7th Sep 2009, 21:37

This is an odd review for a car that generally gets higher marks than a Camry.

First off, yes, ethanol DOES drop gas mileage AND no new car gets its best mileage until it has 5,000 or even 10,000 miles on it. I almost bought a Sonata, but they only come in really bland colors that I didn't care for.

I now own a Ford Fusion I-4 and definitely can't complain about its fuel mileage. On a 110 mile interstate trip this weekend I got 38 miles per gallon (checked with a calculator by dividing miles traveled with gallons used). The computer was off by only two tenths of a mile per gallon (it was showing 38.2). Even after two days of driving in town, my mileage as shown on the computer has dropped to only 35mpg. That is WITH ethanol, which most gas stations have now.

Give the Sonata a chance. It is a VERY good car.

8th Sep 2009, 11:56

On the subject of "cheap plastic panels"

I hate to tell you sir/madam, but ALL cars use "cheap plastic" panels, from Hyundai to Rolls Royce. If you want a vehicle that doesn't use plastic then I recommend you purchase a vehicle from the 50's or 60's. (All metal and chrome). But of course you'd just doubly complain about the fuel consumption. Some people just can't be happy unless they have something to complain about I guess... poor car.

14th Sep 2009, 06:08

First of all, I don't own a Hyundai, nor do I plan to own one, but I must say that this review is not credible to me.

In fact, it reminds me of something that would be written by someone who wanted a Lexus, but instead were given a Hyundai.

16th Sep 2009, 16:49

Well I think it's a perfectly plausible review of a typical Hyundai car.

17th Sep 2009, 16:28

"Well I think it's a perfectly plausible review of a typical Hyundai car."

You may not believe it, but Hyundai has REALLY improved. I know their cars used to be crap, but they have gotten much better. I own an '07 Hyundai Elantra GLS that has 56,000 miles on it. ZERO problems and the build quality is definitely on par with Honda and Toyota. You need to reexamine your statement, it is based on old information.

9th Nov 2009, 17:12

I own a fully loaded 2008 V6 Hyundai Sonata, which I purchased as a previous daily rental and have absolutely no problems with it whatsoever. It is a wonderful vehicle. Very roomy and comfortable.

Keep in mind that there are always lemons with every car manufacturer. I would not hesitate to recommend Hyundai to anyone. I love my car.

11th Nov 2009, 06:56

I had a 2007 Hyundai Sonata as a rental in Nevada for nearly two weeks, a couple of years back. At first sight of the car, I also thought "Oh crap, a Hyundai!" However, it was actually a nice little car. I had to drive about an hour 1-way on the interstate, during which time the car rolled smoothly along at 75 mph, plus another hour on dirt, washboarded roads, which the car felt pretty smooth on. Although there weren't a lot of frills, the interior was roomy and comfortable enough.

In that mixed driving I still got over 30 mpg. I had to come away admitting that it was not a bad little car, and worth what they list for. I would say they would make a great commuter or A to B car. Not that I would actively seek one out to buy for myself, but if I needed a car and the price was right, I would consider a Hyundai.

14th Nov 2009, 19:53

Seems an odd review when compared to all the others. I love my Sonata.

Uncomfortable? Did you not test drive it?

Mine is very comfortable and no problems reading the controls at all. Can you not see the mpg on the trip computer?

9th Dec 2009, 10:51

Hyundai is the best car I have had. Never had any problems with my 2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS Limited, and really good in snow!

9th Dec 2009, 10:56

I love my Hyundai Elantra GLS Limited. Spacious room and a very efficient 2.0 liter engine gives me all the power I want (and more). It is very quiet at freeway speeds and on bumps, amazing heater and A/C gets very hot and cold fast!

-----Best Drifter-----

9th Dec 2009, 13:25

I've driven the Sonata and several of our friends own various Hyundai models. I think the Sonata is a far better value than Camry or Accord (and offers a REAL warranty), and on a par with the Car of the Year Ford Fusion. None of our friends has ever had a single problem with their Hyundai's, though they do report poor dealer service.

15th Dec 2009, 14:01

"Second rate garbage" seems strong for a few features missing that you should have noticed to begin with.

25th Dec 2009, 14:39

I agree with the comment about horrible gas mileage. I have a 2009 Sonata 4 cyl Limited, and I'm constantly getting 14.6 mpg in city, where I do most of my driving, with a "normal" driving style. I like my car but the gas mileage is HORRIBLE. I do not gun/rev my engine and I am extremely concerned about what my mpg is doing. I have even tried "coasting" down hills and putting the car in neutral every chance I get in order to increase my mpg... the absolute best I have gotten is 17.3.

For a car company that brags about mpg, it really isn't acceptable. I know someone with pretty much the same car that I have, and she travels the same route I do and she gets 21-23 mpg. What steps should I take to remedy this problem, or what can I even do?

5th Jan 2010, 13:54

A couple of minor issues hardly make it "garbage." Trust me, I've had garbage vehicles.

21st Jun 2010, 09:33

I have a 2009 Sonata as a rental, and am returning it. The front seats are very uncomfortable and are causing me back pain. I am not sure if it is the angle of the bench you sit on, the length, or something else but 15 minutes is enough to have me in pain. A long trip would be torture.

2nd Jul 2010, 23:24

I have a 2009 Sonata and get about 30 mpg on the highway with the four cylinder. (This over about 24k miles.) The front seat could be better, but it is not bad. I bought the Sonata to use for a long commute to keep the miles off my Mercedes S class. The commute was bothering my back when I was driving my Benz, but the problem went away with the Sonata. I think the seat in the Sonata fits me better.

14th Aug 2010, 23:23

I just got a 2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited with 4 cyl engine and 5 speed automatic. I researched cars and expected to get 26 MPG overall, like Consumers Guide says. Hyundai's computer said it was getting 19 mpg. I didn't believe it, so I checked for 3 tankfuls. Sure enough, barely 20 mpg. I do mixed driving, about 1/2 highway miles and am a senior citizen. I don't speed and do not have a heavy foot. The Hyundai dealer says there is nothing wrong with the car. If it doesn't improve, I will get rid of it and use my 6 cylinder Mercedes SUV, which gets 19 MPG overall.

15th Aug 2010, 16:55

When cars are brand new, the mileage is less than what it will be later. My Ford Fusion six cylinder got 13 mpg the first 100 miles. Improved to 18 mpg for at about 1000 miles. Is currently at 22 mpg at 10000 miles. I'm pretty happy with that, since I have mix of city and highway miles. I consistently have gotten close to what the government estimates my mileage will be, once the car has a few thousand miles on it.

23rd Aug 2010, 17:53

Where should I start?

I have been testing all the new cars that looked nice and here is what I found.

Subaru was underpowered on the hilly highways but in appearance looked nice enough to buy. Ford Fusion improved a lot but is a bit conservative in its styling. The Sonata performed better in every way I could imagine, appearance, drive train and is a bargain to boot.

You owe it to yourself to compare all these models and by the way I compared the Sonata with Honda Accord, Camry and Altima, and it remains for year 2011 the best I could find in the business.

If you are open minded and critical like me then you will probably agree. Sonata rocks.