- sedan 65,128
- 5,995 overpriced
- Pampa, TX
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- autoshopper.com
2001 hyundai sonata review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Why pay more?. introductioncan a hyundai turn heads? Neatly handsome, with crisply tailored proportions, sonata looks solid and expensive. That's value that's hard to beat. and, oh yes, here's one more head-turner. Sonata's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is among the longest available. lineupsonata prices start at $14,999 for the base-level version, which is powered by a 2. 4-liter inline-4 producing 149 horsepower and 156 pounds-feet of torque. Even at this level sonata's list of standard equipment is impressively comprehensive, and includes air conditioning, dual front and side-impact air bags, speed-sensitive power steering, cruise control and am/fm/cassette stereo. next up is the gls, at $16,999, which is powered by an all-aluminum 2. 5-liter v6, with 170 horsepower and 166 pounds-feet of torque. Gls also upgrades the rear drum brakes to disc brakes. The leather upholstery gets high marks, and the dash, instrument panel and door panels are nicely trimmed and precisely fit. Each interior scheme has a different simulated wood trim. The front bucket seats are supportive but not overly constrictive, making them quite comfortable even during long trips. There is plenty of legroom in the rear seat. That's a feature usually reserved for expensive luxury sedans. Seatbelt pretensioners are also standard. we have only a few things to gripe about inside. The instruments and control labels are easy to read during daylight, but as the sun fades away and the lights come on, they get more difficult to see. And the cupholders in the center console are too shallow to hold anything larger then a small cup of coffee. driving impressionseat time in the sonata proves what the walkaround suggests: this hyundai is far better equipped than its predecessors to compete with more established brands from japan, the united states and europe. increased structural rigidity has given hyundai engineers a solid platform for developing the suspension. The suspension itself is reasonably sophisticated, with double wishbones in front and a multilink arrangement in the rear; shock absorbers are gas-filled all around and there are stabilizer bars at both ends. The sonata soaked up the expansion joints and undulations as well as some larger, more expensive luxury sedans. Its ride is supple yet controlled, and it turns into corners well. We wouldn't compare its road-holding capabilities to a sport coupe, but the sonata is up to whatever a family sedan owner is likely to dish out. And it's never boring to drive. the drivetrain is as pleasantly surprising as the suspension. Considering the engine's small displacement and the car's price, the 2. 5-liter v6 is both smooth and powerful. The manual transmission delivers the best acceleration, but the automatic doesn't give up much. It shifts up smoothly and shifts down reasonably quickly when the driver jabs the gas pedal. Steep grades and passes on two-lane roads are no sweat. the sonata's brakes are adequate, not remarkable. We'd prefer to see optional abs on the standard feature list, but given sonata's value pricing, it's not too egregious an oversight. Hyundai expects that most of the sonatas that roll from its dealerships will have most of the options. summaryif a manufacturer is committed to building consumer confidence in its products, its starts by improving quality and backing it up with a good warranty. That's what hyundai has done with the sonata. yet quality and confidence don't mean much if the product falls short in other respects. The sonata brings stand-apart styling, a comfortable cabin and decent performance. It's enjoyable to drive and even easier to live with, at a price that sets it apart from other mid-size sedans. if value is a priority, the hyundai sonata is absolutely worth a look. model lineupsonata 14,999); gls 16,999); gls leather 18,324). assembled inulsan, korea. options as testedpackage 13 1,260) includes power tilt and slide moonroof, antilock brakes (abs), traction control. model testedgls leather automatic 18,824). Bucket Seats✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ AM/FM✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof
5,995 Pampa, TXPampa, TX at autoshopper.com