2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS: Final Thoughts

The Sonata looks very good in the first picture, I don't know why anyone would buy a Camry or Accord over a Sonata.

Sonata still looks very sharp. It's the kind of design that will still look new 10 years from now.

"exactly like our test car other than color"

Well, maybe he did. But that picture is not of a GLS; it's a Limited.

Once Hyundai owners can brag that their cars have gone 200,000 miles with only oil, filter, and brake pad changes. Chassis that withstand rattles and are solid and quiet as the first day they were driven home. Dealerships that respect and treat their customers as if their very lives depend on their very own survival (and by the way... it does!) Bring new and exciting models. Absolute and uncompromising quality, even if it is priced a little bit above the competition. One final ingredient: Start a Racing Team and race to win... Hyundai will have positioned itself to take on the world...They are almost there!

"dg0472 says:
10:22 PM, 07/ 7/11
"exactly like our test car other than color"
Well, maybe he did. But that picture is not of a GLS; it's a Limited. "

right.. I don't think GLS comes with foglights.

@tjpark "I would say the Genesis is the car that got America to notice. The Sonata is the car that got America to buy."

Well said.

@Jazzy7

There are plenty of people who have done that. My father has owned 2 sonatas with 0 problems and well over 200,000 miles on each (life of a salesman in S. FL is brutal on cars) and is now on his 3rd. I myself had an elantra that took me all through college and then some with only regular maintenance. I hit 180,000 miles and I recently traded it is for a new Sonata. My whole family is a Hyundai family and we could not be happier.

I dont understand why people keep saying negative things about how hyundai has not "made it" yet. I think they have. Name a single exciting model in Toyota or even Honda's lineup...I can name a few in Hyundai's.

I don't car if that is a Limited or a GLS, that gray car looks like someone's concept car, or a Ferrari sedan.

The Sonata is the best looking affordable car on the market. (There are some Mercedes models that are just awesome looking.)

I just can't get to the point of liking the design of the Optima. It is a handsome car, but not a beauty like the Sonata.

Of course, the Optima has other negatives compared to the Sonata, like a smaller trunk, fewer cubes overall, and no cruise control in the 6 speed manual.

For about the same money, I would take the Sonata.

"I would say the Genesis is the car that got America to notice. The Sonata is the car that got America to buy."

Not for us. I have only seen one Genesis on the road and no one I talk has even heard of it.

I would say the Sonata is the car that got Canada to notice. The Elantra is the car that got Canada to buy.

It's been out for a lot less time and I see far more Elantras on the road then Sonatas here

Either way it's remarkable the change. Ten years ago if you told someone here you bought a new Hyundai they would have either said Why? or I'm sorry to here that.

Our local Hyundai dealer had gone out of business and it wouldn't have surprised me if they disappeared from the Canadian market altogether.

Now they have a shot at being the top car maker.

Amazing

My 2011 Sonata GLS is now 14 months old, and has 16,500 miles on it. If I had to do it all over again I would certainly purchase something else. The car presents well on the lot and test drives well for the 20-30 minutes you spend with it before signing on the bottom line. Materials seem nice, features are plentiful, high value, etc. Actually, most *new* cars present well.

After you buy the car and get several hundred miles on it is when the deficiencies surface. In the case of the Sonata, interior rattles start. Rattles from the door panels, rattles from the upper dash, rattles from the rear parcel shelf, rattles from the center console. Then you notice that the assembly quality is less than stellar. Inconsistent fit of the pillar covers (some nice and tight, others loose with noticeable gaps.) Then you fold down the rear seats and notice poor assembly of the folding seat mechanism and accompanying trim, to include stripped bolts that will not fasten and are dangling from their recesses. Then the seats start to rattle. On a whim you check the bolts holding them to the frame and find you can tighten all of the seat bolts at least one complete turn. Same goes for all the exposed bolts and screws you can find.

Summer arrives. The warmer temperatures bring forth loud creaking from the dash and center console around the shifter and cupholders. Drowning every seam in the dash and center console with silcone spray cures most of the creaking, but not all.

Winter arrives. The freezing temperatures reveal even more odd noises. Metal on metal clunks when going over bumps. The sound literally disappears after 20 or so minutes of driving. The blend door for the HVAC system is loose and rattles when the system is set on anything other than full cold or full heat. The engine takes 20-30 minutes to reach full, normal operating temperature (based on the digital gauge.) The doors fail to latch closed in single digit temps requiring ample amounts of silicone spray and numerous slams before they will latch closed.

The latest issues are the sudden, loud knocking from the rear end when coming to a stop or pulling away from a stop. There is also a loud, oscillating thrum from the rear of the car which may or may not be tire/road noise. The fragility of the interior materials start to weigh on your mind everytime you have to touch the dash to change the HVAC setting, use a power port, or reach into a cupholder. Touch the materials too hard, or barely brush a manicured fingernail against them, and marring may occur. Even microfiber cloths used too aggressively can scratch the materials.

