![]()
Saloon
The Sonata is the kind of car that lures people in because they can't believe they can get something with so much kit and so much space for so little money. Don't think for a minute that you're buying a cut-price refined Japanese or dynamic German executive car, however.
expand / collapse
The Sonata is all about undemanding mediocrity on the road - and in some respects it doesn't quite make it as far as mediocre. The engines aren't refined and your passengers won't like the body lean in corners or the unsettled ride around town. The handling is unrewarding, too. It's much better on a cruise, though. The ride improves, it's reasonably quiet and you can enjoy the roomy, well-stocked cabin. There's also a massive boot and, if that isn't enough, the rear bench splits and folds. To cap it all, the driving position is good, the controls are easy to use and you get a lot of comfort and safety kit, too.
Running Costs
For a fully loaded, large V6 saloon - the one to go for - it's cheap to buy. The worst of depreciation will have already taken its toll, so you shouldn't lose much when you resell it. Servicing is every 10,000 miles or 12 months, but it won't work out that cheap, especially if you go to a franchised dealer. A BMW 5 Series is likely to work out cheaper, although you won't be looking at Mercedes E-Class or Jaguar S-Type money. If a Sonata does go wrong - and it's out of its very generous five-year warranty - it shouldn't be too much of a wallet-basher to sort it. Hyundais are among the cheapest cars to fix, according to a leading warranty company. Insurance costs are average (group 10 for the 2.0, 12 for the 2.5 and 14 for the 2.7), much like the fuel bills. Expect about 30mpg from the 2.0 and high-20s from the V6s.