Hyundai Sonata 2009 car review

Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size sedan car that first came out in 1988. The original Sonata was built to sale in the US market following the success of Hyundai Excel. The car was first introduced in South Korea and Canada in 1987. It replaced Hyundai Stellar as the large family car. The current Hyundai Sonata is the fourth generation Sonata car. The main feature of Hyundai Sonata is that it is not a very stylish car but comes with lots of space inside and safety features. Sonata is the first car by any Asian car company that became successful as a commercial vehicle in Europe in 2000. If you are looking for a family car then you should go for Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai also gives great warranty coverage for Sonata.

Hyundai Sonata is one of the top selling cars in the USA. However, the car observed a downfall in sales since 2007. In 2007, the sales fell 2.6% and 12.4% in the first four months of 2008. So now, Hyundai brings to you Hyundai Sonata 2009 the upgraded version of Hyundai Sonata. Unveiled in February at the Chicago auto show 2008, Hyundai Sonata 2009 comes in three categories: Sonata GLS, Sonata SE, and Sonata Limited. Car and driver.com says:

The Sonata receives minor visual upgrades—the design team says it didn't want to mess with a design it considers to be successful. The bumper, the grille, and the headlights have been sharpened to help give the car a more edgy image. The face lift also brings new alloy-wheel options.

The transformation continues inside, where almost all the interior plastics have been upgraded. A new center console, dashboard, and door panels are intended to project a more luxurious image than the current pieces. The sedan also gets a first-ever touch-screen navigation option, dual-zone climate control, an auxiliary input jack for music players, and an ionization system that's supposed to prevent mold growth. If that's really a concern, we're all for ionizing whatever we can.

Mechanical changes make up the biggest part of the refresh. A revised front subframe makes the Sonata safer in frontal collisions.

Price:

Sonata GLS . . .$18,120
Sonata SE. . . . .$23,170
Sonata Limited $ 23,970

Features of Sonata GLS:

The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 2.4L 4-cylinder or 3.3L V6 engine.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 5-speed manual transmission.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has dual exhaust.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS).
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has active front head restraints.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with iPod®/USB and auxiliary input jacks.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 16-inch wheels.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with tilt steering wheel.

Canada.com says:

Nonetheless, the 2009's biggest improvement is inside the cabin. Its decor and build quality are superior to the Camry's and Altima's, and it is now almost equal to the Honda Accord's. The dashboard material, for instance, feels soft, the gauges are chrome-trimmed and the centre stack is much better organized. Compared with the Camry and Altima, the Sonata's interior is - wait for it - elegant. Yes, I'm surprised, too. Heck, even the very cheapest model gets two-mode seat heaters as standard equipment.And the Sonata's interior volume is greater than any of its primary competition. Normally, mid-model refreshes are modest affairs with the addition of a few electronic gizmos and a new front grille. Hyundai's more-than-modest refresh has largely addressed all the original car's weaknesses while maintaining its price competitiveness.

The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has remote keyless entry system with alarm.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Features of Sonata SE:

Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/55R17 performance tires.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has fog lights.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has 8-way power driver seat.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with steering wheel audio controls.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has driver seat adjustable lumbar support.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has automatic headlight control.

Business Week says:

The SE, the Sonata I test-drove at a Hyundai press conference, is the sporty version. It has 17-in. alloy wheels and performance tires, as well as upgraded cloth and leather upholstery and a tilting and telescoping steering wheel. The fancy Limited has 17-in. alloy wheels with all-season tires, plus extra chrome exterior trim, leather upholstery, a premium sound system, wood-grain trim, and two-level heated front seats.

The Sonata's two available engines are also peppier. The four-cylinder in the 2009 Sonata is rated at 175 horsepower, 13 more than before, and the 3.3-liter V6 at 249 hp, 15 more than before. A five-speed stick shift is standard; a five-speed automatic is standard on the Limited and optional on the less fancy SE and GLS.

Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with trip computer.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has chrome window-belt moldings.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has metalgrain interior accents.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has leather bolster/cloth insert sport seats.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has tilt and telescopic steering wheel.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has rear lip spoiler.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has solar control glass.

Features of Hyundai Sonata Limited:

Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited comes with leather seating surfaces.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has heated front seats with adjustable temperature control.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has dual-zone automatic temperature control.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited comes with auto-dimming inside mirror with integrated digital compass.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has home link integrated transceiver.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has chrome insert exterior door handles.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has premium door-sill scuff plates and limited badge.

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