Hyundai Tucson Vs. Nissan Rogue: Compare Cars
In a few short years, what difference. Now, the set of compact crossovers is superior, and some of... Read More
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The new four-cylinder powertrain is just fine. Sure, it's no dragster, but it will chirp its front tires pulling away from a corner…the in-house six-speed transmission shifted nearly imperceptibly as it conducted the engine delicately through its paces.
[With turbo]…there's no catastrophic torque steer, no untoward turbo whining, no premium fuel requirement, no selling your first born to gypsies…There's also none of the whining or whooshing usually associated with turbocharged engines.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid does indeed deliver its power in a more natural manner than many hybrids thanks to its use of discrete gear ratios.
…Like most direct-injected engines, its engine note is more mechanical growl than melodic symphony.
Still, this isn’t a sports sedan and it doesn’t quite match sporty-handling family sedans like the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Mazda6.
PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The new four-cylinder powertrain is just fine. Sure, it's no dragster, but it will chirp its front tires pulling away from a corner…the in-house six-speed transmission shifted nearly imperceptibly as it conducted the engine delicately through its paces.
Autoblog
[With turbo]…there's no catastrophic torque steer, no untoward turbo whining, no premium fuel requirement, no selling your first born to gypsies…There's also none of the whining or whooshing usually associated with turbocharged engines.
Edmunds
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid does indeed deliver its power in a more natural manner than many hybrids thanks to its use of discrete gear ratios.
Inside Line
…Like most direct-injected engines, its engine note is more mechanical growl than melodic symphony.
Automobile
Still, this isn’t a sports sedan and it doesn’t quite match sporty-handling family sedans like the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Mazda6.
Consumer Reports
The 2012 Hyundai Sonata has taken a completely new tack with powertrains as well; with last year's redesign, they did away with V-6s completely and moved to an all four-cylinder lineup; and they all do the task they're intended for with a little more gusto than expected.
The mass-market versions are 2.4-liter fours with up to 200 horsepower, direct injection, and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. We haven't ever seen a manual-transmission base model; luckily, the automatic is perfectly appropriate for the class, and is a responsive, seamless gearchanger. With this engine, the front-drive Sonata feels very perky, and stronger than most other base four-cylinder sedans its size. It weighs only a little more than 3,300 pounds, or a quarter-ton less than a Chevy Malibu, which adds to that impression, and its highway fuel economy rating of 35 mpg gives it another standout selling point.
Opt for the 2.0T model, and the engine is downsized from 2.4 liters to 2.0 liters, but straps on a twin-scroll turbocharger to provide a 274-horsepower rush. It's accompanied by 269 pound-feet of torque that arrives low in the power band, giving the 2.0T a flexible feel without the turbo lag you may have felt in other cars with the "2.0T" badge. This model comes with shift paddles, too, and is intended as the more economical parallel to upscale V-6 models. For the most part, it succeeds in that mission, with turbo lag rarely noticeable. The only down side is a somewhat coarser engine note at times. With the added power, highway gas mileage is still rated at 33 mpg.
There's also a Hybrid edition, which pairs the 2.4-liter four with electric motors and a lithium-polymer battery pack, and a high threshold that allows the Sonata Hybrid to run on battery power alone at highway speeds. The Hybrid's unusual in that it uses a conventional automatic transmission instead of a CVT or an eCVT to change gears; in our experience, the shift quality between gas-electric and electric-only mode is lumpy, and needs more refinement to rival vehicles like the Camry Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid. Hyundai says this version will hit 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, well within the acceptable range for a family sedan, while delivering gas mileage of 35/40 mpg.
The Sonata's ride and handling are fine for the mainstream, but the steering responses could use more feedback and less wandering on the highway. We like the ride damping, which is set a little on the firm side even before the SE's monotube shocks and 19-inch wheels are added into the mix.
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Conclusion
The 2012 Hyundai Sonata accelerates strongly and smoothly in most guises, but its steering has plenty of room for improvement.
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