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look too different from your tablet.
Youtube, Spotify, Waze, Google etc are
all available as long as you have a data
connection. What I’d like to see though
is an improved user interface catered to
driving, or a voice activated assistant
like Utter.
The gaudy factor has been turned
down significantly but it does leave
the dashboard looking a little plain. It
reminds me of something that’s not out
of place in the old Buck Rogers TV series
but nevertheless provides good driving
ergonomics. The panoramic sunroof also
gives the cabin a roomier feel.
The front seats are electrically
adjustable while the rear provides ample
legroom even for tall passengers; with
good shoulder and head room to boot.
With a quiet, serene interior, a long drive
in this Sonatawon’t leave anyone fatigued.
Safety comes by way of six airbags,
stability control with traction control,
greater use of high strength steel and an
in-car camera.
VERDICT
The Sonata isn’t outright outstanding
but definitely represents a note forward.
Overall, it’s a well packaged D-segment
sedan, probably one of the best overall
models in the market – with hill-start
assist, auto headlamp levelling, reverse
camera, front camera, dual zone climate
control, active cornering lights, smart trunk
system etc. But crucially, it performed
beyond my expectations.
Specif ications
ENGINE
1,999cc Nu serieswithmulti-point
fuel injection
OUTPUT
152hp@6,200rpm; 194Nm@
4,000rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-Speed automaticwithmanual
override
BRAKESANDSUSPENSION
Solid discs (front & rear);
MacPherson struts (front); multi-
link (rear); ESC; ABS; Hill-start
assist
TYRE SIZE
255/45 R18
WHEELBASE (mm)
2,805
DIMENSIONS (mm)
4,855 (L) x 1,865 (W) x 1,475 (H)
KERBWEIGHT (kg)
N/A
FUEL TANK (l)
N/A
PRICE
RMRM 158,053.30
will notice a vast difference in driving
character. While the old one feels wallowy
at the bends, the new one keeps itself
composed with little body roll.
The car’s stability control programme
also allows you to be a little more
optimistic in a corner without the rear
giving in too much thus making it much
more predictable. You can also change the
driving modes – Sports, Normal and Eco,
to suit your fancy.
Sports mode however, isn’t going to
put the car into warp speed; it just holds
the revs a little longer. I personally classify
the Sonata as an easy-going executive
sedan that’s supposed to bring me (and
my family) around in a comfortably quiet
manner so I don’t see myself using Sports
all thatmuch. I believe too that the Sonata’s
core buyers will be doing the same. The
motor-driven power steering seems to
give more feel than previously but is still
light enough for those who don’t like
working their muscles. Steering feedback
is adequate for those not used to driving
performance cars. Additionally, brake
feel can do with a little less ambiguity in
aggressive driving.
INTERIOR
The cabin defines Hyundai’s new design
concept, with more straight lines than
curvy ones. However, not every line is
perfectly horizontal; the angled ones break
up the monotony, although Hyundai’s
HumanMachine Interface puts the meters
and infotainment display on the same
horizontal plane to keep the driver’s eyes
from straying toomuch. The infotainment
unit is powered by Android and doesn’t