When the Hyundai Sonata received a much-needed overhaul back in 2002 I found it to be an excellent competitor in the mid-sized market. That was back in 2002, but what about in 2005? The current version of the Sonata hasn't changed much over the past 3 years, but its competition most definitely has. With the release of the Mazda6, the redesigned Accord, and the updated Altima and Camry, can the 2005 Sonata still compete in this market?

The 2005 Hyundai Sonata is available in 4 trim levels, GL, GL V6, LX, and GLS Special Value. The GLS and LX come equipped with a standard 2.7 liter DOHC V6 producing a wholesome 170 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque (a new 3.3 liter V6 is due out in 2006, which promises about 50 extra ponies). The only transmission available for the V6 equipped trim levels is a 4-speed automatic with sport-shift. If you are looking for a manual transmission you will have to go with the 138 horsepower 4-cylinder, which is only available in the base GL trim level.

Driving Impressions:

I have always had mixed feelings towards Hyundai's DOHC 2.7 liter V6. Although this engine is aeons more refined than the old 2.5-liter engine that used to power the pre 2002 Sonata's, this engine still lacks the power and sophistication of much of its competition. Back in 2002 this wasn't exactly the case. The Sonata wasn't too far off from offering the type of power associated with cars like the V6 Camry, the V6 Accord, or the V6 Galant. Fast forward 3 years and the Sonata's 170-horse engine feels almost gutless when compared to the newly updated 200+ horse engines that are currently under the hoods of its competitors. In fact, the Sonata V6 feels about as quick as Honda's 4-cylinder powered base Accord. Nevertheless, the Sonata still offers adequate acceleration and by no means should be considered slow. With a 0-60 time of just under nine seconds (according to popular specs) the Sonata would still give cars such as the Duratec equipped Ford Taurus/Sable and the Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Stratus a good run for their money.

The Sonata may not offer head-snapping power, but it's very quiet when accelerating, especially when compared to cars like the Ford Taurus and the offerings from Dodge. When stabbing the throttle from a stand-still the Sonata moves without a single complaint from the engine or transmission; not exactly commonplace for mid-sized cars equipped with small V6's and even more unexpected coming from a Korean built car retailing for less than 20,000 dollars.

The sole transmission available, a gated 4-speed automatic with auto-stick, is impressive. Unlike the automatic transmissions I have come to know in many previous Hyundai cars, i.e. the first and second generation Hyundai Sonata, the 2005 Sonata offers a refined automatic transmission. This transmission shifts without any fuss; even under full-throttle or when downshifting at high speeds.

The Sonata isn't the worst handler in it's class, though it's far from offering the type of fun factor on twisty roads that you get with cars like the Mazda6 and Honda Accord. The sonata rolls significantly through turns and feels much larger than it actually is. I found similar problems with the 2005 Toyota Camry; a soft pillowy ride on the highway, but horrible cornering on back roads. If you are looking for a better handling car, I highly suggest checking out the '05 Mazda6s or even the 4-cylinder version; the Mazda6i.

Cruising on the highway is where this car shows its best and worst performance assets. The good: The Sonata absorbs bumps and general road imperfections extremely well; nothing in the cabin rattles and harsh jolts are kept to a minimum. Wind and engine noise is also kept almost totally devoid from the cabin, even at speeds upwards of 80 MPH. The only time this quiet cruising is interrupted is when the Sonata needs to tackle steep inclines.
The Bad: Although the Sonata's 2.7 liter engine is smooth when driving around town and cruising on flat surfaces, this small V6 shows its underpinning when attempting to tackle steep hills at high speeds. This is the only time the Sonata shows that its engine just isn't sufficient for the weight of this car. The Sonata does fine on small inclines, so if you live in an area where the geography is flat, this probably won't be an issue for you. However, for those of you who live in mountainous terrain be prepared to provide a heavy foot to get you over those summits.

Unfortunately, with the compromises you will make having an only adequately powered car, you won't be rewarded with great EPA numbers. With an EPA rating of 19/27, this gives the Sonata almost 3 MPG less on the highway than the 240 horse Accord, the 210 horse Camry V6, and almost 5 MPG less than the 3.5 liter Chevy Malibu.

