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Picked up my SE from the dealer a few hours ago. Luckily according to my VIN my car was not part of the door handle recall; as they wouldn't have been able to let me drive it off the lot. First impressions: this car is very nice. Since I have the SE I noticed a little harsher road noise and the ride is much firmer compared to easy-riding LTD I test drove last week. Engine is fairly quiet at idle however under moderate acceleration it tends to be a little noisy, which is expected of a 4 banger. Did notice over some bumps that I could hear a rattle that seemed to come from the driver's side front suspension. Will get this checked out at the dealer in a few days. Paddle shifters are fun and the interior illumination is great. iPod dock and Bluetooth work great. IMO the Bluetooth is a great option and the stock stereo does not sound that bad at all. I'm sure audiophiles would complain, however I listen most of my music very loud and it suits me well for now. Would be very easy to put aftermarket speakers and a small amp/sub if I really wanted to. So far I'm very impressed.
1. Recommend you check your tire pressures. Dealers are notorious for overfilling tires; may make a big ride quality difference with those huge 18 inch tires/wheels.
2. I would also double-check your door latches. Try to do what the recall says is the problem and see if you can make it happen:
"The problem occurs when the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button. When this happens the interior door handle doesn’t return to its normal position and the door will not shut completely.
Pressing the lock button again will reset the handle allowing the door to work correctly. With replacement parts reaching dealerships tomorrow the stop-sale will be lifted as soon as the repairs are made. The repairs consist of the replacement of the front door-lock mechanism."
Then I got in my 2011 Sonata SE and from the same starting position and did about 4500-5000 rpms (not even flooring it) and by the time I reached the same street I was doing well over 40mph. There was also a noticeable kick back into my seat, giving the impression that the car definitely has some power. This is mostly due to the 186 lbs. of torque provided by the direct injection engine (compared to 160 in the Malibu not to mention heavier weight and a more floaty suspension).
I know this is not scientific but in my mind there is not doubt that the 2011 Sonata is at least a second faster 0-60 than the Malibu, if not more, which would put it in the low to mid 7's. Sometimes I find that the posted 0-60 times are not really that accurate, the best way to see if the car is powerful enough for you is to try it yourself. :shades:
I am hoping and praying that #3 is especially not true or conflated, as I really want to like this car.
"wow this car is pretty much as good or better than everything else in it's class in every category.. and looks way better.. and is better quality ("approaching Lexus") and is much more affordable with standard features not offered on other models without paying thousands extra... we're just not sure we can get out of our two-decade old mindset of thinking the Accord is the greatest thing since sliced bread."
btw the C&D 0-60 test recorded 7.8 seconds ... like I said there are a lot of factors that go into getting an accurate track time. As far as the braking, MT said 0-60 braking was 123 feet, you are telling me 0-70 is over 180? I think they should test it again, it's a relatively light car with good sized brakes, ABS, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.
* Power sunroof with tilt and slide
* Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display
* Dimension 360w premium speakers, subwoofer/external amplifier
Limited Navigation Package - $2,100
* Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display (replaces six-disc CD changer)
* Rear backup camera
* Infinity 400w premium speakers, subwoofer/external amplifier
* Deletes HD Radio Technology with multicasting
http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/original/application/bd4d430- - 38b75633f2478539a08677c61.pdf
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/06q1/2006_honda_civic_si_vs._vol- - kswagen_gti-comparison_tests/2006_volkswagen_gti_page_2
in that comparison, the GTI (winner) actually has a very similar power-to-weight ratio as the Hyundai Sonata (16.3 lbs/hp vs. 16.2 lbs/hp) but pulls a 6.6 second 0-60 and a 14.9 quarter mile time.
so instead the Sonata will have to settle for a 10+ point win which is still very good even when compared to the aging lineups of their competitors. C/D also did note that the Sonata's brakes were just so-so, which is odd since Hyundais recently have had excellent braking numbers and according to AMCI, Hyundais had better 70-0 braking numbers than Mercedes and Lexus. so the Sonata will probably lose some points in the 50 point handling comparison as well, along with the 50 point fun to drive/gotta have it portion.
