2011 Hyundai Sonata Review and Prices

Styling: The 2011 Sonata sheds staid sheetmetal for a body that echoes upscale cars like the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Hyundai calls the look “Fluidic Sculpture” and says it’s intended to “create the illusion of constant motion.” The minimalist’s eye will perceive an extraneous crease or two, but the 2011 Sonata certainly is striking. A radically raked windshield leads to a gracefully arched roof that places the 2011 Sonata among the new wave of sedans with coupe-like profiles. Large headlamps sweep into the front fenders, and the body side is defined by a pronounced ridgeline that rises toward the tail. The “beltline” that separates the body side from the glass “greenhouse” is trendily high and sports a chrome strip nearly the length of the car. The 2011 Sonata’s body is an inch longer than the 2006-2010 model’s on a wheelbase lengthened a significant 2.6 inches. Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles, and stretching it draws Sonata’s tires out to the edges of the car. That shrinks the front and rear sheetmetal “overhangs” and gives this five-passenger four-door a modern, efficiently engineered look. It also increases the space Sonata can devote to the passenger compartment. The 2011 Sonata is redesigned inside, too. It gains a sporty, dual-cockpit theme with arched dashboard sections separated by a gracefully sloped center console. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata again comes in three models: base GLS, sporty SE, and upscale Limited. Visually distinguishing the SE and Limited are fog lamps and a chrome-accented grille and door handles in place of the GLS’s body-colored pieces. The GLS comes with 16-inch wheels (steel standard, alloy optional); the Limited comes with 17-inch alloys. The SE has 18-inch alloys and chromed dual exhaust outlets.   

Mechanical: The 2011 Sonata debuts with one engine, a four-cylinder with the same 2.4-liter displacement as the 2010 model’s but now with direct fuel injection and other tech advances. Hyundai dubs it the Theta II and rates it at 198 horsepower in the 2011 Sonata GLS and Limited models and 200 horsepower in the 2011 Sonata SE, which benefits from a dual exhaust system. Torque is 186 pound-feet in the SE, 184 in the other models. (Think of torque as the force responsible for getting a car moving, horsepower as the energy that keeps it moving). The previous Sonata 2.4-liter four-cylinder had 175 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque. Gone is Sonata’s V-6, which had 249-horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. The new top engine will be a turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter Theta II. It arrives late in calendar 2010 as an option for 2011 Sonata Limited and Sport models. Output wasn’t specified at the time of this review but Hyundai sources say it will exceed 250 horsepower. Concurrent with the turbo, Hyundai will introduce the 2011 Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive model. This will team a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor and be capable of running on either or both of its power sources. Hyundai hasn’t released power figures for the Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive. The 2011 Sonata makes strides on the transmission front, trading five-speed manual and automatic transmissions for more efficient six-speed units. The GLS is available with both transmissions, the SE and Limited with the automatic only. Developed by Hyundai, the six-speed automatic is 26 pounds lighter than its five-speed predecessor. It features Hyundai’s Shiftronic control, which allows manual-type gear selection via a separate gate for the floor lever or, on the SE model, via steering-wheel paddles. The SE also has a sport-tuned suspension and steering. The 2011 Sonata remains a front-wheel-drive design, which puts the weight of the engine above the tires that propel the car, a benefit to traction on slippery surfaces. All-wheel drive is not offered, but all 2011 Sonatas come with traction and antiskid control to improve grip on takeoffs and in changes of direction. Power steering assist is electric to reduce parasitic loads on the engine and antilock four-wheel-disc brakes are standard for improved control in emergency stops.

Features: The 2011 Hyundai Sonata again flexes the features-per-dollar muscle that helped sell the previous-generation model to Americans who never thought they’d own a Korean car. Standard on every 2011 Sonata are power windows, locks, and mirrors; the Limited’s mirrors incorporate turn-signal indicators. All models have air conditioning, remote keyless entry, and a 60/40 split folding rear seatback. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes; SE and Limited get a leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob. They also get a power driver seat, which is optional on the GLS in place of a manual seat. The 2011 Sonata Limited also comes with heated front and rear seats. A power moonroof is standard on the Limited and optional on the SE. The GLS has cloth upholstery, the SE adds leather bolsters with cloth inserts, and the Limited has full-leather seating surfaces. The 2011 Sonata Limited also has automatic climate control and replaces some brushed-metallic cabin accents with piano-black trim. All 2011 Sonatas come with Bluetooth cell-phone linking. Their standard audio system includes XM satellite radio and links to iPods and other digital media via both an auxiliary jack and a USB interface. On all models, the steering wheel incorporates audio, Bluetooth, and cruise controls. Optional on the SE and standard on the Limited is a six-speaker stereo with subwoofer and external amplifier. Optional on the Limited is a 400-watt nine-speaker Infinity system. Optional on all models is a navigation system activated by voice command and a 6.5-inch dashboard touch screen. The system includes 8 gigabytes of flash memory, Bluetooth streaming audio, and real-time XM data on traffic, weather, stocks, and sports. It adds a rearview camera to Limited models. The GLS is available with a Popular Equipment Package that contains such features as the power driver’s seat, upgraded upholstery and trim, and 16-inch alloy wheels.