A very underrated car - good value, good looks, good performance, a proper luxury car feel about it

Exterior

 The Sonata looks a proper luxury car: large, well balanced and with those large twin oval exhausts...yep, any which way you look at it, its easy on the eye. The Headlight assembly could have been sleeker and more predatorish and the door mirrors could have been embellished with turn signals, but otherwise, it looks its part - a luxurious peice of transportation for the discerning buyer.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 Very nice. Luxury look continues inside (leather seats are mandatory) lots and lots of space in the rear. Armrests, wood trim door open caution/puddle lights. Nothing really missing .

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 Engine is smooth, refined and pulls along with a surge of power - but thats only after the annoying and potentially dangerous turbo lag. Nothing much happens below 2000rpm (were you'll be most of the time ) but cross that and she zips along nicely. No feeling of power shortage after 2000rpm. Were talking about the CRDI. Dont know about the petrol version.

Ride Quality & Handling

 No complaints here - shes handles as well as any large (4800mm) sedan without traction control or ebd does, slightly softly sprung, but thats fine, it adds to the luxo barge feel, as it wafts along over uneven tarmac.....no sports car feel but then she doesnt pretend to be one

 

Areas of improvement  

 Traction control, EBD, needed urgently. Xenons would be nice - they're not really much more expensive - about 3000 rs to the manafacturer, and would add that upmarket look to the car, something it could do with. Also need to add memory settings to the driver seat motorised adjustments.

Final Words

I never could understand why Hyundais Terracan, Sonata and Tuscon didnt take off. All three are fine cars with NO real defects and all were value for money(in comparision to other car prices in India, never mind that dars are approximately TWICE the price here in India compared to the USA and UAE).

All I can think of is poor marketing from the companys side. And no, I dont think they have a poorer image than Honda. No more that LGs image compared to Panasonic. Think about it.

Cheere

George Menon Goa

 

The interior makeover, the space the general luxurious feel.Refined engine, silky smooth gear shiftnoticeable turbo lag, no xenons, no usb port