my somewhat inflammatory comments were in response to the OP of this topic (0-60), who stated that the 0-60 times for the new Sonata were worse than expected given the class leading power to weight ratio. i totally agreed. Hyundai made a big deal of achieving V6 power with four cylinder fuel economy. they did achieve the FE, but the power they achieved only on paper. on the road, their four cylinder has average four cylinder performance; behind Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Subaru and just slightly above Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Chevy.
first you complain that i compared the Hyundais to BMW, but now i can't even compare it to a highline pony car? what cars should i compare them to? whose sales are they supposed to conquest? the Genesis coupe is a strange animal. it doesn't have the luxury (and arguably performance too) to compare well with the 3-series or Infiniti G, but it doesn't have the performance to compare well with the best Camaros and Mustangs and the 1-series. it's sort of stuck in no man's land with the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Mazda RX-8, and it could be argued that its sales (less than 1000 units a month) reflect that. yes, the Camaro SS has a monster V8 with surprisingly good FE comparable to the Tau V8 (16/24 for the SS, 17/26 for the Genesis coupe), and so does the Mustang (a new V6 is coming this year, but then again the Sonata is getting the turbo too), but it's not their fault that they offer a V8 (with good fuel economy) for a similar price as a V6 equipped Hyundai.
Well, this thread is about the 2011 Sonata so I would think that you would compare it to other midsize family sedans with I4 engines. This is not about Genesis vs. Camaro or whatever. Some of you guys are so hung up on 0-60 times it's funny.
Horsepower is horsepower and torque is torque. They are only part of the equation. The other part is the transmission and the gearing. Yeah, where the peaks are come into play a little and rubber can effect too but mainly its the tranny. One horsepower cannot be weaker than another horsepower as they are measured the same. Hyundai just happens to want to be the mpg leader and not 0-60 leader. Does that make their car deficient? Everybody thinks the Mazda6 V6 is speedy and powerful but for this day and age the mpg sucks.
Probably 95% of the people buying these midsize sedans could care less about 0-60 times. Do you thin they go into the dealer and to seal the deal they ask "I got to be under 8 secs to 60 or I won't buy". The posters on this forum represent a very miniscule portion of the market and that seems to be biggest criteria on their list. We tend to be interested in cars and all the stats and thats great, but have some perspective. The average buyer doesn't care about all the stats and that is who these companies are marketing to. Hyundai is not trying to be a niche player like Mazda and Suburu or be the sportiest car in this class, they are trying to be the biggest seller and guess what the blueprint has been for that for the last 20 years. The Camry.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/02/2011-hyundai-sonata-first-review.h- - - tml
Gone is the optional V6. This has turned off some V6-owning customers, according to the salesman who sold me our car. They should definitely reconsider--this drivetrain is pleasant, with ample power and a smooth-shifting transmission. Hybrid and turbocharged versions are coming, but we’re not really sure who would bother paying more for the turbo.
Handling is improved from the current Sonata, with more responsiveness and better-weighted steering. A more tied-down suspension yields improvements in composure, getting rid of the previous-generation’s float on highway undulations. 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. Noise levels are fairly low and although it’s evident this is a four-cylinder, the engine is relatively civilized.
but, like i've said before, i'm done with expecting super performance from Hyundai, particulary the Sonata. i don't know what the over/under is on the 0-60 times from the GDI turbo
however, i sure hope that Hyundai isn't trying to emulate the Camry. or even the Accord.
Why would you expect "super performance" from a mid-size family car that gets class leading(more like blowing competitors' away) fuel efficiency?
I don't understand how cars such as 911, GT-R, Evo, or STI would be mixed in with the Sonata 0-60 numbers...
I think the next time around, you'll see the Camry/Accord try to match Hyundai in fuel efficiency. Hyundai's doing something special right now!
