimension audio system with CD, satellite and a subwoofer. Bluetooth compatibility, iPod jack, Homelink garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, premium door sill plates and more.

That’s quite a list of included features for around $25,000. Van Bohn, owner of Hyundai of Metairie, said the best-selling Sonata model is the GLS because of the unbelievable price – “especially with the $199 a month 24-month lease.” The Sonata is Hyundai’s bread-and-butter vehicle, much like the Accord is for Honda and the Camry

Tags: Hyundai, is-featured

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Hyundai Sonata: Classical Sonata was originally published by New Orleans Auto Reviews: Hyundai. Read the full story by clicking here.