Playing the new Sonata

Playing the new Sonata

With standout styling, a thrifty yet powerful engine and plenty of features
and amenities, the latest Hyundai Sonata is a strong contender in the ever-
crowded mid-size sedan segment. Aside from the standard Sonata discussed
herein, Hyundai also offers the thrifty Sonata Hybrid and turbocharged
Sonata 2.0T.

The all new Hyundai Sonata, which incidentally was showcased in India for
the first time at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi, promises to be a segment
definer. Globally, the car has won numerous accolades and has become a
vehicle of choice in markets such as North America and Europe. Now, with
its advent in the Indian market, Hyundai Motor India is definitely looking
at changing their fortunes in the entry level luxury sedan segment. After
all, the Sonata’s predecessors have never really tasted success in this
particular market segment.

Now we have the Sonata YF which debuted in the US in 2010. What we are
getting is similar to the American Sonata in fact—the same car is also
sold as the i45 in some markets like Australia. A differently styled car
based on this Sonata is sold as the i40 in Europe.

The Sonata has a spacious and comfortable cabin and Hyundai has equipped
the car generously too. Ride quality is comfortable and there will be
sufficient performance on hand with the 198bhp GDI motor. It may not be
blessed in the dynamics department and may lack the finesse of some of
its competitors but assuming Hyundai gets the pricing right, the Sonata
will give the Korean carmaker its best shot at regaining lost ground. And
since Hyundai will be assembling the Sonata at its Chennai plant, expect
the car to be priced at around Rs 21.5 lakh (ex-showroom) for this model.
If there’s one thing Indians know how to appreciate, it’s value for money,
and Hyundai knows that too well.