I just bought a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Edition today, and traded in my 2006 Sonata GLS v6 for it. I absolutely love the new car, except for the smaller 4-cyl engine!
If anyone's interested, I made a video about using an iPod Touch with the new Sonata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGArkAY7UE
Cheers,
Trevor
is a 3.3 L 5AT with "249" HP rating. Almost all the other cars in this class
have 3.5 to 3.8, with from 252 HP up to near 300 HP. If you are not real
experienced w/ the new 3.3. The first 0-60 test runs were done by people
that didn't have a clue about how this car works. They just put it in drive and
pressed the gas, results around 6.9 "not bad". Next and more accurate
test was done by people who were more familiar w/ this same car. Used
all the things put into it for a real test, these results were a bit different
average was 6.3. This is out of a car that has a EPA rating of large, one
of the heaviest cars in it's class w/ probably the least amount of HP rating.
Yes it is a Korean based car, but it's the only (car) built here in the US,
with US people and parts. Could be a difference in how the HP is
calculated ??
Get in one of these, 09/10 SE V6 with a driver that knows what he is
doing w/ the shiftronics and the ESC. See what you think then, If you
can't find anyone to show you, I'll be more than happy to, free of
charge, just get here. Mine is straight of the showroom floor no
modification. I use 89 octane fuel not 87 thats it.
You are cherry picking one review from consumer reports? I trust them to do reliability surveys not test drives. Car and Driver reported the Sonata did 0.84 g on the skid pad. among the best in the segment ..Your implying the Fusion, Accord and Mazda6 are better in handling but I doubt that is the case if you choose the SE. Hyundai has done well with packaging giving what the people they want. If you want a little more sport go for the SE if not get the GLS or Limited.
At this point, I'd say that hyundai has just upgraded their 4 cyl sonata and cut the 6 cyl option. It is not a 4 cyl with the performance of a 6 cyl by any stretch of the imagination. It is a 4 cyl with the performance of a 4 cyl.
My problem with this and the issue of handling is that if somebody comes on here and says they like the soft ride of a Camry the racerboys immediately jump all over the person and make them out to be some sort of rube because they don't like a taut ride. They must not be enthusiasts! "Oh, how terrible, you don't like the same kind of handling that I do". I have an '07 Mazda6 which I like driving around town but for long trips I prefer one of our other vehicles that ride softer and more comfortable. I'm lucky enough to have a choice, a lot of people aren't so they go with what they like the most. Personally, I have driven Camrys and older Sonatas and I don't think they wallow. If I wanted to take on/off ramps at 20 over the posted speed all the time or wanted to pretend that I was a race car driver I wouldn't even be looking in this class.
Someone said the Fusion drives like it's on rails compared to another midsizer. Well, I can see a Corvette or something seeming like it's on rails, but a Fusion. Give me a break, it's a little tighter than some of the others thats all.
I think the new Sonata, from what I've read, is probably around the middle of the pack in handling and 0-60 times. That's probably going to be ok with 95% of the people looking in this class. Quite a market huh. But the car is first or second in so many categories it is hard to bash it.
If you want super fast 0-60 times, you're barking up the wrong tree. Wait for the Turbo.
Sonata's good power-to-weight ratio may not show up so much in 0-60 acceleration, but it will show up at some point. Fast 50-70 times are very useful for passing and accelerating up on ramps.
Replying to: shabadoo25 (Feb 24, 2010 11:09 am)
Perhaps someone already clarified this....if so I apologize for being late to the party. The ipod/aux jacks are independent of the stereo and nav system. The are in every Sonata at every trim level regardless of stereo or nav option. The ipod cable, curiously, fits into both the USB (ipod) and the AUX jack and then ends with same male end that fits into the bottom of ipods and iphones to recharge them. Remember that the same cord you use to connect you iphone/ipod to the computer will connect it to the Sonata.
Can you clarify one thing.... if you just use the USB to Ipod cable that you use to sync with the PC, it does not contain the 3.5mm AUX plug.
