Hyundai did provide Edmunds with the test car. Very last sentence of the review states:
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
One review from a guy driving the car for a short period of time doesn't seem to be the best advice to use when determining if the car is right for you. I much rather hearing real owners reviews in this forum who drive their cars everyday.
It's more fun to drive than the ubiquitous Accord and Camry ..
With its well-balanced chassis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata provides both a supple ride and sure-footed handling. In this sense, it rivals similarly sporty family sedans such as the Altima and Mazda 6. The steering is well-weighted at normal driving speeds and lightens up considerably at low speeds (to ease parking maneuvers) -- perhaps too much for enthusiasts, though this is a minor gripe at best.
Sounds like the previous road tester was just being picky .. maybe he was bummed he had to review the GLS instead of the SE.
shabadoo25, Can you test what napsfan said in his/her post #1244?
I tried it but it didn't work. I tested between XM and Radio, Radio and iPod, iPod and XM. Mine didn't remember volume setting on each Mode. I have Limited w/o Nav though.
Can you test what napsfan said in his/her post #1244?
I tried it but it didn't work. I tested between XM and Radio, Radio and iPod, iPod and XM. Mine didn't remember volume setting on each Mode. I have Limited w/o Nav though.
Hi again. I can try it again tonight also. Note that I just tried this between AUX (which was Bluetooth connected to my Blackberry) and FM. I had not tried to do a more thorough test (this was just more of an observation of that one specific example, which was very evident going back and forth and looking at the displayed volume level on the scrren). But I will also confirm tonight, to make sure I was not hallucinating from the new car fumes
I currently own a 06` Hyundia Sonata and a 06` Kia Rio5 hatchback. Fell in love with the 2011 Sonata GLS for about 21K+ MSRP. Was going to trade in the Sonata for the new one which is vastly improved but decided on ordering the 2011 Ford Fiesta instead. Why? Comparing apples with oranges I know, but fully loaded Fiesta SE Hatch w/power moonroof $18k minus $595 Sync credit equals $17400. MSRP. With Ford X Plan, about $16600 out the door. 2.4 vs 1.6 ltr 34 mpg vs 40 mpg. Again, wrong forum for car comparisons but I went for the Fiesta instead of the Sonata. Sonata is still the vehicle to buy if you want/need a full size car!
If you go into the settings (at least on the base stereo, so I'm sure on the Dimension one as well) you can set the blutooth system to automatically set to a certain volume. For me, I like to set it pretty loud (around 15) for calls so I can hear people clearly, but keep the radio lower for normal driving. A very nice feature.
so far pretty much the only thing I could complain about is the weak horn, the first time I hit it I wasn't even sure it was going off so I hit it again and again until the other drivers were confused and annoyed.. this might be more a function of the sound isolation than the actual horn though.
I tried to replicate the "lurching" you described by doing several shifts from 1st to 2nd gears in both manual and automatic modes at between 4000 - 5500 rpms. Everything was very smooth even at that speed and I barely even felt the shifts, so I am not sure what to make of your situation. Did you let off the gas a bit once it got into 2nd gear and were feeling the engine braking at 4000+ rpms? Or maybe you were feeling a lot of engine braking at 5000 rpms in 1st gear, but then felt much less as it shifted into second, pulling the car forward more easily? If you feel like it's abnormal I would ask the dealer to take a look and see if they notice anything.
Congrats! The car looks so great in black, it's not even funny.
What are your initial impressions?
Congrats to you as well. I agree, the car looks great. I had them put on the paint protection - maybe I got ripped off but I wanted to make sure I did all I could do to keep that black finish looking glossy.
My initial impressions are twofold (coming from a 2001 Camry). My first impression is, wow, there are lots of hi tech toys in here. My second impression is did I buy a BMW or Mercedes? Because this sure doesn't seem like your typical midsize sedan.
As you can tell, I'm really impressed with it. The kicker came when my wife got home. She never liked the Camry because she thought it was too big. But she loves the Sonata and wants one for herself! I told her it's the same size as the Camry - bigger in many respects. But she says it looks and handles like a smaller car, while having the nice soft, quiet ride of a larger car. And she also loves the hi tech stuff, especially the xm radio.
I'm looking forward to taking the Sonata on some long trips.
As you can tell, I'm really impressed with it. The kicker came when my wife got home. She never liked the Camry because she thought it was too big. But she loves the Sonata and wants one for herself! I told her it's the same size as the Camry - bigger in many respects. But she says it looks and handles like a smaller car, while having the nice soft, quiet ride of a larger car. And she also loves the hi tech stuff, especially the xm radio.
