Back in November of 2015, my family decided to give up the old family hauler, a Toyota Sienna, for a more fuel efficient sedan. The one we finally landed on was the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited. For years, Hyundai has been known for making cheap cars for people who were too busy not caring about cars to put any effort into their wheels. However, by completely revamping their lineup and implementing new technologies and better quality, Hyundai has stepped up it's game. Not only are they good value for money, they're good full-stop, and the Sonata is a prime example of how Hyundai has turned things around for the better.
Styling
For 2015, Hyundai completely redesigned the Sonata. The old Sonata was a striking vehicle that tried really hard to throw off the boring vanilla family sedan look. This new model has taken a more conservative approach. Gone are all the sharp creases and curves that distinguished the old car's body, and in their place is more contemporary, yet elegant sheetmetal. I personally think this new model looks classier and more expensive than the old model. There are chrome accents around the windows, grille, door handles, running lights, and doors that add a whiff of elegance and sleekness. The headlights look like the beak of an eagle, and the LED tail lamps on the Limited stand out at night. However, it does look relatively plain from a side and rear view, the most appealing part of the exterior is easily the front end. The Venetian Red paint matched with the black roof looks sophisticated and draws more attention than your typical silver-on-silver look everybody seems to go with these days. The 17 inch alloy wheels are standard on Limited models, and they class things up without sacrificing the ride. In the end, the 2015 Sonata manages to keep a classy appearance, yet some may think it's a bit too conservative and boring. Performance
The new Sonata has a base 2.4 Liter 4 cylinder engine similar to the one in the previous Sonata. This engine puts out 185 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque, and is coupled to a 6 speed shiftronic automatic transmission. The engine has proved to be smooth and quiet over the past few months, but sounds more like an appliance than an engine. However, the Sonata is not fast. Weighing in at 4497, the 4 banger has its work cut out for itself. Hyundai must've thought so too, because they implemented variable valve timing to make more of the engine's power and torque available lower down in the rev range. This works for the most part, the engine has enough power to get the car moving easily in suburban driving. The VVT means you don't have to rev the engine hard to get up to speed, and non lead footed drivers will be plenty satisfied. However, flooring it results in a leisurely 8.5 second 0-60 run. The only time the engine's low power output has been noticeable is on long family highway trips with the car loaded to the brim with people and cargo. At that point the engine needs to be revved to pass cars on the interstate, but is relaxed when cruising. Looking for something faster? Check out the Turbo version. I test drove this model before we purchased our Limited, and it's much faster. However, most V6 sedans will be quicker. I'd skip the Turbo model because engine noise is obtrusive and the ride is harsh over bumps due to the 18 inch wheels and sport tuned suspension. Fuel economy has been a toss up with our 2015 Sonata. EPA estimates for our Limited model were 24 city 35 highway. When I drove the car for 2 weeks straight, I averaged exactly 25mpg in completely suburban driving. On the highway, the Sonata got 38 miles per gallon with the whole family loaded in with myself behind the wheel. I'd expect close to 40mpg on a single person highway run. However, when my dad got behind the wheel that 38mpg dropped to 32, and the city mileage dropped from 25 to 22-23. Long story short, the Sonata can achieve very impressive fuel economy on the highway, but driving styles and differences in driving environments can lead to surprisingly different results in fuel efficiency.
