The Hyundai Sonata Gets a Remake
The Hyundai Sonata has enjoyed much success here in the USA as well as Korea, and why shouldn’t it? It is a well made car that delivers very good gas mileage and has proven to be reliable. The Alabama-manufactured model is tops in the large car class with an EPA-rated city/highway rating of 22/32 miles per gallon according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Sonata was the most popular car in Korea in October 2009 and it still remains popular in the US, but it is getting some calls for a re-design to keep up with it’s competitors. As a review in the US News & World Report put it – “Once a budget option, the Hyundai Sonata is now a legitimate competitor for the best midsize sedans. It is not notable for any one trait, but does most things well….But the Sonata lacks the personality of some of the top cars in the affordable midsize class. It’s not particularly sporty or luxurious. It’s simply practical.”
And according to reported figures from Hyundai, sales of the Sonata are only down slightly for 2009:
October 2009 YTD Sales – 101,365
October 2008 YTD Sales – 105,385
You can see available options and pricing for the 2009 Hyundai Sonata at CarLocate.com.
With the US economic woes, the above numbers are something that most would not be to concerned about, but that didn’t stop Hyundai from listening to its critics. In spite of the fact that the Sonata is Hyundai’s best selling car, Hyundai went and did a complete re-design of the Sonata. The new look 2011 Sonata will be available in the United States mid-2010, and it has already made its public debut in Korean.
The new 2011 Sonata sedan features Hyundai’s latest design technology called “fluidic sculpture” and according to many automotive experts it is expected to shake up the world’s mid-size sedan market with its state-of-the-art technologies, outstanding performance, leading fuel economy and safety features.
The completely re-designed Sonata features dramatically improved safety and convenience features which will attract and satisfy most drivers. It comes available with Vehicle Dynamic Control, Rear Heated Seats, Amplitude Selective Dampers, Electronic Parking Brake, Hill-start Assist Control, Brake Assist System, panoramic sunroof, Parking Guide System (PGS), JBL Premium Sound system and newly applied, Mozen Premium Wide Navigation system. Mozen system is a telematics service that links the vehicle’s electronic control systems to a monitoring center. The center checks various components for errors, informs the driver of the analysis, and provides directions to nearby service centers.
Hyundai will continue to manufacture the Sonata in Alabama and China, and production of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata will begin early next year in the US, while production in China will start in 2011.
