Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

Our reader reviewer set out to buy a new car and figured he would go with a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, but wanted to test-drive other vehicles in the midsize sedan segment. After taking the new 2009 Hyundai Sonata for a test drive, he was impressed enough to purchase one. A month into owning the car, he's very satisfied with his decision. Read the full review, and check out our own first-drive impressions. Post your own reader review here.

First Drive: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai's popular midsize Sonata sedan receives some significant updates for the 2009 model year. The changes are focused on where the car needed them most: the inside. I had a chance to drive the new model recently in the outskirts of Chicago and found that the changes are just what this model needed.

The 2009 Sonata gets an all-new dashboard design that can now go toe-to-toe with the best in the segment, like the Honda Accord, in terms of material quality and fit and finish. It's a vast improvement over the previous design, which was my primary complaint with the 2008 model.

Recall Alert: 2006-2008 Hyundai Sonata

393,714 Hyundai Sonata sedans are being recalled due to an issue with the air bag system. The system isn’t defective per se, but the company has received complaints about how it works. Advanced air bag systems are supposed to be able to detect when small children are present in the front passenger seat, then deactivate the airbag from deploying in case of an accident.

In regards to children, the force of an airbag deploying is considered more dangerous than if an airbag had not deployed. However, there are complaints that the system is shutting off even when small adults are in the front seat. A small adult would be better served with the airbag deploying.

The recall will begin next month. Dealers will evaluate the systems and make necessary repairs. Owners can call Hyundai at 800-633-5151 for more information.

Hyundai Offers Cash Back, Financial Advice

It’s a tough economy. Things are scary out there, and it makes us not want to go outside too often. Don’t want to get caught in a “run” on the “bank,” whatever those things are.

Fortunately, Hyundai’s here to help, and not just by telling us where to spend our money. Of course it wants you to buy a 2008 Sonata, and is offering $3,000 cash back as encouragement to do so, but it’s also offering snippets of financial advice in its ads — the best ways to save that leftover incentive cash. Now that’s marketing. Beware, though: The ’08 Sonata differs from the updated 2009 version, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show this year and features some significant upgrades. Make sure to check out a comparison of the two models here, and read our coverage of the 2009 here. The 2009 is currently being offered with $1,000 cash back.

If the Sonata doesn’t tickle Hyundai buyers’ interest, the manufacturer is also giving $2,000 back on the Santa Fe and Azera, and between $1,000 and $1,500 on the rest of its inventory including $1,000 off the 2008 Veracruz crossover. All deals expire April 30.

All Manufacturer Incentives (Cars.com)
More Hyundai Sonata News (KickingTires)

Video: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

While some of us were checking out exotics like the Yes! Roadster at the Chicago Auto Show, Kelsey Mays dove head-first into the value-minded 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The sedate sedan may not look much different on the outside, but Kelsey gives a full roundup of the upgrades for 2009. Share this video via YouTube.

Up Close: Hyundai's New Navigation System

Hyundai is clearly late to the navigation game. As recently as 2007, top-of-the-line models like the Veracruz and Azera didn't have any system, while competitors offered it all the way down to their compact cars. That's changed: The Veracruz, Santa Fe and Azera offer navigation for 2008, the all new Genesis sedan has a different high-end system entirely while the restyled 2009 Sonata debuting at the Chicago Auto Show features Hyundai's all-new proprietary system.

The Sonata's navigation system is the real deal. I spent some quality with a fully operative unit and here's what I learned.

Up Close: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

While Hyundai's exterior revisions to its 2009 Sonata sedan could go unnoticed by many, the interior update is a nice, easily recognizable improvement. The dash design vaguely resembles the Lexus RX's, and material quality and panel fit is good overall. The only thing that really drags the cabin down is a cheapo parking brake handle.

2009 Hyundai Sonata Starts at $18,795

Hyundai's restyled 2009 Sonata family sedan will cost $18,795, including destination. That's a slight increase over the 2008 model, but the new Sonata comes with a number of updated elements, including a revised interior, new exterior styling and more-powerful and more-efficient engines. The new Sonata goes on sale this month. A pricing breakdown by trim level follows.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

• Competes with: Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord
• Looks like: Last year’s Sonata with a slightly altered exterior, and totally new interior
• Drivetrain: 175 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder with five-speed manual or automatic transmission, 249 hp 3.3-liter V-6 with five-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: February 2008

The 2009 Hyundai Sonata may not look much different from the outside, but inside, the cabin gets a radical reworking that classes up a solid underachiever in the competitive midsize sedan segment even though like the new Accord, the Sonata is classified as a large sedan because of interior volume. Both four-cylinder and V-6 models get bumps in power and fuel economy, making the Sonata the most efficient car amongst its chief rivals, even if by a single mpg.

The four- and six-cylinder engines get a boost of 13 and 15 hp, respectively, and are now rated at 21/32 mpg and 19/29 mpg respectively. The V-6 comes with a standard five-speed automatic with a manual mode, unlike the new Accord.

The front end gets a new grille and bumpers to give it a deeper look vertically, but the most welcome change comes inside where the dash, center console and other materials borrow from the more upscale Hyundai Veracruz. It’s a big step up.

There are still three trim levels, GLS, SE and Limited and all three have standard stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, active front head restraints and six airbags as well as standard cruise control and heated side mirrors. One new standard is a USB/iPod auxiliary input across the line-up. A navigation system will be offered as an option for the first time.

Again, Hyundai aims at value over flash and delivers a lot in the new Sonata. Check out more photos below, including comparisons of the old and new interiors.

Best Cash-Back Finds: 12.27.07

Many year-end incentives end on January 2 so we thought it would be a good time to sift through the deals and see what models are actually worth your hard-earned cash-back dollars. For a list of all incentives, click here.

2008 Saturn Vue

• MSRP: $21,250
• Cash back: $2,000
• Percent off MSRP: 9.4%
• Expires: 1/2/08
• 5-Year Ownership Costs
• Cars.com Best New Car for Small Families

The redesigned Saturn Vue is a favorite at the Cars.com offices. It recently won our small SUV faceoff against the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 and has a relatively upscale interior. It also scored nearly perfect on IIHS crash tests — an airbag redesign will have future Vue’s in fact perfect. The one main fault with the Vue is the seemingly high MSRP on certain trim levels. With $2,000 off that — including the sporty Red Line trim — this is a great deal.

The 2008 Cars.com Mileage Challenge: Part 2

Yesterday, we detailed our scheme to document the real-world mileage of four 2008 models — a Nissan Rogue, Subaru Impreza, Dodge Grand Caravan and Hyundai Sonata. All the cars except the Rogue had trip computers with mileage readouts, so we were able to easily track our mileage along the way. The results are in:

The 2008 Cars.com Mileage Challenge

As the price for a gallon of regular gas hovers above $3 a gallon — $3.40 in California — it’s high time we investigate what sort of mileage our cars achieve in the real world. In October, the EPA released its 2008 Fuel Economy Guide, which rates mileage using stricter standards for acceleration, air-conditioning use, cold weather and top speeds than were used in the past. The new measures purportedly reflect real-world driving better than before; MPG ratings dropped some 5 to 15 percent per car using the new standards.

Still, the EPA tests are done in laboratories, not on the road. To test real-world mileage, we took four cars across interstates and rural roads between Chicago and Madison, Wis., in October. Nine hours, two pit stops and one greasy lunch later, we had logged some 300 miles.

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.