New Hyundai Sonata - July launch @ 16 lacs

hawkeye · 12th May 2005, 06:21

Are they offering a 3.3l V6? Then its well worth the price tag. But if its a 2.7 V6, no ways.

Remeber a Honda 2.4 >>>> Hyundai 2.7 V6

adya33 · 12th May 2005, 10:08

If they are offering top end model for 16L then it will be more like poor man's ACCORD
as people going for Skoda or Corolla will streach their budget & will go for base model SONATA

navin · 12th May 2005, 10:49

at 6-8L they got the accent, from 10-12L they got the elantra, next higher bracket is 15-18L i guess accord has painted everyone into a corner with their pricing.

Steeroid · 12th May 2005, 14:42

Hi all

Please go through my impressions of a new Sonata taxi in this thread:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4963&highlight=Hyundai+Accord

The car feels better and as mentioned in my earlier post they have offered 2 engine choices for the middle east - a 2.4 and a 3.3 V6, both petrol. They may be tempted to plonk in the Terracan engine (2.9 Turbo CRDi) as an option for India.

I am still skeptical about that blatently copied backend, as I am about the C Pillar and Rear Door that have been copied from the Camry and the nose profile copied from the Audi A4. However, the car comes across as more roomy, much better put together and plusher than the japs. The 3.3 was pretty hot off the blocks too, though I didnt get enough time to play around with it.

All said and done, if they plan to start the range at 16 lakhs the chap who does their pricing must be a refugee from Skoda India. No way that car is going to sell at those prices. 16 lakhs for a fully loaded 3.3 or 2.9 CRDi sounds pretty good, though.

Montoya · 12th May 2005, 16:14

No way is it going to sell at a price of 16lacs. Its a similar case of Hyundai foolishness launch at higher price and then keep discounting them till they sell..

nishant_kingpin · 12th May 2005, 20:03

Probably Hyundai created trouble for itself by not looking at the future while pricing the Elantra. There strong need for them to distinguish between the two cars on price...even though I don't expect Elantra to eat into the share of sonata.

They should actually fix the price of Elantra at the discounted levels that they sold it some time back at. That is the only way they can have better sales on the Elantra and can have an aggressive price on the Sonata. Else we may have another failure on the way due to no one making the right decisions when they are needed.

Montoya · 12th May 2005, 20:42

Currently they are selling the v6 will spoiler. hehe.. so that they sell.. damn kewl..

13th May 2005, 03:32

There is another issue I have come across while reading around about this car: the rear headroom. The sweepy roofline is all well and good but if you are close to 6 feet or over, forget it.

Although the average height in India is lower, this is still an issue if you want to get chauffeured around in comfort, without feeling claustrophobic. Perhaps Hyundai should use the "western" 95 percentile model and not Korean model when designing interior volume.

The new Hyundai Sonata: Not only a chavmobile, but also a midgetmobile. But I am quite sure Hyundai will somehow spin the lack of rear headroom as a feature for midgets...er, vertically challenged people. What about the rest of the world?

hawkeye · 13th May 2005, 04:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by adya33

If they are offering top end model for 16L then it will be more like poor man's ACCORD

I guess u meant a 3.3l by saying top end. Else it will be a no mans ACCORD.

It would only survive if they get a 3.3l. One doesn't put in 16 lacs on a Hyundai easily, if he gets a better Honda (in all aspects) for same. NO WAY!

I guess success is getting into their head a bit too much.

islero · 13th May 2005, 09:29

I absolutely detest the styling, and thought only the price could save this car, but now I find out it's priced exhorbitantly.

Terrible.

vipulG · 13th May 2005, 09:44

I don't think it is a good idea to introduce all models right from A segment to way up to D segment under one single brand. Toyota had recognized it long back and maintained a separate brand ( Lexus) for top end models.

Those who are paying top dollars certainly want (and demand) something exclusive. Imagine a situation where in a company president comes in Hyundai Sonata and followed by him , a junior engineer in a Hyundai Santro!

GTO · 13th May 2005, 17:39

This Hyundai Sonata looks H-O-T!!!

GTO

RJK · 13th May 2005, 17:48

Yep..its really looking good

adya33 · 13th May 2005, 19:29

copule of questions GTO

sure the car looks good BUT

1. It doesn't look like Hyundai logo on boot?
2. Front number plate says STUDIE & not SONATA?

Shan2nu · 13th May 2005, 19:35

Quote:

Front number plate says STUDIE & not SONATA?