With just using your current Ipod cable will it pass the audio signal through the USB? Or, do you need the Hyundai Dual plug (or a 3.5mm AUX cable) to get sound?
The car has interior styling way above its pay grade, is sharp looking on the outside, gets great mpg and can haul a lot of people or stuff. I could care less if it is 1 second slower from 0-60 than an Accord.
If you don't care about any of that, any 3.5 mini stereo cable is fine.
If you want to deal with them, go through their Internet system vs. calling in for a salesguy.
The Sonata and all midsize cars offer different trims and engine choices for different buyers, not just "family sedans". A Mazda6 V6 or a Nissan Altima 3.5 SR or 2011 Sonata SE Turbo are aimed driving enthusiasts who want a fast sedan in the $25K - $30K range. While it may not be as good as a 3-series or a Porsche, they are a good balance between a sports coupe and a big cruiser like the Azera/Buicks.
Other people are way more interested in ride comfort and safety ratings than speed and fun-to-drive factor. For them, the Sonata GLS w/PIP or the Limited would be a good choice. The reason so many of these cars are sold is because they have a price level, engine choice, and trim to make just about any driver happy.
Also, I will wait for my own evaluation and more reviews before deciding on the 0-60 times in the Sonata, because so far it feels worlds faster than an Accord or Malibu 4 cylinder, or even the 2004 Sonata with 170hp/181 lb. torque @ 3250 lbs., which is comparable to most 4 cylinder sedans now. The GDI definitely makes it a responsive little engine, even if you aren't going to be racing any 370z's in it.
I also think hyundai is focusing on the young crowd and the green movement. Probably a wise choice. For older folks, hyundai has a bad taste to it that takes a lot to overcome. For younger folks, they don't know the history of early hyundais so they have no bad thoughts of hyundai to overcome.
Auto writers might not be perfect but they certainly are in the business of driving lots of different cars all the time and making a living at comparing them. If several didn't say anything about it I'd venture a guess that it wasn't anything to write home about or they would have.
Source: Limited Edition Owner.
I will try to get another video posted with more detail about the car (and the cable) later on. I also will try out a standard (USB iPod) computer cable (without the 3.5mm jack on it), and see if that works at all.
Cheers,
Trevor
Hyundai and Kia are gearing their new cars for MPG.... Although I haven't driven one yet, I for one love to see only 2200 RPM while cruising at 75 MPH.... try that in a Honda.
I have read a few reviews about the limited handling potholes well, but not bumps (the bumps are felt in the steering column) and a few other small complaints. I would wait for one to come to a rental agency and rent one for a weekend to see how it felt if interested in the 4 cyl, but I'm not interested in this 4 cyl. They made a clear decision not to use they 6 cyl and thus for me I'll wait for the turbo before buying. I am one of those 10-15 percent that don't want (another) 4 cyl.
As for reviewing experts, I bought the motor trend car of the year when I finished college - the K car. I had other names for it, though! And I think buying a first year model isn't necessarily a wise decision anyway (it is a first year model).
I edited my previous post, I'm so sorry! I just went out and looked at my car, and it doesn't have a power passenger seat. I swear the dealer told me it did, but I guess that's why I should have checked for myself first, huh? Now I sound like a complete idiot
Cheers,
-Trevor
I apologize again for not doing my due diligence the first time. I hate that I got your hopes up needlessly.
Edit: FYI, I have more video coming shortly! I just shot some more during the daytime.
Cheers,
Trevor
Why can't they just order the car...they told me that was an option. I understand it takes 10 - 12 wks and I'm willing to wait so what's the problem?
I'm not good with dealing with people in person and I'm afraid I'm going to cave in again!
This seemed high to me as I always changed it every 3000, so I pulled out the owners manual.During "normal" driving the manual says to change the oil/filter every 7500 miles. I am optimistic that I will not have to change the oil for 7500 miles, but it sounds too good to be true. Can anyone confirm if this is normal in newer cars?