2008 Hyundai Sonata

waltchan

This is the right time to consider a 2008 Hyunda Sonata 4-cylinder. Consumer Reports just brought in a good news, and they rated the Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder excellent (A) in reliability. If it stays this way, resale value will improve, and it may be the new Toyota Camry. 2008 should be more reliable than 2006 and 2007. Go Hyundai Sonata.

backy

Do you know how CR rated the V6 Sonata?

jaxs1

4 cylinder Sonata "Excellent"
V6 Sonata "Good"

4 cylinder Camry "Very Good"
V6 Camry "Fair"

Interesting to see this.

This is referring to new car recommendations. The older Camrys are still showing reliability better than Sonata, mostly excellent. Toyota has screwed up quality the last few years and Hyundai has improved at the same time.

Biggest issues on 05-07 Camry: Major and Minor Transmission problems.
Biggest issues on 05-07 Sonata: Squeaks and rattles.
The Camry also shows squeaks and rattles as a major issue, so the Camry is no better there.

It also blows away the common theory that a V6 can be assumed more reliable than a 4 cylinder because a V6 turns fewer RPMs each year for the same mileage.

jaxs1

Hyundai resale value will continue to be a problem until the improved quality is common knowledge.
Comedians still make jokes about Hyundais in the same sentences with Yugos.
Because of this, many people avoid buying Hyundais out of embarrassment of the reputation even if they personally believe the car may be fine based on what they've read about quality improvements. They don't want to be seen in one or have to say they drive a Hyundai due to the stigma. That affects resale value.
Maybe another 5 to 10 years of consistently good reliability and people will start to take notice.

bobad

They don't want to be seen in one or have to say they drive a Hyundai due to the stigma. That affects resale value.
Maybe another 5 to 10 years of consistently good reliability and people will start to take notice.

For smart buyers, the time is now. Hyundai's quality is already world calss, and can't get a whole lot better.

The Sonata's stunningly low buying and operating cost more than make up for any perceived resale value issues. By the time the '08 Sonata is 3 years old, I expect Hyundai's improving reputation for reliability will kick in, and the resale value will be up somewhat.

backy

Comedians still make jokes about Hyundais in the same sentences with Yugos.

I think you may be referring to Jay Leno's joke many years ago. But this is October 2007 and we're discussing the 2008 Sonata here, so I fail to see what a joke many years ago has to do with the 2008 Sonata. I wonder if there's any jokes floating around now about the plummeting qualilty of Toyotas? Please be sure to let us know if you hear any, won't you? If you would be embarrassed buying a 2008 Sonata, maybe you should check out some other car discussions?

targettuning

Hyundai vehicles are no joke. They are about on par with the "big boys" i.e. Honda and from what I have seen about the decline in Toyota quality they may be ahead of them. There is no longer a stigma (if there ever was) about owning one and since modern Hyundai cars AND SUV's are so elegant (styling wise)there is no embarrasment what-so-ever in being seen in one. Your perceptions, in addition to being biased, are simply outdated and further they are WRONG.

jaxs1

I know the quality has improved, but most people do not.
Comedians still use Hyundais in their jokes today. I'm not talking about Jay Leno from 10 years ago. I mean new comedians in clubs and on Comedy Central etc..
The average person thinks of Hyundai as a low quality brand and will not want to buy one used if they can get a Toyota or Honda instead.
This is why resale value is still low on Hyundais.
A Hyundai may be much more reliable than a Dodge or Jeep, but when people are asked what kind of vehicle they drive, Dodge and Jeep owners don't cringe before answering.

pat

Cringe? You won't find the Hyundai owners here "cringing" at that question and I'd venture to guess very few owners who don't hang around here would respond that way.

