KansasCity.com's view

Hyundai’s all-new Sonata not only looks vastly different than its predecessor, but it drives as well as any car in its class and costs thousands less.

This car is a radical change. Its computer-designed body structure forms a solid platform on which everything else is placed: double-wishbone suspension, two new engines, two new automatic transmissions, and state-of-the-art safety features rarely found in this price category.

For those who might have reservations about Hyundai reliability, the company has introduced a comprehensive 5-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty, a 10-year,100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance.

From some angles its exterior styling is quite pleasant, and less so from other angles. Styling is pretty subjective stuff, so you can make up your own mind about that. What really counts is how well the car drives and the quality of its interior design.

The Sonata shines on both counts. I recently spent a week with the top-line GLS V6, which competes with cars such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Oldsmobile Intrique and Ford Taurus. It is most like its Japanese rivals, in terms of fit, finish and overall feel. The cabin’s tasteful accommodations are highlighted by excellent instrumentation and a combination of textures and surfaces that look like they are from a more expensive car. The woodgrain trim on the test car added a feeling of richness, as did the pebbled leather grain on the shift knob. The cloth seats had good support and tasteful upholstery.

A 2.5-liter V6 and a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder are new, along with their automatic transmissions. Both engines have four valves per cylinder and dual-overhead-cams. The GLS test car gave me a chance to sample the 2.5-liter, all-aluminum V6 which puts out 170 horsepower. This engine was smooth and responsive. Hydraulic engine mounts isolate the body from engine vibrations, and a multi-layer sandwich of steel and insulation keeps engine noise from intruding into the interior.

The base 4-cylinder has dual balance shafts to smooth out its vibrations, and it pumps out 149 horsepower.

The GLS’s four-speed automatic transmission uses “fuzzy logic” to adapt its shift points to the driver’s style. I appreciated the way it would downshift when I was coasting down a hill or slowing for a corner. The base Sonata’s automatic transmission does not have the adaptive logic.

Both Sonatas get improved brakes. The GLS has discs on all four wheels, and an anti-lock brake and traction control system is optional.

Numerous safety features have been incorporated into the Sonata, many of which are found only in more expensive vehicles. For example, front and side airbags are standard, and a detection system disables the passenger-side airbag when a load of less than 66 pounds is in the seat. If 33 pounds or less is in the seat, the side airbag is also disabled.

Seatbelts are equipped with pretensioners that aut omatically remove the slack from the belts in case of an accident.

The ride and handling are on par with other cars in this class, thanks to a double wishbone suspension. While it is not a sports sedan, it does feel well connected to the road.

Price
The base price of our test car was $17,799. Options included a power sunroof and floor mats. The sticker price was $18,527.

Warranty
The basic warranty is for five years or 60,000 miles. Powertrain warranty is for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Point: The new Sonata provides an uncommon value for the price. The top GLS V6 has a long list of standard equipment, including safety features found in more expensive cars.

Counterpoint: Not everyone will be crazy about the styling, but they won’t have complaints about how well the car works.

SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 2.5-liter V6
TRANSMISSION: automatic
WHEELBASE: 106.3 inches
CU WEIGHT: 3,128 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $17,799
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $18,527
MPG RATING: 20 city, 28 hwy.