The Venetian Red 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS has left our offices, and on its last night in our fleet, I mounted a camera in the car, hit "record" and set out on Interstate 10. What follows after the jump is sure to be among the most riveting 9 minutes and 59 seconds of your life. At the 6:17 mark, I gently pass a Tacoma PreRunner.
Or not. Actually, if you get carsick easily, don't watch it. I mounted the Kodak ZX3 camera on the rear passenger-side window, bracing it against the B-pillar to minimize shake. And indeed shake is minimized, but instead of a head-on view out the windshield, you're kind of looking at the driver askance as if you were in the passenger seat... while enjoying a view of the LA skyline at dusk.
You'll get a taste of the engine noise during merging and passing from the first 60 seconds of the video. It's hard to get a feel for road noise from a lo-fi video, but my ears tell me it's moderate in the Sonata, and I think that's more or less appparent in the video -- you can follow the play-by-play for Tuesday's Angels/Rays game on the radio.
I've wasted no love on our Sonata GLS over the last year, and this last drive didn't change my opinion of the big sedan's underdone suspension calibration. However, I enjoyed the low-cowl feel of the Sonata's dash (it reminds me of the cab-forward Intrepid), its comfortable driver seat, and its bright, clear displays. And though I don't like the sound of the direct-injected 2.4-liter Theta engine, I always like the mid-range torque. Yep, I'll probably keep recommending this car, just won't buy one.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 19,655 miles
jaeger1 says:
01:01 PM, 06/ 9/11
Damn boring vid, yet somehow hyptonic. There's pretty much nothing happening, and yet I kept watching. I think I need a vaction. ;-)
But seriously - I wouldn't mind seeing the same treatment applied to other long term vehicles. Though 3 or 4 minutes should suffice.
davemccall says:
01:09 PM, 06/ 9/11
Erin, you'd probably like the 6 speed manual a bit better. That's what we have. The manual is geared much higher than the auto. You can't really hear the engine at all until you hit 3100 RPM, which requires about 85mph in the manual. Normal 60mph cruising happens around 2100RPM.
throwback says:
01:17 PM, 06/ 9/11
I have read several reviews of the Sonata and the suspension tuning keeps coming up as needing work. I tested a Elantra and I did not like the suspension set up. It's as if the damping is not in tune with the springs.
aquaticko says:
01:25 PM, 06/ 9/11
I also have questions about the suspension setup, more specifically in relation to the Optima. Kia is supposed to be the "sportier" of the two brands, but I have yet to see the base Optima tested (the EX is supposed to have a "sport" suspension tune). I test drove an Optima, but the car I've been driving for the past 6 years is an '02 Odyssey, so I've got no real basis for general suspension evalutation (I haven't driven a Sonata yet). Anyone driven both base models and notice any real difference between them?
terryseal says:
01:57 PM, 06/ 9/11
aquaticko: I believe the Optima SX has the "sport" suspension, not the EX. (I believe the EX & LX both have the same "standard" suspension.)
bodyblue says:
02:43 PM, 06/ 9/11
Good-buye old friend! Another great performance by Hyundai.....I would not even think twice about buying one.
clovism says:
03:30 PM, 06/ 9/11
Watching somebody else drive a car down the freeway is so, how shall I put it? BORING!
But watching You pass the Tacoma really picked up the interest factor. Oh, and it's nice to see someone driving with two hands on the wheel. Hope that you do that when camera is not rolling.
dg0472 says:
03:59 PM, 06/ 9/11
Hyundais' presser for the 2012 Sonata indicates the dampers were changed out for the new models. It'd be great if IL could get their hands on one to see if it helps any.
dg0472 says:
04:09 PM, 06/ 9/11
Ooops. Hyundai's, I meant.
tjpark01 says:
08:21 PM, 06/ 9/11
Much rather have this suspension set up than the one in Toyotas. For me I think Honda nails the set up perfectly. For some reason a lot of Hondas have a ton of road noise, that I can't tell is from the tires or the lack of insulation, but it's really annoying.
That game last night was painful. The Angels are killing me to watch right now. I'm just a glutton for punishment every night with these guys.
gslippy says:
09:03 PM, 06/ 9/11
Excellent video. I much preferred that to the standard over-the-hood video because of all it showed. I suspect the camera position and fairly rigid mounting increased the sound and vibration levels beyond what a squishy human would perceive.
05forenza says:
09:45 PM, 06/ 9/11
I may be weird. But as boring as that video is...its relaxing lol.
jfire says:
12:23 AM, 06/10/11
1st picture..cvs on garfield? by the library?
carlos20 says:
06:09 AM, 06/10/11
I will keep recommending this car, but wont buy one.
Keep recommending people buy Hyundai, but they spend his money in another cars.
How many editor, analist, journalist actually have spend HIS MONEY buying Hyundais ?.
swatpup102 says:
06:47 AM, 06/10/11
I have a 2011 Sonata 2.0T, and I must say that I love not only the performance of the car, but the gas mileage as well. I can get around 28-30mpg on the highway out of it, or really get on it and see about 19. Not going to go up against any muscle cars, but it sure is fun to drive and deceivingly quick. I think if you would have done a long term test with the turbo version you would be wanting to buy one.
The SE version definitely has a stiffer suspension than the limited, but you only really mind it if the highway you're on is in terrible condition.
priusprick says:
05:06 PM, 06/10/11
While it is understandable that gear heads would fixate on things that most consumers don't, let it be known that the Sonata sold 22754 units in May. In comparison the Accord sold 18185 units, Camry 18830. These three outsold the Sonata:
Chevrolet Malibu: 25,600
Nissan Altima: 25,525
Ford Fusion: 24,666
Not bad.
ab348 says:
05:54 PM, 06/11/11
Man, that engine noise is nasty. Coarse, rough... seems pretty crude.
ryster says:
08:50 AM, 06/12/11
The engine sounds strong in this video. Much better on video than in person (I have a 2011 Sonata GLS, now with 15,500 miles on it.) The engine is very civilized while cruising, but sometimes gets kind of loud when passing or merging. Nothing objectionable and on par with the 2006 Impala 3.5L V6 I had before the Sonata.
I noticed Edmunds has the ECO indicator turned off. Were you guys just tired of looking at it, or did you see no benefit to using it? I have kept mine on and now feel kind of guilty when it isn't illuminated :P
My 2011 Sonata is my first Hyundai. Would I buy another Hyundai? Eh, maybe. If I do it would be either a Genesis sedan or the new 2012 Azera. However, they would be farther down on the list, beneath the new Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, and Nissan Maxima. Hyundai makes a competent product, and dealer service has been very good (my car has only needed work for 1 recall and routine maintenance.) Dynamically, the car feels as though it is only 95% fully engineered. The suspension needs refinement, and interior noise is much higher than it should be.
Hyundai also needs to dump the Kumho and Hankook tires and go back to using Michelin as OEM. The Kumho and Hankooks are really hurting the overall experience.
gauchograd99 says:
01:13 AM, 07/21/11
While observing the road noise and vibration in the video I have to ask one question about this. What stretch of freeway/highway is this? The main reason is if it is close to my home here in SoCal I might take my '06 Audi A3 over the same area and try to get a general idea of how much louder and bouncier the Hyundai is in comparison. I keep looking at these and have driven both models on the "short" loop here (well kept roads too, how surprising) but really am not getting much. Maybe I will try another dealership with a different route.