The only shining moment in the ownership experience is the relatively low ownership cost. Fuel economy is outstanding (~29mpg in mixed driving, ~33mpg highway driving.) Constant use of the A/C during a heat wave does cause a substantial dip in fuel economy (~25mpg in mixed driving.)

Now when I walk up to my Sonata and get inside, I immediately think about the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Nissan Maxima, Lincoln MKZ, or Toyota Avalon that I could have had with just a little more money down and a 12-month longer loan (60mo. vs 48mo. on the Sonata.)

Hyundai needs to refine the suspension to take the harshness/clunkiness out. They also need to add some noise reduction materials to make the interior quieter. The front suspension and steering geometry needs to be changed to eliminate the bump steer that the car is inflicted with.

Ultimately the Sonata is the poster child for the saying "you get what you pay for." The Sonata is only 95% of the cost of a comparable car because it is only 95% fully engineered.

"The Sonata looks very good in the first picture, I don't know why anyone would buy a Camry or Accord over a Sonata."

Saturn95, for consumers like me it's not all about aesthetics as it's more about how everything works together as one. While I think the Sonata is the best looking car in its segment and offer a lot for the money there are still a few things that would make me choose an Accord over it.

1) The chassis refinement of the Accord is still superior as it's more settled and buttoned down. The Sonata isn't necessarily bad in that regard but just like other current Hyundai/Kia offerings the chassis tuning/refinement just isn't quite right!

2) Steering feel is another area where the Sonata isn't up to par as it's just lifeless. The Accord once again trumps it. This once again plagues many Hyundai/Kia offerings.

I will admit that Hyundai/Kia have made great strides with their products but they need to pay closer attention to the tactile details that are so crutial. Given their level of effort I think they are close.

My Dad drives a current gen. Accord. I've both driven it and been driven in it more times than I can count. I can't think of a single thing about it I like better than the Sonata. "Refined" chassis? Is that Klingon for "flinty ride and so-so handling"?

Jaeger, do some research on posts here and elsewhere and it pretty much says the same thing I just posted about chassis and suspension execution about many current Hyunda/Kia vehicles. He'll check out the recent IL blog about the Genesis 5.0 R Spec and it says something about chassis refinement.

Ryster, there are more than a few members here who will attempt to shout you down or call you nasty names if you say something less than positive about Hyundai. Thank you for standing up and speaking the truth. As you indicate, more and more the intertubes are slowly revealing the reality of the ballyhooed Sonata, but the Hyundaistas will still deny that and attempt to discredit those making such statements. I don't particularly dislike Hyundai but I absolutely loathe the hype and what seems like the incredible free pass they get from many sites like this one.

Stories like ryster will absolutely kill Hyundai. They will remind us when Hyundai's came to America selling for $4995. I actually had friends in college with these cars, mainly Koreans. they were cheap, ugly, and they were death traps. If the new Hyundais are all looks and have their owners expressing themselves like ryster...it's like lipstick on a pig.

@ ryster:

As an admitted Hyundai fanboy, I suspect your experience is rather isolated. I had a brand new 05 Honda Odyssey that ended up in lemon law court, and like you, I considered all the other vehicles I could have bought instead. Honda builds a good vehicle, but I got a dud. Hyundai builds a good vehicle (I have an 09 Sedona and an 01 Elantra), but you got a dud - sorry. Your 14-month old car is a fairly early production model - no excuse, but it's possible the fit and finish issues have improved since your car was built.

Long-term trends will show whether your experience is common (like GM 1965-2005), or whether Hyundais really are what they appear to be.

hondacura - my comment was on the alleged sophistication of the Accord chassis - not the Genesis. My comment is not based on regurgitating someone else's opinion, but on my own driving experience. And I'm no Honda hater - I've owned mostly Hondas and Nissans over the years and own a Honda now. You may hold the opinion that the Accord chassis demonstrates greater "sophistication" than that of the Sonata. I hold a different opinion - and it is based on extensive seat time in both. My Dad's Accord has a flinty, stiff-kneed ride that transmists small road irregularities and expansion joints like an unwanted smack in the butt. Road noise is pretty high, too. And the handling is middling for the class. It doesn't present as any kind of benchmark of sohistication to me. You want to experience a sohisticated chassis / suspension? Go drive a Buick Regal, then tell me again how wonderful the Accord is.

@ryster

It's unfortunate that you ended up w/ a Sonata that has a no. of rattle issues, but every automaker will end up manufacturing a car here and there w/ those issues (not to mention an overall lemon from time to time as well).

