Back in July, Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik told us that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata would be revealed at the Detroit auto show in January 2010. But Hyundai pulled its auto show plans forward because the 2011 Sonata will start rolling off the line in Alabama in mid-December -- less than two weeks from today.
That's soon enough that a few lucky dealers might just get their hands on a 2011 Sonata or two as the Detroit show gets underway in mid-January; all dealers should have 2011 Sonatas by February 2010.
And that's why we're standing here looking at the 2011 Hyundai Sonata at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show, and the looking is good. This is most definitely not a conservatively styled family sedan, but it's not over the top, either. Hyundai's so-called "Fluidic Sculpture" design (don't say language, don't say language) ...er, dialect vaults the Sonata out of the nondescript sedan backwaters to the head of a very competitive pack.
But there's more here than meets the eye, for enthusiasts and penny-pinchers alike.
For one, it's powered by Hyundai's new Theta II engine, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection (GDI) mill that makes a reported 200 horsepower when flowing through the dual exhausts of the sporty Sonata SE. The volume-selling GLS and Limited grades have but a single exhaust outlet, so the GDI Theta II makes 198 horses in those applications. A cleaner-burning PZEV (partial zero-emissions vehicle) version pumps out 190 hp and very few emissions.
The outgoing model's 2.4-liter four-banger isn't direct injected, so it makes just 175 hp in regular guise and 168 horses in PZEV trim. It uses more fuel, too: the 2010 four-cylinder is EPA-rated at 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, but the new 2011 Sonata's more powerful GDI engine is expected to earn EPA ratings of 23 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
What's missing entirely from the 2011 Sonata lineup is a V6 engine; there isn't one here at the show and there's not going to be one. Instead, Hyundai will introduce a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in about a year that John Krafcik says will make more power than the current V6, with fuel economy equal to the 35 mpg highway rating of the new 2.4-liter GDI engine we're seeing today.
But a Hyundai engineer I spoke with on the floor said the lack of a V6 and the late arrival of the 2.0T isn't a problem. "The car's a rocket," he said of the 2.4 GDI, "because of the six-speed transmissions and weight reductions."
Two transmissions are offered in the outgoing Sonata: a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic. Both types are returning in the 2011 Sonata, but each now contains six gears. The automatic -- developed in-house by Hyundai engineers -- gains steering-wheel-mounted paddles to augment its manual shifting mode. "It's the lightest and most compact six-speed in the industry," says Krafcik.
Light weight is a recurring theme as the Hyundai folks talk about the stuff that's hidden under the skin of the 2011 Sonata. Some of it we can see if we get down on our hands and knees: aluminum suspension knuckles and lower arms are used instead of steel in the new blade-arm multilink rear suspension. It all adds up to a crub weight that drops from 3,327 pounds to 3,199 pounds compared to last year.
None of this comes at the expense of interior space, as the 2011 Sonata is actually bigger than the car it replaces. Like the Accord before it, it has grown from midsize to full size on the interior volume scale. Overall length increases just 0.9 inch, so much of the interior space increase comes from a wheelbase that's been stretched to 110 inches, some 2.6 inches longer than before. We wonder if the absence of a V6 allows for the firewall to be moved forward as well, but no one we talked to could confirm this.
Two suspension grades and three tire sizes will be offered. The GLS and Limited share a comfort-oriented tune with 16- and 17-inch tires, while the SE carries a sportier edge in the form of unique front strut tuning, firmer monotube rear dampers, a rear stabilizer bar that's 2 mm thicker and P225/45R18 tires. It sounds promising, indeed.
Inside, the 2011 Sonata offers a host of technology and convenience features. Bluetooth phone connectivity, an integrated iPod connection and XM Satellite Radio come standard. HD radio, Infinity audio, Bluetooth streaming audio, navigation and XM traffic are available options.
No pricing details were released, but Krafcik did say that the minimum cost of entry would be "less than $20,000."
The specs of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata make it look like an even bigger threat to the established four-door sedan sales leaders than it was before. Wrap it all in stunning sheet metal and you have a recipe for making Honda and Toyota pretty nervous.
All that's left is to drive one and see if it works as well in the real world as it does on paper.
-- Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing
hondacura4 says:
04:31 PM, 12/ 2/09
I must be one of the few that find the design a but daring but interesting. Kudos to Hyundai.
hondacura4 says:
04:43 PM, 12/ 2/09
I have to say I'm impressed.
bankerdanny says:
07:00 PM, 12/ 2/09
I'm really looking forward to seeing this car in Chicago in February. Kudos to Hyundai for a strong design and for producing a car that weighs less rather than more than its predecessor. A rare achievement in this day and age.
albook says:
07:46 PM, 12/ 2/09
I like...
inlinesix says:
07:50 PM, 12/ 2/09
I like the design a lot. I think its a good move for Hyundai.
efinils2 says:
07:59 PM, 12/ 2/09
Ditto on the weight reduction, I think the only other makers I have seen doing something along those lines is Nissan -370Z, Maxima- and to some extent Subaru -WRX-...everyone else short of Lotus has embraced the whole "3500 lbs" average weight.
hondacura4 says:
08:33 PM, 12/ 2/09
3200lbs and it's considered a large car? Kudos to Hyundai!
rallyandbosox says:
09:01 PM, 12/ 2/09
Fantastic improvement on the Sonata. Hyundai and Kia are really headed in the right direction and Honda and Toyota better take notice because their generic-styled cars now have to deal with good looking Korean competitors. Since the Optima was recently updated will a new one be rolling out soon?
ryster says:
10:06 PM, 12/ 2/09
The lack of a 6-cylinder option is very disappointing. For those of us who have to traverse hills on a regular basis, the benefits of a V6 are difficult to ignore. The fuel efficiency benefits of the 4-cylinder will be minimized by having to dip into the throttle to go up hills.
Overall, the exterior style is current, but not ground breaking. Unfortunately there are heavy hints of the Elantra sedan in the side profile, and the front and rear 3/4 profiles. This tends to cheapen the design. There is also a lot of the new Buick LaCrosse in the styling, epecially in the hood shape and rear window/trunk lid design.
If looking at 4-cylinder sedans, it would be hard to choose this new Sonata over a 4-cylinder Buick LaCrosse CX (or just stepping up to a 6-cylinder LaCrosse.)
arumage says:
05:08 AM, 12/ 3/09
@ryster:
Why so disappointed? It's getting a turbo 4-cyl. They've been working on a 286hp 2.0 GDI 4-cyl, but I don't know if that would be the one to make it in the Sonata.
1487 says:
05:28 AM, 12/ 3/09
Most people in this class do not buy V6s. Its been that way ever since Toyota and Honda started to dominate the sales charts. Magazines test the V6s because that is what the manufacturers like to give out but few customers buy those cars due to price and gas mileage. Hyundai will not be losing many sales by not offering a v6, especially with such a strong four cylinder. This car is better (except in styling) than everything on the market today save the 2010 Fusion- those two are pretty close in features and efficiency, plus the Fusion is available with a V6 and hybrid drivetrain. Its a good thing Toyota and Honda generally don't have to worry about their loyal customers actually checking out the competition because if they did Camry/Accord sales would plummet next year.
sabastian says:
07:22 AM, 12/ 3/09
"This car is better (except in styling) than everything on the market today"
...which is extremely subjective.
I think this is the best looking family sedan around. I especially like the pseudo-CLS swoop as well as the interior which looks impressively upscale.
AMTalker says:
07:49 AM, 12/ 3/09
I have been waiting to see this car for about 6 months. I really like what I see in the photos but will have to wait for a test drive. I have been unimpressed with overall ride of the previous Sonata; it just felt a little cheaper than the competition. I like the sheet metal and now want to see some cabin pictures. If it makes the leap that the Genesis did, then the Sonata will be a first choice for a new family cruiser.
Having only a 4cyc is no big deal, most will choose that option in the first place. The DI aspect of the engine is a complete slam dunk; 35 mpg on the highway, in full size 4 door sedan is excellent. The test drive is next to see if the real goods are in the car.
roar02ram says:
09:53 AM, 12/ 3/09
GREAT JOB, HYUNDAI!
cr_driver says:
04:50 PM, 12/ 4/09
IMPRESSED, that says it all!
Hyundai, teach other automakers how to build bigger cars and have less weight as well!
U keep showing the world how great u really are, with the best 4 cylinder engine in every important spec (power,torque, fuel economy) for its class. WoW.
This is just nasty LOL
Where are the pics of the interior thou?
jaxs1 says:
11:42 AM, 12/ 6/09
It's sad that people still think that 198HP isn't going to be enough to drive through hills or accelerate onto the highway.
There was only a 10% take rate on the V6 Camry and the 4 cylinder Camry had only 158HP at the time those numbers were calculated, so even that car can apparently climb hills.
A V6 in this car would devastate the sales of the Azera anyway. Maybe they will at least wait for the Azera to be killed off before they consider putting a V6 in this car.