Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, October 7, 2011 Page: 45 of 68
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Crossing its T
Hyundai's potent Sonata 2.0T ups the ante for an already attractive ride
CASEY WILLIAMS I Auto Reviewer
crwauto@aol.com
All of the great marques have special models
with special letters. Adding an "M" to the back
of a BMW changes an accomplished touring ma-
chine into an all-out performer. Hanging " AMG"
on the trunk of a Benz instills a tradition of rac-
ing and mind-bending acceleration. Put a "V" on
a CTS and you've got bottled evil.
Sticking a "T" on the back of a
Hyundai may not scare the
world's power players, but it
might light dirt clods under mar-
ket-leading mid-sizers.
Mentioning the 2.0T along x
with the great "alphas" from Germany isn't com-
pletely whack. In the mid-'90s, a BMW M3 made
way with a 286 horsepower V6 engine. The C36
AMG, Mercedes' first car formally badged with
the iconic letters, ran from 0-60 mph in 6.6 sec-
onds, topping out at 155 ... and did it all with
just 268 galloping steeds.
I'm darned sure neither of those cars gener-
ated the fuel economy ratings or offered up such
a cavernous interior as the Hyundai.
Let's just get to it. The Sonata's 2.0-liter tur-
bocharged 4-cylinder engine produces.274 horse-
power and 269 lb-ft. of torque — all routed to
the front wheels through a near-perfect six-speed
paddle-shift automatic transmission. Unlike in
the Bimmer and Benz, drivers are confronted
with a fair amount of torque steer — two wheels
can only be asked to do so much before throw-
ing a regal fit. I'm old enough to remember V8-
powered supercars that couldn't generate those
numbers, and they sure as heck didn't achieve
22/33-MPG city /highway. Another point of in-
11 SONATA 2.0T
Hyundai. 274 horsepower, 2.0
liter Inline 4. 22/33-MPG city/
hwy. As-tested price: $30,000
terest, the pint-sized Chevy Aveo achieves
25/34- MPG and makes due with a 108-HP en-
gine. Hyundai hit the big boys in their asses.
It would be hard to imagine a more pleasing
package in which to wrap this mechanical or-
chestration. Borrowing from the Mercedes CLS
four-door coupe, Sonata is a sexy piece with a
near-perfect arch running from its
wavy chrome grille to its sculpted
hood, curved roofline and tapered
rear deck. The forms have more of
a molded look than metal
^ stamped through presses:. Hun-
kered down over 18-in. alloy wheels and low-
profile touring tires, the car looks like it rolled
out for a futuristic sci-fi flick. Yet, it has a family-
friendly look that is almost hug-
gable.
The love continues inside. Sit-
ting behind the wheel, you could
just as easily be piloting the Gene-
sis Coupe as a roomy five-passen-
ger sedan. Big analog gauges,
twin-cockpit dash lay-out, huge
cupholders, cavernous storage bin
in the console and in-dash touch
screen that couldn't be easier to
navigate, or use to navigate, work
well. Automatic climate control
will freeze your tenders; heated
seats roast your cushions on cold
mornings.
I'm also a fan of the multi-func-
tion leather-wrapped steering
wheel, leather seats, and auto
up / down driver window. Fold-down rear seats
and a roomy trunk will swallow bicycles and
gear like a pack mule stomping up a moun tain
trail.
Everybody inside can rest assured in their
safety. Potential padding comes from dual front,
front side and side curtain airbags. Front active
head restraints and self-retracting seatbelts keep
you in your place. Enhancing the driver's ability
to avoid ugly incidents in the first place are four-
wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability
Control and brake force control to prevent skids
under heavy deceleration. An incredibly rigid
passenger compartment is protected by engi-
neered crush zones front and rear.
Great driver's Cars have finesse to their mo-
tions that draw you in and provide rewards for
your attention. The 2.0Tfs steering is direct and
reacts instantly off center. It is perfectly weighted
for a family sedan with sporting intentions. The
suspension is firm, but compliant and the brakes
are up to the task of stopping a 3,400-lb. automo-
bile. Step into the turbo and it generates smooth
torque at virtually any speed. Get on it at Inter-
state speeds and it will put a beaming smile
across your mug. It's nice that you can buy a per-
fectly practical car that can also put joy in the life
of its driver.
To witness Hyundai upping its technological
game two clicks higher, check out the Sonata Hy-
brid. Aero tweaks clue you in that this is the
model that gets a compact-like 35/40-MPG
city/hwy. A net of 206 horsepower comes from a
2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, motor, and advanced
lithium polymer batteries. Prices start under
#26,000.
Whether you choose the Sonata with a T, the
one with batteries, or just the regular 4-cylinder
version, you'll quickly come to the conclusion
that Hyundai has out-engineered and out-styled
itself into the realm of the world's best automak-
ers. These are great cars — ones about which you
will be proud to tell your friends and look for-
ward to enjoying for many years. For added as-
surance, the Sonata comes with Hyundai's
standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain war-
ranty.
With an as-tested price of $30,000, competitors
include the Buick Regal, Honda Accord, VW
Passat and Ford Fusion. ■
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FITS TO A T | Good gas mileage, a turbocharged engine, sleek
interior styling and a nice price make the 2.0T an enviable vehicle for
a wide range of tastes. (Photos courtesy Hyundai)
10.07.11
dallasvoice 45
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, October 7, 2011, newspaper, October 7, 2011; Dallas, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth239188/m1/45/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.