That's bcoz it's not a stock Sonata. "Studie" must be the DC of some other country, only diff is that he's much better. LOL

In the pics, it looks like one off the Lancer variants.

Shan2nu

12th May 2005, 06:21	#16
hawkeye BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 190 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	Are they offering a 3.3l V6? Then its well worth the price tag. But if its a 2.7 V6, no ways. Remeber a Honda 2.4 >>>> Hyundai 2.7 V6
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 10:08	#17
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	If they are offering top end model for 16L then it will be more like poor man's ACCORD as people going for Skoda or Corolla will streach their budget & will go for base model SONATA
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 10:49	#18
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,199 Thanked: 9,307 Times	at 6-8L they got the accent, from 10-12L they got the elantra, next higher bracket is 15-18L i guess accord has painted everyone into a corner with their pricing.
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 14:42	#19
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Hi all Please go through my impressions of a new Sonata taxi in this thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4963&highlight=Hyundai+Accord The car feels better and as mentioned in my earlier post they have offered 2 engine choices for the middle east - a 2.4 and a 3.3 V6, both petrol. They may be tempted to plonk in the Terracan engine (2.9 Turbo CRDi) as an option for India. I am still skeptical about that blatently copied backend, as I am about the C Pillar and Rear Door that have been copied from the Camry and the nose profile copied from the Audi A4. However, the car comes across as more roomy, much better put together and plusher than the japs. The 3.3 was pretty hot off the blocks too, though I didnt get enough time to play around with it. All said and done, if they plan to start the range at 16 lakhs the chap who does their pricing must be a refugee from Skoda India. No way that car is going to sell at those prices. 16 lakhs for a fully loaded 3.3 or 2.9 CRDi sounds pretty good, though.
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 16:14	#20
Montoya BANNED Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Best City In India Mumbai Posts: 665 Thanked: 0 Times	No way is it going to sell at a price of 16lacs. Its a similar case of Hyundai foolishness launch at higher price and then keep discounting them till they sell..
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 20:03	#21
nishant_kingpin BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 335 Thanked: 4 Times	Probably Hyundai created trouble for itself by not looking at the future while pricing the Elantra. There strong need for them to distinguish between the two cars on price...even though I don't expect Elantra to eat into the share of sonata. They should actually fix the price of Elantra at the discounted levels that they sold it some time back at. That is the only way they can have better sales on the Elantra and can have an aggressive price on the Sonata. Else we may have another failure on the way due to no one making the right decisions when they are needed.
	() Thanks

12th May 2005, 20:42	#22
Montoya BANNED Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Best City In India Mumbai Posts: 665 Thanked: 0 Times	Currently they are selling the v6 will spoiler. hehe.. so that they sell.. damn kewl..
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 03:32	#23
SuperSyn Posts: n/a	There is another issue I have come across while reading around about this car: the rear headroom. The sweepy roofline is all well and good but if you are close to 6 feet or over, forget it. Although the average height in India is lower, this is still an issue if you want to get chauffeured around in comfort, without feeling claustrophobic. Perhaps Hyundai should use the "western" 95 percentile model and not Korean model when designing interior volume. The new Hyundai Sonata: Not only a chavmobile, but also a midgetmobile. But I am quite sure Hyundai will somehow spin the lack of rear headroom as a feature for midgets...er, vertically challenged people. What about the rest of the world?
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 09:29	#25
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	I absolutely detest the styling, and thought only the price could save this car, but now I find out it's priced exhorbitantly. Terrible.
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 09:44	#26
vipulG BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Surat Posts: 32 Thanked: 0 Times	I don't think it is a good idea to introduce all models right from A segment to way up to D segment under one single brand. Toyota had recognized it long back and maintained a separate brand ( Lexus) for top end models. Those who are paying top dollars certainly want (and demand) something exclusive. Imagine a situation where in a company president comes in Hyundai Sonata and followed by him , a junior engineer in a Hyundai Santro! Last edited by vipulG : 13th May 2005 at 09:46. Reason: typo
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 17:39	#27
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,549 Thanked: 300,796 Times View My Garage	This Hyundai Sonata looks H-O-T!!! GTO
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 17:48	#28
RJK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,140 Thanked: 701 Times	Yep..its really looking good
	() Thanks

13th May 2005, 19:29	#29
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	copule of questions GTO sure the car looks good BUT 1. It doesn't look like Hyundai logo on boot? 2. Front number plate says STUDIE & not SONATA?
	() Thanks