Let's drop this - you've made your point several times now. Please move on.

samnc

He is just provoking in all forums.

jaxs1

I was responding to targettuning's and backy's previous posts.

pat

I realize that - let's move on, please.

olfart

Just returned from Phoenix AZ where I'd reserved a full size car from Thrifty. They gave me a 2008 Hyundai Sonata 4cyl AT which they claimed to be a FULL size car. I drove it for 2 weeks through AZ, UT, CO & NM, putting 2677 miles on it with 4 adults and a fully packed trunk. Everyone was impressed with the comfort and room inside, and I was most impressed that I got 31.4 mpg out of this car. Power on hills was better than I expected, but I still had to use the brakes going down 6%+ grades while also downshifting the auto transmission. The rest of the time I set the cruise control at the posted limit and the only thing we felt the car needed was a heavier duty suspension, since the back seat passengers said they could hear the shocks complaining. XM radio out in the western boonies was also a nice feature. I've had American made company cars for the last 45 years, but must admit that I was impressed with this import. If I were in the market, I'd buy one, especially at the price our local dealer is asking.

bobad

Ironically, the Sonata is less of an "import" than some "American made". The car was designed and developed mostly in the USA, and assembled in a billion dollar plant in Montgomery, Alabama.

joe97

Great report. One thing about the size, the Sonata is in fact a full sizer (interior volume + trunk space), per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). First midsize sedan (competition market) to reach the full-size classification. It should be noted the exterior is actually not that large when compared to its key competitors, but Hyundai has always had a knack by putting out great interior volume and trunk space in its recent models.

jaxs1

Rental car company's don't go by the EPA standards anyway. They make up their own size standards. I've seen smaller cars than a Sonata called full sized by rental car companies.

bobad

Boy, you've got that right! One time I ordered a mid size, and got a car I could barely fit into.

I really like the size of the Sonata. They hit a sweet spot.

backy

Yes, Hertz has told me the Corolla is a "mid-sized" car and the Aveo (with roll-down windows) is a "compact"--not an "economy" car. I'd like to see what they consider an "economy" car! :confuse:

colloquor

Sonata and Camry are considered "Full Size" by Hertz. So is the old Taurus, and the new Taurus (aka Five Hundred), as well as the Chevy Monte Carlo, so "Full Size" is a relative term as far as the rental companies are concerned.

bobad

The Sonata is considered a large car by the EPA, so it really is a large car.

acelink

2008 Sonata interior updates. The car is to go on sales mid Nov. in Korea

jaxs1

It won't necessarily look exactly the way it looks in Korea or have all the features the Korean versions have.

backy

As far as features, yes, the ROK version will probably differ from the one offered in the U.S. For example, active rear suspension and nav have been available on the Sonata offered in the ROK for a few years. But the interior should be pretty close--the ROK Sonata's interior has matched the design of the U.S. model for some time, and for sure since the current design debuted.

I will go out on a limb and say that IMO the 2009 Sonata has the best-looking interior of any car in its class, based on these photos. What used to be perhaps the weakest link in the car will soon be a strength.

jaxs1

The Korean interior has not exactly matched the US version. Photos were posted many months ago of a Korean Sonata interior that had a different look and people were speculating that it was the new interior for the US.


They were wrong.

backy

I think it makes sense that Hyundai will use the same interior style for both markets, to keep manufacturing costs down--just like they have done since the current Sonata debuted in late 2004. But we'll see for sure in a few months.

joe97

Backy is right about the similarity of the interior. To the best of my knowledge, interior of the Sonata has always been all but same worldwide, save for the Nav placement and RHD in various countries.

By the way, the photo you posted is an interior proposal submitted by a supplier, iirc.

jaxs1

What is that thing with all the buttons (keypad?) below the dash? It looks like it doesn't belong.

backy

Maybe one of those ROK-only things, some fancy electronic toys perhaps. Could be the phaser and quantum torpedo controls, or even the controls for the matter/anti-matter intermix ratios (the 2009 Sonata is supposed to be more powerful).

rv65

Also I believe that model has Dual zone climate control or some form of auto climate control.

jaxs1

Yes, but there is something below it that looks like it came from Radio Shack. It doesn't match the rest of the car.

backy

Maybe it's a field test car and the box records data from testing.

Or it's a Realistic CB radio from Radio Shack!

rv65

It's a taxi meter. That interior is the taxi version for the South Korean market. Car will go on sale in Korea later this month. US will have to wait until early next year. Thats why the 08 sonata came out early.

acelink

Interior definitely looks much better. As for exterior, bring back the old design. BTW, in Korea, fully loaded 2.4 4 cyclinder is about $32,000 before tax. What a ripoff pricing in Korea...

jack47

IMO, the exterior looks fine.

