2007 Hyundai Sonata Review
The Hyundai Sonata hit U.S. shores for 1989 as a followup to the successful Excel line. The Sonata sat at the back of the automotive market until 1995, when its exterior was upgraded to a more upscale look, increasing sales by 25 percent. The 1999 Sonata marked its transition from a compact car to a full-blown midsize sedan. Its exterior was refashioned in 2002 to a near-luxury look. The current generation of the Sonata debuted for 2006. Now dubbed a “large car” by the Environmental Protection Agency, the new Sonata has received rave reviews and was the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year.
The BuyingAdvice Team Says:
It wasn’t that long ago that Hyundai was the joke of the auto business: not anymore. Hyundai Sonata may not be quite ready to topple Toyota and Honda, but they have made great strides and are closing the gap quickly. Their recent models, including the Sonata, have all been strong contenders. The Sonata, in particular, is a remarkably reliable and safe vehicle for the price. The standard safety features read like a checklist of everything you’d want in a car. Top it off with a luxury facade and Hyundai’s attractive warranty package, and the Sonata easily matches anything in its class for value.
What’s New For 2007:
What is the Predicted Reliability:
J.D. Power and Associates gives the Sonata four and a half out of five stars in initial reliability. The new Sonata hasn’t been out long enough to gather long term reliability data, but it has been rapidly improving over the years. The 1995-1998 models were relatively problematic, having issues with the transmission and misfiring. However, later models have fared extremely well. The 1999-2001 Sonatas had minor issues with shifting problems, hard starting, and an issue that would cause gas station pumps to cut off prematurely. The 2002 Sonata had issues with shifting, climate control, and engine clicking. Expect above average reliability from the Sonata. Hyundai’s basic warranty lasts for five years or 60,000 miles, and its powertrain warranty is good for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:
The Sonata performs exceptionally in safety tests, receiving a perfect five out of five in government front and side crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Sonata its best “Good” rating for both front and rear impacts, and an “Acceptable” for rear collisions. The Sonata comes loaded with safety features, including traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, active head restraints, and full side airbags. The previous Sonata was recalled in 2002-03 for issues with fuel leaks, and the spare tire activating traction control.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
+ Strong reliability record
+ Safe
+ Superior warranty
Cons
– Perpetual shifting issues
– Boring design
– Odd vent placement
Head-To-Head Competition:
The Hyundai Sonata GLS is one of the best values in its class. The Ford Focus, which costs about as much, lacks the Sonata’s standard anti-lock brakes and traction control. The similarly priced Mazda MAZDA3 lacks traction control and anti-lock brakes, but also has five fewer square feet of cargo space. The Pontiac G6 is a bit stronger, but lacks traction control and anti-lock brakes. For the price, it is hard to beat the Sonata in safety, or even reliability.
What Others Are Saying:
“The Sonata’s cabin is comfortable, spacious and very nicely designed. The level of standard equipment is startling for a vehicle in this price range. A good variety of textures on the instrument panel gives the appearance of expensive materials. The top of the dash is covered in dark material while the lower section is light to give a sense of space. A thin strip of brushed aluminum separates the two colors.” – The Family Car
“Hyundai hasn’t forgotten about value in its quest to add sophistication to the new model. All Sonatas-including the entry-level $18,495 GL powered by a 162-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox-come standard with an array of safety features, including front side airbags, curtain airbags front and rear, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction control, and the aforementioned stability control. On some of the Sonata’s competitors, these features are not even available, let alone standard.” – Car and Driver
“Hyundai has gotten aggressive, providing a car that’s jam-packed with value and is a decent drive. The smooth engine produced a good amount of thrust for the size and weight of the car, but some felt the transmission was too slow to shift.” – Motor Trend
Read more about the 2007 Hyundai Sonata at the Hyundai manufacturer web site.
