The all-new Hyundai Sonata is set to make a blistering comeback in its segment, with an exciting combination of luxury and technology. Here’s an exclusive first drive report straight from ground zero
This is probably Hyundai’s most important car in recent times. The all-new Sonata has the task to take on bigwigs like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Škoda Superb: a task the older Sonata did not fully succeed in accomplishing. However, the 2012 version of the Korean premium car looks promising.Also known as the i40, the saloon has been designed in Hyundai’s studio in Germany and it does manage to make heads turn. Apart from giving their cars a family design, the ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ embraced by Hyundai gives their cars a bold character. According to the designers, the lines on the car have been inspired by nature and the beauty of an orchid flower. For instance, the chrome front grille has ripples that borrow design cues from flowing water. However, this chrome bling might come across like an overkill. While the wide grille with the swept-back, cat’s-eye-like HID headlights gives the car a wide and impressive front, large 17-inch wheels with the rising shoulder-line give it a dynamic stance.
The new Sonata’s rear is equally appealing with a wrap-around LED-type tail-light, chrome inserts, dual exhausts and a spoiler lip on the edge of the boot lid. Its strong yet fluidic character lines shape the exterior and it manages to stand out in a crowd.
There are four elegant colours to chose from: Coral White, Sleek Sliver, Mushroom and Black Diamond. The i40 possesses just the right amount of charisma that the outgoing Sonata lacked.
The interior of this car welcomes you with a familiar X-shaped centre fascia on a dual-coloured dashboard. A lot of attention has been paid to the luxurious cabin and the finish is what one would expect in this segment. It is packed to the brim with features such as automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, ABS, ESP, six airbags, a two-din music system, park assist with camera, smart key with push start/stop, 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, steering-mounted audio and Bluetooth controls and the automatic transmission version also get paddle gear-shifters. However, there are a few plastic panels that could have been bettered, particularly the glossy black panel near the gear-shift and the thin paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Keeping the focus on the rear seat passengers, Hyundai engineers have provided vents even for the back seats and the rear arm-rest gets audio controls. There is ample storage area and cup-holders, which make the Sonata suitable for long drives.Hyundai will introduce the Sonata with a 2.4-litre GDi engine only, in both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission. There won’t be a diesel motor option as of now. The GDi with dual VTVT can churn out 201 PS of peak power at 6,300 revolutions per minute and 250 Nm of maximum torque at 4,250 RPM. The car has more than sufficient grunt both for the city and the highway.
I got my hands on the six-speed automatic version, which was not as sharp and the gear shifts felt lethargic. I had to rely on the paddle shifters while overtaking or while sprinting to three-digit figures to keep me engaged with the car.
The McPherson struts in front and multi-link suspension at the rear make the drive very comfortable and make the car sail over bad roads and bumps without much of the impact being transferred to the occupants. But the soft set-up makes the car une
asy at high speed and during emergency braking. The steering weighs well, but is not very direct, especially when one touches the RPM redline. Incidentally, one has to mention that the GDi sounds wonderful when redlined and the smooth motor is happy to oblige. We reckon that the manual transmission will make for a more enthusiastic drive.
The new Sonata is quite a looker, is packed to the brim with safety and comfort features, has a powerful engine, which, with the help of the D-VTVT, promises to be frugal as well and, lastly, it comes with the assurance of a strong service back-up and Hyundai’s known reliability. How this new car fares in the market will depend largely upon how Hyundai price this flagship model.
Hyundai will introduce the Sonata with a 2.4-litre GDi engine only, in both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission
Story: Sarmad Kadiri
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