On the other hand, though, the interior looks tacky.

Guess that's what makes for horse racing.

bobad

The wheels look hard to wash. The rest of the car looks great... very classy.

backy

I really hope this is not the same grille we'll get in the U.S. It doesn't have the same crisp, clean look as the current grille. I've seen Hyundai use different grilles in different countries, so I hope that is the case here. Also they can lose the chrome strips on the bumpers.

I am curious... if this interior is tacky to you, what car(s) in the Sonata's class do you feel have non-tacky interiors?

colloquor

It's not only the grille, but the lower valence with the fog lamps. It almost has the same shape and look of the current gen Elantra. I would have liked to have seen the new interior with the old exterior - there wasn't really anything wrong with the exterior - a nice and clean design.

maxamillion1

...the Sonata is a front-runner for cars to be considered...hopefully they'll keep a 5spd manual available on SE models so I can consider one.

This interior looks better than the Accord, Altima and Camry IMO.

acelink

Hyundai made front/back look busy, while leaving the sides relatively untouched. So, it does not look balanced any more. IMO, the old design was perfect. It was clean, yet elegant design. New wheel design look busy as well.

In Korea, 2.4-liter models come with chrome stripes in the bumpers along with dual exhausts to differentiate from lesser 2.0-liter models (popular DIY projects for 2.0 liter owners). Hyundai somehow managed to make chrome stripes uglier too.

sonotaowner

What's that thing above the back windshield? It looks like the base for an antenna. My car has the antenna in the rear glass windshield.

Anyone know? :confuse:

jaxs1

It is not the AM/FM antenna. It is probably a satellite radio antenna. Maybe the XM radio antenna will look different on the US models.

rv65

That car probably has Mozen. Mozen equipped cars have a shark fin antenna on them. The Sonata in Korea does have more equipment though. Koreans do equip their cars better. Yes it's more expensive though. Things in korea tend to be more expensive than in the USA.

joe97

Looks like a 30 sec ad spot:

http://www.bobaedream.com/board/data/data_view.php?code=national&No=86910&page=1- - &select=&content=&r_no=2&search_gubun=&s_pagescale=&search_day=&Answer=25

I am warming up to the front with the video. The interior is just fantastic, I have to say.

As for the preliminary NA spec, look for bump in horsepower (I4 and V6) and fuel economy improvements, re-tuned suspension for specific ride and handling (especially the SE trim).

On the issue of pricing, the US is possibly the cheapest market to buy cars/trucks/suv/etc, partly due to the heavy competition, among other reasons. Look no further no its neighbor north and check out the vast price differences.

bhmr59

The thing above the rear window is the XM antennea.

All '07 Hyundais with XM have this.

backy

Clever ad!

I'm not warmed up to the front yet. Maybe it's one of those things we won't see in NA. Note that the old grille on the home market Sonata, as shown in the ad, is different than what we have here. I prefer the current 17" alloys to the new ones also. The current alloys complement the clean lines of the car.

rv65

There are plans to introduce Navigation and bluetooth. The navigation system will be made by LG. Bluetooth will be available as well. Probably a JCI blueconnect system. Navi might have voice recognition but thats not confirmed. It seems that a hyundai rep said the sonata would get a navigation system. Hopefully it does come for 09 to make it more competitive.

rayjung

According to Koreean version, new sonata has 163 HP in 2.0 liter, and 179 hp in 2.4 liter. It's improved. So, I expect similar improvement in US version including HP and fuel economy.

backy

So if the U.S. gets the 2.4L engine with 179 hp, that would give Sonata the most base horsepower of any mid-sized normally-aspirated I4 car, correct? e.g., Accord LX has 177 hp and I think the Altima is less than 179 also, with all others below that. (Passat 2.0T has more hp, but costs considerably more than the Sonata.)

Or, what would be very interesting... make the 2.0L engine the base engine, if it has better fuel economy than the 2.4L engine. 163 hp is plenty, especially since the 2.0L engine should weigh a little less than the 2.4L motor.

acelink

2.0L and 2.4L have identical gas mileage as 2.4L comes with a 5-speed automatic in Korea. Not sure why Hyundai is not offering 5-speed automatic in US. KIA does.

joe97

This facelift will bring it to a 5 speed auto.