Interior:

From a distance the interior of the '05 Sonata looks like it would be more apt to be found in a $40,000 luxury car. Get behind the wheel and reality sets in. The Sonata is filled to the brim with cheap plastics and the standard "leather steering wheel" feels more like the plastic steering wheel found in Dodge Neon versus the leather Hyundai so proudly boasts. The overly glossy simulated wood grain that is littered throughout the cabin may sound like a noteworthy attribute, but this wood theme just cheapens the Sonata's interior . I am not a fan of simulated titanium, however I think even an overdose of plastic titanium would have made for a better appearance than the Sonata's current simulated wood trim. My last gripe with this interior would be the 1980's-ish instrumentation. Why Hyundai chose to imitate a an era of bland mid-sized cars for its analogue information center is beyond me.

The Hyundai Sonata's interior might have some shoddy interior features, however it offers just as many noteworthy attributes. Minus the wood trim, the center stack is beautifully laid out with European style push button gadgetry that's extremely easy to use and is distributed logically so the driver doesn't have to take his or her eyes of the road.

The Sonata GLS comes standard with plenty of standard amenities, especially considering the 19,000-dollar price tag. Some noteworthy amenities in my GLS included cruise control, a Homelink universal transceiver, a decent sounding 6 speaker cassette/CD player, 4 cup holders, air conditioning, power everything, and much more. For more info on optional and standard GLS features, I highly suggest checking out Hyundaiusa.com

Seating in the Sonata has improved over the years, but still could be benefit from some revisions. These standard cloth seats are made of comfy material, but they lack the upper and the lower body supports needed for any type of aggressive driving. Hopefully these issues are tackled when Hyundai introduces the all-new 2006 Sonata sometime this year. Aside from poor seat bolstering, the driving position is excellent as is all around outward vision. The rear seats are 60/40 split and also offer good comfort. Room is adequate for a family sedan; plenty of head and leg room up front and as long as the front seats are not pushed all the way back, the rear passengers will also enjoy the luxury of good leg room. Stowage space is fair, there are cubbies throughout the cabin for small items and the trunk is fairly large enabling more than enough room for your grocery getting needs.

Exterior:

You'll find that Hyundai has taken many styling cues from high-end luxury sedans and ties them together in one chunk of metal. This isn't all that bad, as I would rather have Hyundai copying Jags than Ford Tauruses, but more original styling from Hyundai would be appreciated. Hyundai has done an excellent job with the Tiburon's styling, the same type of original styling would be welcomed in Hyundai's family car line-up.

Price and Warranty;

The 2005 Sonata has a starting MSRP just south of $16,500 for the base GL model and just over $20,000 for the top of the line LX. My GLS Special Package (with no options) came to just under $19,000. This is about 3,000 less than a comparable equipped Mitsubishi Galant and just five grand less than a comparably equipped Accord V6 or Mazda6 S). If anything goes wrong with your new Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai offers an excellent warranty; 6-year/60,000 mile full coverage and 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain coverage. Note: One should consider that since the all new 2006 Hyundai Sonata is due out sometime this fall, there are going to be generous rebates on the '05 models very soon.

Final Thoughts:

At $18,999 the 2005 Hyundai Sonata GLS isn't exactly cheap. For just a few grand more you can upgrade to the better offerings from Honda, Toyota, and Mazda. Don't get me wrong, the '05 Sonata isn't a terrible car, in fact I would recommend it as an inexpensive alternative to cars like the Ford Taurus, the Chrysler Sebring, and even the Saturn L300. However, when it comes to cars like the Accord, the Camry, the Mazda6, and the Altima, the 2005 Sonata just can't compete with either performance or quality. In conclusion, I still recommend the 2005 Sonata, but if another 3,000 dollars is in your budget, I highly suggest going with a more qualified mid-sized sedan or waiting for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata which promises to be a more competent sedan for about the same price as the '05 models.


Thanks for reading!



Amount Paid (US$): 19,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: GLS V6 4-speed automatic