New Sonata is looking decent. 5-speed auto, 230HP V6, 17-inch tires, usual stuff inside like automatic climate control, side airbags... Also bigger, 189 inches long with a 107 inch wheelbase.

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow...5/page012.html

-B

 

So how do these cars hold up? THey seem to be getting better.

My coworker has a Hyundai.. I was very surprised how quiet and comfortable it rode.. plus the interior looked great - although this coming from a Camaro owner.. lol

 

Looks sharp.

When I'm the market for a daily driver, I may give it a look.

 

Hyundai claims that they used the last-generation Audi A6 as a "benchmark" for the upcoming Sonata. Well, I'd believe that Toyota Camry was a greater source of inspiration.

Hyundais are supposed to be reliable enough these days and buyers don't seem to be put off by the dorky styling or the downmarket image. Now that the Sonata is approaching reasonable dimensions and power, its becoming a real threat to even the newer GM product. Perhaps GM should have set the bar higher for cars like the Malibu and G6.

 

oooo the bland cars....

 

Not my cup of tea, but Hyundai is the Honda of the 1970's: ugly, but cheap. There's always a niche for cars that just 'go' and 'do'. Hell, its why I bought my pick-up.

 

The only similarity to A6 I see are the headlights. The rest of the car seems to be Accord/Corolla mambo jumbo.

 

It looks inoffensive and handsome enough. The interior looks decent and that's a good amount of power for that type of car. I bet it will come in priced like a 4 cylinder Camry/Accord. Looks like it will be a success. The gf's parents just bought a Santa Fe and they're loving it. Seems fairly solid, although it remains to be seen how it stands the test of time. Perhaps GM should look at Hyundai, they're rapidly improving their image in the market and I imagine by the end of the decade they won't be consider a bunch of crap machines anymore. Unless they all break.

 

I'm pretty sure that Hyundai/Kia has moved out of the "crap machine" category. Right now, Hyundai seems to be more secure than its old partner, Mitsubishi.

Of course, I must repeat that I would never, ever buy a Korean produced vehicle. Other the the Ssangyong products (pretty much 10 year old Mercedes components in tacky Korean bodies) there's nothing from the Korean peninsula worthy of an "enthusiast."