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It’s all I need to do

Likes
Zoomy new styling
Fuel-conscious
Well-damped ride
Entertainment features

Dislikes
Stylish cabin isn’t everyone’s style
Inconsistent steering feel
If you have to have a V-6, you’re out of luck

It’s true in cars as it’s true in politics—to rise above the clutter, you need to make a dramatic statement. While Hyundai won’t be telling anyone it can “see Russia from its house!” anytime soon, it is giving its mainstream, mid-size Sonata a refreshing new look and a new mission. The goal: dislodge some Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion buyers (along with shoppers considering the Camry, Malibu and Accord) and bring them into the Hyundai fold.

In four previous generations of sedans (five, if you count one version not sold in the U.S.), the Sonata’s been a conservatively styled piece. For the 2011 edition, Hyundai’s chucked caution out the driver’s window and endowed the Sonata with an intriguing blend of crests and curves. They call it “fluidic sculpture” design language. We think it’s a daring look for a family sedan, with lots of curves and arcs accentuated by a deep sculptural strake in its side. There’s lots of movement implied in the side view, and the grille has some of the “wave” look of the latest Infinitis. In all, it’s exciting and engaging, particularly parked next to the more utilitarian 2010 Sonata—and with the Altima and Fusion, it’s among our favorite sedans to see. There are some imperfect details, though. You might notice the gathering of cutlines where the mirror meets the front fenders, and the unusual arrow of chrome that rolls down the front fenders. Overall, though, the Sonata’s handsome, jazzy, and a visual standout in its class.

The cabin takes its own chances, winning most of its bets, but it’s a little out there, on the edge of cutting edge for traditional family-sedan shoppers. The interior shares some themes with the big Hyundai Genesis sedan, including the vents that flank a big LCD screen atop the dash. The new Sonata has even more dramatic sculpturing in its steering wheel and dash cap than the Genesis, and gets cut-tube-style instruments as well as an iconographic climate control shaped like a human. It’s adventurous and functional, and maybe a little more dramatic than some families will want—especially in contrast with the 2010 Sonata’s sedately good-looking dash. The Sonata can be had with a variety of dash trim: the SE gets metallic, grained plastic trim that will wear well, but painted plastic trim on the steering wheel, which won’t. The Sonata Limited has piano-black trim, save for beige-interior cars, which get woodgrain.

Styling’s a noticeable departure from the norm, and the 2011 Sonata will take its chances with powertrains, too. For 2011, the Sonata will be offered with only a four-cylinder engine, leaving buyers to move up to a Hyundai Azera if they want a V-6. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder will make 198 horsepower, thanks to direct injection and other advanced engine technology; PZEV versions with cleaner emissions are rated at 190 hp, while the Sonata SE’s nearly identical engine gets a boost to 200 hp. Because this Sonata weighs a bit less than the competition, it’s a bit swifter than, say, the Camry or Malibu four-cylinders; between highway passes and switchback curves, we rarely felt the Sonata straining for power, even with three adults in tow. A six-speed manual will actually be offered, but almost all Sonatas will be outfitted with a new six-speed automatic that gets a sport-shift mode on Limited cars and slightly flimsy-feeling paddles on SE versions. It’s Hyundai’s own transmission and it’s a smooth-shifting unit, mated well with the quiet, balanced hum from the engine.

The manual, the lack of a V-6–it’s all in the name of fuel economy. The Sonata GLS manual scores the best-in-class overall fuel economy with a 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway fuel economy rating, with all other Sonata models achieving 22 mpg city/35 mpg highway–not bad considering power output tops the base Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion.

Will the Sonata please enthusiasts along with the EPA? Probably. Its well-sorted ride quality is its best feature, while steering feel is inconsistent. For a family sedan, the engine-speed-sensitive electric power steering actually feels better the faster you go. On switchbacks during our test drive, the Sonata’s steering felt hefty on center and meaty through a string of medium-speed curves. In town it got more nervous, at the transition point where the steering effort had been programmed to lighten up. The result makes the Sonata a little wandery on the highway as well. The Sonata rides very well, though, with a light touch to its damping, lower road noise, and on SE versions, monotube shocks that seem to snuff out body roll without costing the Sonata too much compliance. Braking felt fine—we encountered an emergency stop and the Sonata responded ably—and the base 16-inch wheels grow to 19-inch wheels on some trims.

