Autoblog

Click for a high res gallery of the new Sonata

In recent months, Hyundai has made a big splash with the introductions of the Genesis sedan and coupe. While those two models will likely do wonders for Hyundai's street cred, they will definitely be niche players when it comes to volume. Among passenger cars in the US market, the midsize segment has been the highest volume category for nearly two decades. Since the mid-nineties, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have been the primary players with everyone else having been an also-ran. In recent years, however, Hyundai's entrant in the segment, the Sonata, has put up an increasingly aggressive challenge to the big dogs. The current generation Hyundai Sonata debuted for the 2006 model year and the company unwrapped its mid-cycle refresh back in February at the Chicago Auto Show.

The 2009 Sonatas have been in production since before the Chicago debut and they should be in stock at Hyundai stores around the country now. We went out to the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center (HATCI) outside of Ann Arbor, MI for a tour of the facility where the new Sonata was created and then set out for a couple of hours to see how it behaves in the real world. Find out if the new Sonata is for you after the jump.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

click above to view more high-res pics of the 2009 Hyundai Sonata

When Hyundai released its 2007 Sonata, the automaker served notice that it was serious about playing with the "big boys" in the midsize sedan market; namely the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and, just recently, the latest version of the Chevy Malibu. With its refresh of the Sonata for 2009, Hyundai has taken another major leap towards matching the best that Japan has to offer. Many consider the Camry too boring while others find the Accord a bit too sporty for their tastes. Hyundai is aiming at the middle ground with the '09 Sonata, and based on looks alone it seems that the company is on target. The interior especially looks ready to compete in the most hotly-contested segment in the industry, with quality materials and a much more pleasing design with more features than the current model.

Added power and efficiency have been gained in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder versions. Using the second generation Theta engine architecture, the 175-horse 2.4-liter inline-four is a vast improvement over its predecessor, especially since a new five-speed automatic replaces the old four-speed unit. Drivers who prefer a bit more power can opt for the newly updated 3.3-liter Lambda V6, now boasting 249 horsepower while still offering a slight increase in fuel economy. The Lambda V6 is available only with the five-speed automatic while four-cylinder buyers can choose between the automatic or a five-speed manual. We are still waiting for official pricing information, but expect the Sonata to continue to undercut the Accord and Camry.