2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Like the perennial mid-size sedan sales leaders it seeks to upstage, the Sonata is a musical theme whose title persists through regular rewrites. This is the seventh revision, and, carrying the symphonic parallel a little further, elements of the composition have been changed but the melody lingers on: high quality, attractive inside and out, with an exceptional value proposition. All-new, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata competes with stalwarts such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Ford Fusion.
As noted, this 2015 Sonata is the seventh generation and, like previous redesigns, the overhaul is comprehensive; no area of the car has escaped revision. While the net of the redesign and engineering updates is strongly positive, the re-sculpted exterior strikes us as cautious, and a retreat from the dramatic character creases of the previous generation. Though a widened grille and LED accents give the front end a little more drama, the overall look resembles the new Genesis sedan, and in smaller scale the design loses some of the bigger car's powerful presence.
Still, the word big does apply, or, more accurately, roomy. Exterior dimensions of the 2015 Sonata put it mid-pack among mid-size competitors, but by EPA standards its interior volume places it in full-size sedan territory, always a welcome trait in a family car.
This latest Sonata adds a new powertrain to its inventory, expanding choices to four: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; a gasoline-electric hybrid, which carries over from the 2014 Sonata line; and a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which Hyundai characterizes as the 1.6T Eco.
All but the new 1.6-liter are mated with 6-speed automatic transmissions driving the front wheels. The 1.6-liter is paired with a new 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual. The other transmissions are 6-speeds.
Styling notwithstanding, one of the most significant elements of the 2015 Sonata redesign is a major uptick in chassis rigidity. The new car's integrated chassis-body shell is composed of 50 percent high strength steel, according to Hyundai, compared to 21 percent in the previous Sonata. That, added to increased use of structural adhesives and more welds, adds up to a 41 percent improvement in torsional rigidity, 26 percent in longitudinal stiffness. The payoffs are reduced interior noise and improved dynamics. The high strength steel also reduces structural mass, which balances out weight gains from added content and sound deadening. On average, the new Sonata is about seven pounds heavier, model for model, according Hyundai.
The Sonata gives a good account of itself in terms of ride and handling, particularly in the Sport models, with slightly stiffer suspension and a more accurate electric power steering system (rack-mounted motor, as distinct from column mounted). Predictably, the turbocharged Sonatas are quicker off the line, and reduce passing exposure time on two-lane highways. But none of powertrain combos are likely to ignite a driver's inner racer. The virtues here are supple ride quality, quiet operation, and responses that inspire confidence, if not passion.
Safety is always a top priority in family sedans, and the Sonata …
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Full Review
All-new, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata competes with stalwarts such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Ford Fusion.
As noted, this 2015 Sonata is the seventh generation and, like previous redesigns, the overhaul is comprehensive; no area of the car has escaped revision. While the net of the redesign and engineering updates is strongly positive, the re-sculpted exterior strikes us as cautious, and a retreat from the dramatic character creases of the previous generation. Though a widened grille and LED accents give the front end a little more drama, the overall look resembles the new Genesis sedan, and in smaller scale the design loses some of the bigger car's powerful presence.
Still, the word big does apply, or, more accurately, roomy. Exterior dimensions of the 2015 Sonata put it mid-pack among mid-size competitors, but by EPA standards its interior volume places it in full-size sedan territory, always a welcome trait in a family car.
This latest Sonata adds a new powertrain to its inventory, expanding choices to four: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; a gasoline-electric hybrid, which carries over from the 2014 Sonata line; and a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which Hyundai characterizes as the 1.6T Eco.
All but the new 1.6-liter are mated with 6-speed automatic transmissions driving the front wheels. The 1.6-liter is paired with a new 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual. The other transmissions are 6-speeds.
Styling notwithstanding, one of the most significant elements of the 2015 Sonata redesign is a major uptick in chassis rigidity. The new car's integrated chassis-body shell is composed of 50 percent high strength steel, according to Hyundai, compared to 21 percent in the previous Sonata. That, added to increased use of structural adhesives and more welds, adds up to a 41 percent improvement in torsional rigidity, 26 percent in longitudinal stiffness. The payoffs are reduced interior noise and improved dynamics. The high strength steel also reduces structural mass, which balances out weight gains from added content and sound deadening. On average, the new Sonata is about seven pounds heavier, model for model, according Hyundai.
The Sonata gives a good account of itself in terms of ride and handling, particularly in the Sport models, with slightly stiffer suspension and a more accurate electric power steering system (rack-mounted motor, as distinct from column mounted). Predictably, the turbocharged Sonatas are quicker off the line, and reduce passing exposure time on two-lane highways. But none of powertrain combos are likely to ignite a driver's inner racer. The virtues here are supple ride quality, quiet operation, and responses that inspire confidence, if not passion.
Safety is always a top priority in family sedans, and the Sonata …
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| Engine | I-4 |
| MPG | Up to 36 city / 40 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd w/OD |
| Power | 159 @ 5500 rpm |
| Drivetrain | front-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,508 - 3,633 lbs |
