2011 Hyundai Sonata: A Macro Look at Interior Materials

Definitely not the Hyundai of yesteryear. Now if only more people would see for themselves!

Wouldn't this be a micro look at interior materials?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrophotography

feloniousmonk,
I definitely like the steering wheel better in the Kizashi. And the hard plastic on the door panel is nicely textured.

stan2000,
I think the word is getting out there. :)

daxtripper,
Uh, what acbayard said.

acbayard,
Heh, thanks.

@daxtripper

This is what happens when you let a liberal arts major name things.

Hyundai clearly has the old Toyota in the sights. I had a GF who had a '86 or '87 excel, and the one thing I remember about driving that car was how awful it felt going around turns. That and going up a long incline in upstate NY, I had to move over into the truck lane. Still gives me shivers!

Very nice looking materials for this price range. Mich nicer than toyota and honda interiors.

It would be really helpful to compare these photos to shots of an interior that everyone agrees is excellent. A4 Avant perhaps?

Everything looks great except for the steering wheel. It is just too cluttered.

Either way this is at the top of my list until for mid-sized sedans until Honda updates the accord. Love the Fusion but that steering wheel is horrible.

@dbostondriver: You mean you would actually avoid buying a car because you don't like the steering wheel? I have been driving new cars for almost 50 years. There are no perfect cars, unless you have enough money. Most people don't. Not liking a steering wheel would never appear on my list of deal-breakers.

ed124c says:
03:30 PM, 08/24/10

"@dbostondriver: You mean you would actually avoid buying a car because you don't like the steering wheel? I have been driving new cars for almost 50 years. There are no perfect cars, unless you have enough money. Most people don't. Not liking a steering wheel would never appear on my list of deal-breakers."

Yeah, the way some people talk about the Camaro's wheel, you would think that's all that's keeping them from buying one. Nevermind other little details like, oh, they can't afford one or a minivan or Camry better suits their current needs. I don't like the Sonata's wheel at all, but I could get used to it real quick if the deal was right.

ed124c says:
03:30 PM, 08/24/10

"@dbostondriver: You mean you would actually avoid buying a car because you don't like the steering wheel? I have been driving new cars for almost 50 years. There are no perfect cars, unless you have enough money. Most people don't. Not liking a steering wheel would never appear on my list of deal-breakers."

Yeah, the way some people talk about the Camaro's wheel, you would think that's all that's keeping them from buying one. Nevermind other little details like, oh, they can't afford one or a minivan or Camry better suits their current needs. I don't like the Sonata's wheel at all, but I could get used to it real quick if the deal was right.

Yes, more macros please! In keeping with the current theme, we need to see the Crosstour and Fusion Hybrid for comparison.

On the topic of this car, the upper door trim around the handle looks rich. Also, the headliner looks very similar to what's in my G37. The rest looks like what you'd expect in a car at this price level - passable, but nothing special. Nothing looks horrible to me except maybe the striated seat pattern.

I sat in one of these for the first time and was really impressed with the overall fit and finish. Even the doors like like 3 or 4 different textures. This is certainly a car I could see myself driving. Kudos to the design/engineering team...a fantastic job here.