Interior Features/Comfort
This is where the Sonata really comes into its own. Most family sedan's interiors are boring and plasticky, and everything seems to be an optional extra. Not here. The Sonata Limited's interior is easily the best part about the car. The entire dashboard is soft touch, the wood trim is of high quality, and the beige perforated leather seats are in a class of their own for comfort and visual appeal. Driver seat adjustment is good for tall and short drivers, and the seat has been universally ranked as one of the most comfortable in its class. However, you sit low in the Sonata with your legs sticking out in front of you rather than below you which may lead to some discomfort on long trips depending on what you're used to. Also, some may notice some stiffness due to the air conditioning element in the seats. It's not uncomfortable, just some people can notice that it's there. Rear seat comfort is beyond exceptional, with an abundance of head and leg room for a sedan. Rear door sunshades are also standard. The gauges are easy to read, and the 4.3 inch multifunctional display between the speedometer and rev counter is easy to read and gives information such as fuel economy, route directions, digital MPH, and even a compass. It also provides control over many of the cars settings such as the 1 touch indicators, how long the lights stay on after you lock the car, etc. The 8 inch touchscreen is super easy to use. It has a layout similar to an iPad, making scrolling through menus easier than in competitors. The navigation is easy to interpret, and can be used as a split screen with the radio, making it easy to change the station while en route to a dinner party. Android Auto is also available, making the touch screen a Google interface synced with your Android phone. Voice controls are much improved. The system has 3 settings that adjust how the system responds to your voice. Put it on advanced, and you can talk directly to the system without being prompted, a nice time saving feature. The 8 inch screen is coupled to the optional 400 watt Infinity audio system, featuring 9 speakers plus a subwoofer. This stereo is nothing short of amazing. It provides crystal clear sound quality with no sign of distortion at all volumes. There is also a system that increases the volume as road noise increases, to keep the sound constant. The 3 stage heated and air conditioned seats and steering wheel heat up rapidly, making a sub zero winter day commute nice and comfy. The 2 stage heated rear seats are also standard and bring luxuries usually reserved for front seat passengers to the back. On a summer day, open up the standard panoramic moonroof and crank on the air conditioned seats. They may seem like a gimmick, but your rear end will thank you when you step into the car after its been sitting in a parking lot on a 90 degree day. Sick and tired of pulling a handbrake or stepping on a parking break pedal? Now all you have to do is push a button, and the electronic parking break does it for you. It will also hold the car automatically when stopped at a set of lights, a feature called auto hold. The best part of the interior is that it just has an air of quality to it. All the lighting is grey, the clock is a modern digital unit with big numbers, and all the controls feel well built and are super easy to interpret and use. All the HVAC controls can be used with knobs instead of the touchscreen. Every surface you touch is either soft or accented in faux wood or metal, all the hard plastics are reserved for areas you won't be touching. The interior also feels large and airy, not dark and cramped like many competitors. The only complaint is that the panoramic moonroof rattles on occasion at low speeds. Other equipment in our Limited includes blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, cross traffic alert, forward collision alert, and adaptive cruise control. Overall, there is no other family sedan in this price range that comes close to the Sonata in terms of comfort, features or quality. Driving Experience
You may think that driving the Sonata would be like driving a marshmallow, but it isn't. The first thing that stands out is just how refined this car is. There is almost no wind noise at all, and engine and road noise are kept hushed, even at highway speeds. At 60 mph, all you hear is the sound of silence. The ride is extremely controlled. Very few impacts intrude the cabin, and the car never becomes unsettled. However, the ride does become a little bit rougher when loaded up with people and cargo, but it is still very comfortable at all times. Handing is actually not bad for such a big car. The electric steering is well weighted, not light and floaty like other competitors, but it doesn't have much feel or feedback. The heaviness of the steering compensates well though, and nobody expected this car to be a sports sedan. As a result, you can confidently drive this car on twisty roads without feeling like you're just hanging on for the ride. Engine power is adequate, but things don't really pick up until you hit 2nd gear. Throttle response can feel disconnected at low speeds, a trait I've seen in the Hyundais I've driven. Overall, the Sonata is very relaxing to drive. You can tell that it doesn't want to be driven quickly, so sit back and enjoy what it has to offer. The Sonata can haul 4 passengers in high levels of comfort without any issues, and pleases with its abundance of standard features such as the panoramic moonroof and heated/ventilated seats. Cargo capacity is 16.3 cubic feet, enough to take our entire family's luggage for a 1 week vacation plus a brand new espresso maker that easily took up a quarter of the trunk space. No complaints here.So What Do We Think?
When looking at the family sedan market, it's easy to get swallowed up by the mainstream and reliable Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but don't. The Sonata delivers the most refinement, best interior quality and comfort, and has the most features at the best price. Our fully loaded Sonata's MSRP was $33,445. Pay that much for a Camry and you won't get air conditioned front seats or heated rear seats, and you'll only dream of a panoramic moonroof or a 9 speaker, 400 watt Infinity audio system. Also, the Sonata has a 10 year, 100k mile warranty. That's 7 years and 64k miles more than the competition. If you must have something sporty, get the Accord, but besides that the Sonata is the one to have. The best part is Hyundai dealers always have rebates going on that slash the prices of their cars. Our fully loaded Limited only cost $24,500.
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