Do a quick search of "rattle" + "Honda" and you get more than DOUBLE the results than for a similar search for Hyundai.

Acuras have had a preponderance of cracked dashboards (esp. the TL) and there is talk of a class action lawsuit.

There is also talk of a class action lawsuit regarding cracked windshields with the Element.

And even Inside Line had an experience w/ the GAP that "wouldn't leave them alone" on their longterm Crosstour.

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/11/2010-honda-accord-crosstour-the-gap-wont-leave-me-alone.html

But the automaker that has most often been cited for poor fit and finish in reviews lately has been Toyota.

Speaking of class action suits, let's not forget the class action lawsuit regarding prematurely FAILING transmissions on a no. of Honda and Acura models (maybe this is the reason why Honda has been so slow to add a more up-to-date automatic transmission on their models).

On the latest JD Power long-term reliability report and on Germany's Autobild long-term reliability report (the most comprehensive in the industry), Hyundai fares better than Honda.

Also, according to TrueDelta - which has a quicker turn-around on reliability results - the reliability on the 2011 Sonata has been above average (which is pretty good for a 1st year model).

Also, if you think the Sonata is noisy, then don't ever get a Honda - which are notorious for their road noise.

Now, this isn't to say that Hyundai is the best or the most reliable - but assuming your situation applies across the board is a bit foolhardy.

I'll word it a little differently. Plain and simple, the Sonata was the first "must have" or "gotta get it" car from Hyundai for a lot of people. With the looks/style/content/value/pricing/fuel economy/warranty,etc. And, I actually think the previous Sonata was a pretty good car. The new one just has far more appeal.

The reason Hyundai is on a roll is they've done the same thing with the Elantra and the Accent. As a matter of fact, I saw two brand new Elantras leaving the God Guys Rod & Custom Auto Show in Columbus the same time as me.

"Ryster, there are more than a few members here who will attempt to shout you down or call you nasty names if you say something less than positive about Hyundai."

OH BS.....who has called you nasty names or tried to shout you down? If you consider calling you out on your BS "shouting you down", you have a lot to learn about blogs.

"As you indicate, more and more the intertubes are slowly revealing the reality of the ballyhooed Sonata, but the Hyundaistas will still deny that and attempt to discredit those making such statements. I don't particularly dislike Hyundai but I absolutely loathe the hype and what seems like the incredible free pass they get from many sites like this one. "

Uh ROH......I smell 1487 poon tang.......this is really too easy.......he starts off on a few threads.....goes to mainly Regal threads and now Hyundai threads where he whines about the same BS that 1487 did when NOBODY has done the things he said they did.....THEN he accuses IL of "giving a pass" to the Sonata. 1487 you tried the same crap under the screen name "shaft1" and got caught.....try it again and you will get caught again. Be a man and give it up.

"kplacer" Please provide some evidence that IL gave the Sonata "a pass"....is that "shouting you down"?? No nasty names were used and have never been used against you so quit lying....you just expose who you really are.

Bodyblue: you have proven my statement far better than I ever could. Thanks.

LOL really? You were not shouted down or sworn at. You were, however called out on a silly statemant and asked to prove your accusations. How is that proving what you said? Its not of course. Add to the fact that you make some of the same exact accusations as another infamous poster on here and frankly lie about what is said to, and about you. If you cant handle being asked to defend what you say then may I suggest this is the wrong place for you.

If indeed you are not 1487 then I find it an incredible co-inky-dink but stranger things have happened. But dont go around playing the martyr like he did....it makes you appear just like him.

Oh yeah - I'm getting a bad whiff of 1487 odor here...

Yep, it stinks to high heaven.....just like "shaft1" He is slightly smarter this time but his ego wont let him stop posting.....he just is not smart enough to hide his personality.

I imagine for a few months at least, 1487 will have to watched for. As he has shown, he will try his best to sneak back into the forums. I was right about "shaft1" and I am 50% sure about klplacer as well.

1487, there are a bunch of us watching for you and your BS. You blew it big time and you are not wanted or even allowed here under ANY screen name. Your banning gave me and many others great pleasure and we will continue to take pleasure in your absence.

Bodyblue and jaeger1: Please state for the record your accusation. Yes or no: Are you saying I am "1487"?

Think long and hard about your reply. Your future presence here may hinge upon getting the correct answer.

If you believe I am that person, say so definitively. Otherwise, stop with the juvenile behavior and name-calling.

The ball is in your court.

@kplacer "Think long and hard about your reply. Your future presence here may hinge upon getting the correct answer. "

Really? How do you figure that, 14.... er.... I mean, kplacer?

This is also a maloderous flashback - personal attacks with nothing to contribute to the subject of the thread. Well, too bad the Hyundai hate opportunities are diminished with the close of the Sonata blog. Guess we'll be seeing you on the Regal blog - complaining about how IL is biased and doesn't cut the Buick a fair shake, and attacking everyone who dares criticise it - right?