You’ll find plenty of room even for large adults in the Sonata, as we did during a driving route that curled through the hills east of San Diego. Already a big car, the 2011 Sonata is officially a “large” car by EPA rules, with 120 cubic feet of interior and trunk space. In the class, only the Honda Accord passes that hurdle. The driver and front passenger have plenty of knee and head room; we liked the Sonata’s cloth seats for their bolstering better than the optional leather buckets, and the textured fabric’s almost Nike-sportswear feel probably will be durable. The leather seats in front feel a bit flatter up front. The back seat sits at a good angle of recline, and only the tallest passengers will touch heads against the fabric headliner and the hard-plastic front seatbacks. The 16.4-cubic-foot trunk is about as large as that in the Ford Fusion, and the trunk gets larger when the rear seats are flipped forward. In the cabin, a deep center console and glovebox hide valuable goods; there’s a niche near the audio controls for cellphones, a flat open bin in front of it for clutter, and a bin hidden behind a flip-down lid to conceal other goods—perhaps a radar detector? The Sonata also has dual power points, eight cupholders for those frequent cross-Sahara side trips, and coat hangers to keep your blazer looking sharp.

The 2011 Sonata arrives in showrooms wearing one big safety badge—a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). No NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tests are available yet but Hyundai is hoping for five-star scores across the board (we’ll update you when results are released). Standard safety equipment includes dual front, side, curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control; and active headrests. Visibility from inside the Sonata is good, even to the rear quarters where minuscule triangular windows seem to be in place just to keep the side view flowing—even rear-seat passengers won’t see much through them. A rearview camera is available only on the top trims, though.

The Sonata nearly matches the Ford Fusion’s array of entertainment features. Standard equipment on all models includes Bluetooth connectivity and steering-wheel audio controls; an MP3-CD player with iPod and USB connectivity; daytime running lights; a tilt/telescoping steering wheel; cruise control; and power windows, locks and mirrors. The Sonata SE adds paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension, and some slight trim differences. Both the Sonata SE and Sonata Limited have parking sensors and push-button start. The Limited also gets standard heated front and rear seats; a sunroof; a backup camera; automatic climate control; and an automatic dimming rearview mirror.

Options are kept simple, bundled in packages. The base GLS can be upgraded to include a power driver seat and alloy wheels; the SE’s options include a nicely executed navigation system packaged with a sunroof. There’s also a new “Dimension” speaker package for some audio systems. The Sonata Limited adds on a CD changer and HD Radio, and can be equipped with an Infinity 400-watt audio system, bundled with the touchscreen-driven navigation system and the rearview camera. The nav system includes XM NavTraffic and Bluetooth streaming audio, as well as 8GB of flash memory for music storage.

Pricing for the Alabama-built 2011 Hyundai Sonata will start at just $19,195 for the base GLS model equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Adding an automatic, the price rises to $20,915. Moving up to the SE model will run up a bill of $22,595, while the range-topping Limited model is available from $25,295.

The Bottom Line:The 2011 Hyundai Sonata takes some smart styling and performance risks to raise its profile.

Other Choices:
If you like the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, also consider:

- 2010 Ford Fusion
- 2010 Nissan Altima
- 2010 Honda Accord
- 2010 Toyota Camry
- 2010 Chevrolet Malibu

Reason Why:
The new Sonata banks on swoopy lines and fuel economy to draw shoppers away from the class leaders. Of all its competitiors, it seems geared the most at the highly-rated Ford Fusion, which was refurbished for 2010 with a new interior, a bolder grille and neater dynamics. The Nissan Altima’s also close kin, with big interior room and probably the best handling of all these four-doors, though its interior lacks the panache of the Sonata. The large Honda Accord still has an elusive quality feel that few cars can match, though its styling has not aged as well as Honda may have hoped. Finally, the Camry and Malibu are the conservative choices here, with an emphasis on quieter, more luxurious transportation.

Buying Tip:
Want more distinction? The Sonata gets a new pair of powerplants later this year. A turbocharged 2.0-liter version of the same four-cylinder will be added to the Sonata lineup next year, with a hybrid version outfitted with lithium-polymer batteries arrives late in the year.

This 2011 Hyundai Sonata Review originally appeared at TheCarConnection.com where you can see more photos and news on the Hyundai Sonata

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