The Sonata feels smaller than the Camry for a few reason. While there's more leg room and more interior room overall, it just feels a little more narrow due to the lateral knee room. The seats are also more contoured giving it a tighter feel.
And one thing I noticed is that the better turning radius makes the car feel much smaller than it is. Backing out of my garage in the morning now is never tight. I always had to worry with my Camry if I'd be close to the garbage cans or telephone poll. Now it's a piece of cake.
The low roof line also contributes to the feeling. It looks shorter from the outside and it feels smaller inside. Amazingly the Sonata gives me much better head room than the Camry despite the low roof line. But I'd have to cut my head off to sit in the back seat.
It is well known that the 2011 SE do feel different when compared to the entry model with the steel wheels., That made me wonder, the unsprung mass of the wheels on the Premium model is less than that of the entry model, even though they have the same suspension. Will that change the dynamics noticeably i.e to such an extent that the driver will feel the difference between the steelies and the mags when cornering or riding the bumps?
Reading that review, and owning a limited, it had me wondering. I was starting to think maybe they made a mistake and built my car with the SE suspension, because it sure doesn't feel like they describe.
Unsprung weight can make a big difference in handling. The wider wheels and stiffer sidewalls of the limited would add to this. I still think they would handle even better, and have less road noise, without the low rolling resistance tires.
Thanks for trying to replicate the issue. Maybe it's just my vehicle (once again). The lurch is too strong to simply be engine braking, because when it happens, I don't think I'm letting off the gas at all (if anything, I do let off the gas to avoid the issue).
I am thinking I might take it to the dealer to look at, but with all the talk of the iPod issue I've had with them, I'm sure they're getting sick of hearing from me.
yeah that is unfortunate, if this keeps up maybe you can have it declared a lemon and get a replacement. It doesn't seem like anyone else is having these problems so nobody is sure what would fix it.
Checked out the new Sonata at my local dealer. A Limited in brilliant silver. Looks like a M-B with the sloped roofline. The workmanship looked excellent, especially the paint. The dealer had several GLS Sonatas on hand which apparently have just been arriving. I noted that the turn signals are not mounted in the side mirrors as they are on some models of the Optima. The Hyundai literature does not indicate that the V6 is available as an option for the Sonata.
Being personally acquainted with the owner of the local Hyundai and Kia franchises, it came out in conversation that the new Optima and the Sonata will now be built in the same facility, on the same production lines in Montgomery, AL. Production of the Santa Fe is to be relocated to the new West Point, GA. plant, to be built on the same lines as the Sorrento.
IMHO, this new Sonata is going to be a good seller. The styling is well proportioned and the craftsmanship appears to have been done with the utmost care.
According to the sticker, the engine is built here in the U.S. with the transmissions being manufactured in Korea. I'm aware that the GEMA engine plant in Michigan is building engines for several companies and am wondering if they are supplying the engines?
My dealer called yesterday to tell me that they have started to install the camel leather interior on the Limited at the assembly line and that I should expect it in 2 to 3 weeks. This is a little earlier than the projected "some time in April" time frame that I was given several weeks ago.
THATS my kind of choice .GLS is just so AWESOME .Its interior is so smooth and royal which can impress anyone who own the car . I congratulate you .ENJOY YOUR RIDE.......
Holy [non-permissible content removed]! One would have to have graduated with a PHD from Stamford or MIT to be able to figure out all that technology. Who the hell needs it! Just set the damn radio on FM and listen to NPR and just concentrate on driving already!
Has anyone here bought 11 Hyundai Sonata GLS with option 2 recently? What is the drive-out price? Thank you!
I believe you're talking about the popular equipment package (power seat, etc). That's the configuration I have on my GLS (with auto transmission). The price I paid was just over $19,000, but that didn't include tax, tags, freight, or any of the "extras" they try to sell you (some of which I bought).
What worked for me: I looked at fitzmall.com in the Maryland area and they had what I thought were very reasonable/competitive prices online. They had the exact car (colors, etc.) that I wanted at a good price. So I emailed my local dealer and sent him the URL pointing to that car. Told him I was willing to do a road trip to go to Fitzmall to buy that car (which I indeed would have done). My dealer called back and matched the price, obtained/traded for that car from a nearby dealer within 24 hrs. No haggling, which was a plus in my book. Seemed like a good deal all around to me. (BTW: That was $24,094 for the Limited, including freight. Seemed reasonable to me.)