"The ball is in your court" - get over yourself already.

Good grief people. And I thought I could be annoying at times... let it go.

No, First, we wont. It is worth a bit of effort to keep him away.

Kplacer: I am suspicious of you......that is EXACTLY how I feel. Too many things add up to something not quite right. BUT, like I said, stranger things have happened. You also could be chavis or one of 1487s sycophants...... Your vague threat in no way will deter me from being suspicious of you.

I am not sure what you believe is name calling but like I said earlier, this may not be the place for you if are that sensitive. Why not man up and defend your posts instead of running away from them and claiming you are being attacked?

You claim that IL gave the Sonata "a free ride"....how about some evidence or at least a credible argument to defend your point?

You claim that people that dont like the Sonata get "shouted down" and are called "nasty names". Please provide links to back up your statement or admit you were completely wrong. Unless of course you are not who you say and cant provide the links because when you were attacked you were posting under a different screen name. I think that is probably the case but many of us await your next post with interest.

No, First, we wont. It is worth a bit of effort to keep him away.

Kplacer: I am suspicious of you......that is EXACTLY how I feel. Too many things add up to something not quite right. BUT, like I said, stranger things have happened. You also could be chavis or one of 1487s sycophants...... Your vague threat in no way will deter me from being suspicious of you.

I am not sure what you believe is name calling but like I said earlier, this may not be the place for you if are that sensitive. Why not man up and defend your posts instead of running away from them and claiming you are being attacked?

You claim that IL gave the Sonata "a free ride"....how about some evidence or at least a credible argument to defend your point?

You claim that people that dont like the Sonata get "shouted down" and are called "nasty names". Please provide links to back up your statement or admit you were completely wrong. Unless of course you are not who you say and cant provide the links because when you were attacked you were posting under a different screen name. I think that is probably the case but many of us await your next post with interest.

yep, just what I thought.....no proof offered....just accusations.

@bodyblue and @jaeger1:

Please stop guessing at who may or may not be another reader. We have that under control. kplacer has been a member for years. He is not who you are accusing him of being. And please stop calling people trolls. Talk about the cars and not each other. I'm getting tired of saying it. Thank you. -- Donna

Who died and made you denmother, Donna?

"I'm getting tired of saying it." Vomit.

Anyway, here is my only slightly biased view of my 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T.

Interior - The interior fit and finish is great for hyundai but average amongst all carmakers. The materials are soft touch only as a technicality, and the gaps are incosistent between panels. That said, the ERGONOMICS of the interior of my Sonata with Navigation is outstanding. Ample storage space, intuitive layout. Perfect mix of touchscreen functionality and buttons/knobs. Evenly spaced and aesthetically pleasing. Overall, the interior is spacious and warm. My SE comes with partial "leather" seats. Side bolstering is mediocre and the seat is firm, but it somehow remains comfortable on long rides. I have noticed some intermittent creaks in the morning, and I will have them addressed at the 7500 mile checkup.

Exterior - The styling is amazing. I do think that the front end is a little busy and that the best view is from the rear quarter panel, but with the windows tinted the car looks both elegant and aggressive in SE 2.0T trim. I'm getting used to the front end and huge chrome grille. Panel gap isn't perfect... it's a little inconsistent from one side of the front bumper to the next, but I am satisfied overall. I ahve noticed some of the weather stripping bulges, and that, too, I hope to have addressed at the next service visit.

Driving Characteristics - With the turbo, there is plenty of power throughout the rev band and with paddle shifters and a bumpstick, I find it is very easy to have a little fun with this midsize sedan. For a 6AT slushbox, I have to say that the shifts, while not revmatched on downshifts, are quick and responsive, moreso on downshifts than upshifts.

I have noticed that there is a metallic grinding sound at 1500-2000 rpm that is apparently "normal". It has been attributed to the electronic waste gate... and I have to say that the sound makes this car sound like a crap rattle box from outside. I am very disappointed that Hyundai would produce such a well-rounded affordable vehicle and overlook something like this.

Anyway, that's my opinion of the car. I love it so far despite giving her a lil curb rash last week :( It's a great vehicle... I've driven a '02 GTI 1.8T, '90 Corolla SR5, '88 Saab 9000T, and '90 Ford Escort GT. But I've frequently driven my dad's past vehicles including a '00 miata and '01 Yukon. (that's my basis for comparison).

A few months ago I was reading reviews of the 2011 Sonata GLS and there seemed to be reports that some of them tended to pull or drift left on the highway. Even Consumer Reports mentioned that their car did it. Everyone who mentioned it got the same response from Hyundai, that it wasn't a problem. Now I don't see any talk about it anywhere. Was I imagining things?