2005 Hyundai Sonata: Is it a contender?

devarshi84 · 16th October 2005, 02:13

well that is 1 out of the other 10 reviews favouring sonata. I wouldnt buy a hyundai but This Sonata emberra is something different. The Theta engine sure is a good one.

MrBoombastic · 20th October 2005, 09:57

This is what I read on the Business Standard Motoring web site...

Quote:

Zero to 60 kph in 3.9 seconds. 100 kph in 7.9 seconds. Top whack of 215 kph.

Quote:

All those rich kids with Skoda Octavia RS toys beware — this Hyundai, driven by a grandfather, may just humble you at the signal light.

How far would you guys say this is true?

devarshi84 · 20th October 2005, 09:59

I believe its true.

Its like the pentium4 @3.8ghz just got beaten by the namd fx-57 at 2.8ghz.

For some like me its sad but true. I would still want the RS but It will be sad to know that the sonata will beat the RS.

MrBoombastic · 22nd October 2005, 14:18

A very strong selling strength of the Hyundai Sonata Embera is it's engine (2359cc/ 165ps@5800 rpm/ 231Nm@ 4250rpm/ 16 V DOHC VTVT) . I wonder If the 2006 Honda Accord (2354cc/ 166ps@5800rpm/ 223Nm @ 4500rpm/16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC) is launched in India, would it put an end to the biggest selling strength of the Hyundai Sonata Embera? In my humble opinion, most people would still go in for the 2006 Honda Accord rather than a Hyundai Sonata Embera (Yes, even if the Hyundai Sonata Embera is a little faster).

Rtech · 24th October 2005, 14:21

November 2005 issue of Top Gear India has a shootoot between the Mondeo, Sonata, and Accord.

1st: Accord
2nd: Mondeo
3rd: Sonanta

GTO · 24th October 2005, 14:43

Outright acceleration is one thing - supreme handling, steering and braking entirely another.

GTO

Rtech · 24th October 2005, 15:07

By the way...these are the TG tested figures:

0-100kmph / 1/4 Mile
Accord: 10.51 secs / 17.44
Mondeo: 10.65 secs / 17.34
Sonata: 10.76 secs / 17.57

hmmmmm.....so much for performance king!

shuvc · 24th October 2005, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

By the way...these are the TG tested figures:

0-100kmph / 1/4 Mile
Accord: 10.51 secs / 17.44
Mondeo: 10.65 secs / 17.34
Sonata: 10.76 secs / 17.57

hmmmmm.....so much for performance king!

I wonder ..
Given the minute difference in these figures .. even an imperceptible human/track/machinery error/slip/something could shift the scales either way .. even if these were averages of a number of runs ..

Rankings in this case are probably more academic in nature ..

Rtech · 24th October 2005, 15:17

Exactly Shuvc. Figures like those are only relative. Every run would produce a different winner, and in the real world, a good driver would be able to outperform a not so good driver in any of these cars.

So I get back to my original question: Would the Rs.1 lakh saved over the Accord be worth it for the Sonata? To me, the answer is no, as you would lose more than that in depreciation as compared with the Accord.

MrBoombastic · 24th October 2005, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

By the way...these are the TG tested figures:

0-100kmph / 1/4 Mile
Accord: 10.51 secs / 17.44
Mondeo: 10.65 secs / 17.34
Sonata: 10.76 secs / 17.57

hmmmmm.....so much for performance king!

Rtech, I do not know where you got those 0-100kmph timings or which model of the Sonata that timing was for, but 0-100kmph gets done in 7.9 seconds when you speak of the Sonata Embera.

I am so glad everyone thinks the Sonata Embera is not such a good buy after all

Hyundai Motor India has given us the most stripped version of a car ever. No steering audio controls even!!

It's time Hyundai Motor India stopped treating us Indian customers this way!!

vipul_singh · 24th October 2005, 22:57

With cars becoming faster and faster, I wonder how meaningful the 0-100 comparisons remain. It could just be the gearing of the first two gears. 0-200 would give the true picture of who the 'performance king' is.

Rtech · 24th October 2005, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBoombastic

Rtech, I do not know where you got those 0-100kmph timings or which model of the Sonata that timing was for, but 0-100kmph gets done in 7.9 seconds when you speak of the Sonata Embera.