Midas69, I think that your experience kind of confirms what I have expected. I believe the suspension settings for the Non SE model was optimized for the Premium configuration and then used on the entry level model with the non optimized steel wheel configuration - from there the noticeable difference between the two experiences, albeit with different criteria in it being different persons evaluating each with his own preference and subjectivity.
I wish that car reviewers will start using some standard to evaluate ride quality. With the availability of today’s technology it should be not too difficult to instrument a dummy with accelerometers and using a standard set of road bumps and dips etc. Strap the dummy in the passenger seat, do the test and repeat the test with the dummy strapped in the back seat. Compare the results from car to car and develop some form of criteria in terms of vertical and lateral acceleration experienced. That should remove most of the subjectivity in the ride quality evaluation and would allow us to compare apples with apples.
some one a few posts up said his/her dealership told him/her that Sonatas LTD models are currently in production with Camel interiors and they should be on sale within the next few weeks. I'm dying to see the Wine interior.'
Harbor Gray with Wine interior LTD is my top choice. I also saw a Silver/Blue LTD recently with the Gray interior when in Hyundai's brochure says the Silver/Blue color would only be available with the Camel interior on LTD models. Indigo Blue looks GREAT in person, its my favorite color so far.
Someone had asked about remembering volume levels a few pages back. While the Infinity stereo remembers the difference between your phone settings and your stereo ones, it does not differentiate between XM and FM, for instance.
The Limited is the only model with turn signal indicators on the side mirrors.
As for camel leather interiors, read back a little bit and you'll find some information.
if that is the kinda deep blue that I just saw someone driving on my lunch break it is beautiful in person. I def. have to go by my dealer and drive one of these cars.
MSRP for Limited with mats, iPod cable, and freight, is $26,150. So the $24,094 was basically $2000 off MSRP (and just under the "so-called" invoice of about $24,500). So that seemed like a very reasoanble deal to me.
I just suck at describing colors. I visited the website and based on how they look on my screen, it is definitely the Indigo and not the Pacific that I just saw.
Comments
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
One review from a guy driving the car for a short period of time doesn't seem to be the best advice to use when determining if the car is right for you. I much rather hearing real owners reviews in this forum who drive their cars everyday.
It's more fun to drive than the ubiquitous Accord and Camry ..
With its well-balanced chassis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata provides both a supple ride and sure-footed handling. In this sense, it rivals similarly sporty family sedans such as the Altima and Mazda 6. The steering is well-weighted at normal driving speeds and lightens up considerably at low speeds (to ease parking maneuvers) -- perhaps too much for enthusiasts, though this is a minor gripe at best.
Sounds like the previous road tester was just being picky .. maybe he was bummed he had to review the GLS instead of the SE.
http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/sonata/2011/review.html
What Edmunds.com says
The previous Sonata was a solid contender, but for 2011, the Hyundai Sonata vaults itself to the top of the class.
I will post a comprehensive review after I have experienced everything with the car. Voice command is my lunchtime project.
I tried it but it didn't work. I tested between XM and Radio, Radio and iPod, iPod and XM. Mine didn't remember volume setting on each Mode. I have Limited w/o Nav though.
enjoy your new ride.
I tried it but it didn't work. I tested between XM and Radio, Radio and iPod, iPod and XM. Mine didn't remember volume setting on each Mode. I have Limited w/o Nav though.
Hi again. I can try it again tonight also. Note that I just tried this between AUX (which was Bluetooth connected to my Blackberry) and FM. I had not tried to do a more thorough test (this was just more of an observation of that one specific example, which was very evident going back and forth and looking at the displayed volume level on the scrren). But I will also confirm tonight, to make sure I was not hallucinating from the new car fumes
(Note: Mine is a Limited with no nav)
(i.e. Residual Value and Money Factor)?
Hope this helps!
What are your initial impressions?
I tried to replicate the "lurching" you described by doing several shifts from 1st to 2nd gears in both manual and automatic modes at between 4000 - 5500 rpms. Everything was very smooth even at that speed and I barely even felt the shifts, so I am not sure what to make of your situation. Did you let off the gas a bit once it got into 2nd gear and were feeling the engine braking at 4000+ rpms? Or maybe you were feeling a lot of engine braking at 5000 rpms in 1st gear, but then felt much less as it shifted into second, pulling the car forward more easily? If you feel like it's abnormal I would ask the dealer to take a look and see if they notice anything.
