Reader Review of the Week
There are a few trends we notice around the office about car shoppers and the folks who write in to us or who we meet on the street. One of those repeated comments we hear comes from Hyundai owners about how great their cars are; it’s almost gushing. This week’s top reader review comes from such a person. Don from Providence, Rhode Island, echoes many of the comments we get in his review of the 2007 Hyundai Sonata and, therefore, he gets the nod this week even if he is a little too positive. You can submit a car review of your own here.
“I've had my Sonata GLS for 15 months now, and I have just a tick over 20,000 miles on her. I have to say that this car has exceeded all my expectations! I truly enjoy this car — in fact — I like my Sonata so much I bought a 2007 Santa Fe for my wife!
At first I was very apprehensive about buying a Hyundai (a friend recommended it to me — but I was skeptical — and scared to death to buy a HYUNDAI!). I did about three months of research on the internet, and I talked to many Hyundai owners before making the decision to buy. The bottom line is that I decided that I would be stupid not to buy a Hyundai. I narrowed my choices for a new car down to either a Nissan Altima or a Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata won my vote in virtually every category.
I like the value, comfort, ride, fit and finish, the paint (best paint job I've ever owned), the warranty and the fuel economy. I opted for the I-4 engine because this car would be my daily driver and I wanted mpgs over hp — but I am not disappointed in the I4's power at all. I average about 28 mpgs (city and highway) and I can easily get 33+ on the highway. I never thought I could like a car as much as I like my Sonata — but I really do like this car. I've owned my share of new and used vehicles over the last 28 years — but my favorite vehicles are my two Hyundais because they are such an exceptional value and they look and drive awesome! I would definitely buy another Hyundai if they continue doing what they are doing.”
Previous
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!
It's not surprising, I work with the local Hyundai(and sister co-KIA) dealer and the cars are a world ahead of where the used to be. If somebody told me ten years ago that I would consider buying a new Hyundai or Kia I would have laughed my @$$ off.
Now I know where all the cool-aide went, LOL. All kidding aside, I will never buy one of these cars, but I have been impressed by what they have done and are doing.
Came close to buying a Sonata, but decided that I needed a ride with AWD for those harsh CT winters.
All the positive stories about Hyundai still makes me not want one, perhaps for silly reasons. Remembering back to the beginning days of Accent, and how cheap and unsafe it was. Hyundai updates it's model looks but keeps the same old names. The dumb looking "H" logo. Hyundai's largely used in rental fleets. Hyundai's very visible in used car lots. Retail price of used Hyundai's greatly diminished. Finally, just the name Hyundai.....what the heck does it mean anyway?
I seen hyundais drop as much 10K in resell values first year. This isn't really an issue if your keeping your car long term and have bought it slightly used. You don't see to many used Hyundai's sitting to long on the use market so its big drop in price is to its advantage for now. Its engine milleage is respectable for its size. Some V-6 though get comparably good milleage, although it seems to get really great city milleage from the review.
i've never considered purchasing a hyundai or a kia and i never will (though i have test drive many.) simply put...they are nice cars (and possibly a good buy)...but when you start to focus on the details they fall way short of their "rivials." sure they have that great warranty to back it up...and to many it sounds like a great deal. but great cars simply sell themselves.
Based on what I'm reading here, a used Hyandai may be a great buy.
I've had two Hyundai Sonata's a 1998 model and then a 2004 model and a few cars in between and I have to tell people who are considering a vehicle from Hyundai....do your own research don't let people who are hung up on stupid ideas about Hyundai talk you out of buying a great car. What I tell people about life can be applied here as well and that is you don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great, and none of these car companies were great when they got started. What Hyundai has done in a short amount of time in this market in the face of consumers who over look their accomplishments is simply inspirational. The Ultimate under dog story...here's an idea for Hyundai advertising executives. Hyundai talks to Toyota, Honda and Nissan - "I may have started out last, I may have started out behind but I am in your rear view mirrors and soon you will be in mine."
If Koreans don't want to eat our beef, then we shouldn't buy their cars or cell phones!