I thought I clearly mentioned the words "TOP GEAR" somewhere : )

devarshi84 · 24th October 2005, 23:23

According to the best of my knowledge

Sonata is available in more than two engine specs.

Hence the debate. BUt I wont rule out the possibility here of hyundai trying to take on the likes of Honda in power as they did on toyota in safety.

The new sonata is really comparable to the accord though.

Insane Devil · 5th November 2005, 18:07

hi all,,

had a lovely testdrive of the Hyundai Sonata Embera today!

and have compared it with the Accord test drive which i took right after the Sonata!

u will be surprised by the results!

take a look

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8473

jkdas · 5th November 2005, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBoombastic

Rtech, I do not know where you got those 0-100kmph timings or which model of the Sonata that timing was for, but 0-100kmph gets done in 7.9 seconds when you speak of the Sonata Embera.

I am so glad everyone thinks the Sonata Embera is not such a good buy after all

Hyundai Motor India has given us the most stripped version of a car ever. No steering audio controls even!!

It's time Hyundai Motor India stopped treating us Indian customers this way!!

oye, we just had the esteems and zens and the 800s before hyundai landed here. Hyundai showed them what quality was and is and will ( see teh US surveys). The santro we haev now is the 3rd version or so. what abt the zen? still the old b#m.

16th October 2005, 02:13	#61
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	well that is 1 out of the other 10 reviews favouring sonata. I wouldnt buy a hyundai but This Sonata emberra is something different. The Theta engine sure is a good one.
	() Thanks

20th October 2005, 09:59	#63
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	I believe its true. Its like the pentium4 @3.8ghz just got beaten by the namd fx-57 at 2.8ghz. For some like me its sad but true. I would still want the RS but It will be sad to know that the sonata will beat the RS.
	() Thanks

22nd October 2005, 14:18	#64
MrBoombastic BANNED Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 253 Thanked: 6 Times	A very strong selling strength of the Hyundai Sonata Embera is it's engine (2359cc/ 165ps@5800 rpm/ 231Nm@ 4250rpm/ 16 V DOHC VTVT) . I wonder If the 2006 Honda Accord (2354cc/ 166ps@5800rpm/ 223Nm @ 4500rpm/16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC) is launched in India, would it put an end to the biggest selling strength of the Hyundai Sonata Embera? In my humble opinion, most people would still go in for the 2006 Honda Accord rather than a Hyundai Sonata Embera (Yes, even if the Hyundai Sonata Embera is a little faster).
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 14:21	#65
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	November 2005 issue of Top Gear India has a shootoot between the Mondeo, Sonata, and Accord. 1st: Accord 2nd: Mondeo 3rd: Sonanta
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 14:43	#66
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,736 Times View My Garage	Outright acceleration is one thing - supreme handling, steering and braking entirely another. GTO
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 15:07	#67
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	By the way...these are the TG tested figures: 0-100kmph / 1/4 Mile Accord: 10.51 secs / 17.44 Mondeo: 10.65 secs / 17.34 Sonata: 10.76 secs / 17.57 hmmmmm.....so much for performance king!
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 15:17	#69
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Exactly Shuvc. Figures like those are only relative. Every run would produce a different winner, and in the real world, a good driver would be able to outperform a not so good driver in any of these cars. So I get back to my original question: Would the Rs.1 lakh saved over the Accord be worth it for the Sonata? To me, the answer is no, as you would lose more than that in depreciation as compared with the Accord. Last edited by Rtech : 24th October 2005 at 15:19.
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 22:57	#71
vipul_singh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BLR / Lucknow Posts: 595 Thanked: 833 Times View My Garage	With cars becoming faster and faster, I wonder how meaningful the 0-100 comparisons remain. It could just be the gearing of the first two gears. 0-200 would give the true picture of who the 'performance king' is.
	() Thanks

24th October 2005, 23:23	#73
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	According to the best of my knowledge Sonata is available in more than two engine specs. Hence the debate. BUt I wont rule out the possibility here of hyundai trying to take on the likes of Honda in power as they did on toyota in safety. The new sonata is really comparable to the accord though.
	() Thanks

5th November 2005, 18:07	#74
Insane Devil BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 987 Thanked: 173 Times View My Garage	hi all,, had a lovely testdrive of the Hyundai Sonata Embera today! and have compared it with the Accord test drive which i took right after the Sonata! u will be surprised by the results! take a look http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8473
	() Thanks