What are your initial impressions?
Congrats to you as well. I agree, the car looks great. I had them put on the paint protection - maybe I got ripped off but I wanted to make sure I did all I could do to keep that black finish looking glossy.
My initial impressions are twofold (coming from a 2001 Camry). My first impression is, wow, there are lots of hi tech toys in here. My second impression is did I buy a BMW or Mercedes? Because this sure doesn't seem like your typical midsize sedan.
As you can tell, I'm really impressed with it. The kicker came when my wife got home. She never liked the Camry because she thought it was too big. But she loves the Sonata and wants one for herself! I told her it's the same size as the Camry - bigger in many respects. But she says it looks and handles like a smaller car, while having the nice soft, quiet ride of a larger car. And she also loves the hi tech stuff, especially the xm radio.
I'm looking forward to taking the Sonata on some long trips.
The Sonata feels smaller than the Camry for a few reason. While there's more leg room and more interior room overall, it just feels a little more narrow due to the lateral knee room. The seats are also more contoured giving it a tighter feel.
And one thing I noticed is that the better turning radius makes the car feel much smaller than it is. Backing out of my garage in the morning now is never tight. I always had to worry with my Camry if I'd be close to the garbage cans or telephone poll. Now it's a piece of cake.
The low roof line also contributes to the feeling. It looks shorter from the outside and it feels smaller inside. Amazingly the Sonata gives me much better head room than the Camry despite the low roof line. But I'd have to cut my head off to sit in the back seat.
Unsprung weight can make a big difference in handling. The wider wheels and stiffer sidewalls of the limited would add to this. I still think they would handle even better, and have less road noise, without the low rolling resistance tires.
I am thinking I might take it to the dealer to look at, but with all the talk of the iPod issue I've had with them, I'm sure they're getting sick of hearing from me.
Cheers,
-Trevor
Being personally acquainted with the owner of the local Hyundai and Kia franchises, it came out in conversation that the new Optima and the Sonata will now be built in the same facility, on the same production lines in Montgomery, AL. Production of the Santa Fe is to be relocated to the new West Point, GA. plant, to be built on the same lines as the Sorrento.
IMHO, this new Sonata is going to be a good seller. The styling is well proportioned and the craftsmanship appears to have been done with the utmost care.
According to the sticker, the engine is built here in the U.S. with the transmissions being manufactured in Korea. I'm aware that the GEMA engine plant in Michigan is building engines for several companies and am wondering if they are supplying the engines?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdgCdZnFFUQ
Cheers,
Trevor
[url=http://www.multimedialo.de/]Rueckfahrsystem[/url]
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100311/OPINION03/3110389/1031
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100311/OPINION03/3110389/1031
It's a very good review. As a new owner of a 2011 GLS, I agree with everything he said.
I believe you're talking about the popular equipment package (power seat, etc). That's the configuration I have on my GLS (with auto transmission). The price I paid was just over $19,000, but that didn't include tax, tags, freight, or any of the "extras" they try to sell you (some of which I bought).
It's a pretty good deal. There's a lot of competition among car dealers in my area, Northern Virginia, so that may account for the lower price.
I wish that car reviewers will start using some standard to evaluate ride quality. With the availability of today’s technology it should be not too difficult to instrument a dummy with accelerometers and using a standard set of road bumps and dips etc. Strap the dummy in the passenger seat, do the test and repeat the test with the dummy strapped in the back seat. Compare the results from car to car and develop some form of criteria in terms of vertical and lateral acceleration experienced. That should remove most of the subjectivity in the ride quality evaluation and would allow us to compare apples with apples.
Are they making any camel interior? :mad:
Harbor Gray with Wine interior LTD is my top choice.
I also saw a Silver/Blue LTD recently with the Gray interior when in Hyundai's brochure says the Silver/Blue color would only be available with the Camel interior on LTD models. Indigo Blue looks GREAT in person, its my favorite color so far.
The Limited is the only model with turn signal indicators on the side mirrors.
As for camel leather interiors, read back a little bit and you'll find some information.
www.nfhyundai.com
if that is the kinda deep blue that I just saw someone driving on my lunch break it is beautiful in person. I def. have to go by my dealer and drive one of these cars.
MSRP for Limited with mats, iPod cable, and freight, is $26,150. So the $24,094 was basically $2000 off MSRP (and just under the "so-called" invoice of about $24,500). So that seemed like a very reasoanble deal to me.