The 2006 Hyundai Sonata’s 3.3-liter V6 offers plenty of punch for all driving situations, and Hyundai suggests that the engine will return as much as 30 mpg on the highway. Planting the throttle results in an impressively quick take off, with very little noticeable engine noise, even at redline. This is a refined and capable powerplant. There’s also plenty of power for multi-car passing on two-lane roads, and high-speed passes on the highway. The transmission does a good job of managing the power, but stays clear of the rev limiter by shifting a little too early at times. And once, during a merge onto a highway from about 40 mph, a full plant of the throttle resulted in a delay of a second or two before the transmission downshifted and the Sonata delivered the necessary power. A short spin in the four-cylinder Sonata GLS revealed that 162 horses is more than enough to provide for peppy acceleration around hilly San Francisco. The high-revving four-banger never felt underpowered, though it did get a little thrashy at redline. Adding a full load of passengers and cargo will likely make the reasonably priced V6 model look like a more attractive buy. The four-wheel-disc brake setup worked like a charm, providing excellent pedal feel and modulation, and we didn’t notice any fade or deterioration in braking performance after several long, downhill runs. With the 17-inch tires on the LX, this Sonata takes the corners without hesitation. There is little body roll, and if there was any tire squeal, the NVH engineers made sure we didn’t hear it. The Sonata LX is a surprisingly good handler, and can be fun to drive. The Sonata GLS we drove had the smaller, less aggressive Michelin Energy MXV4 215/60R16 tires, and provided a soft, yet controlled ride. In comparison, the 17-inchers seem to give the Sonata a sportier, Accord-like demeanor, whereas the 16s give the Sonata a pillowy, Camry-like attitude. Time will tell if the 2006 Hyundai Sonata takes a significant piece of Honda Accord or Toyota Camry sales, but it’s styling, power, price, and content may edge out periphery sedans like the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Galant, and possibly the four-cylinder Nissan Altima.
Photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
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About Thom Blackett
Thom Blackett joined Autobytel in 2000 as a Research Analyst with the company's data division, Automotive Information Center (AIC). After four years of pouring through press kits searching for minute details, Thom jumped to Autobytel's editorial team. Born and raised in the state of Maine (no, it's not part of Canada and yes, the proper pronunciation of lobster is "lobstah"), Thom has always been a car nut, using his grandmother's potholders as steering wheels to "drive" around the house as a youngster. His biggest sorrow is never getting to know his grandfather's 1959 Caddy, or the '62 Impala Convertible and '69 Chevy Malibu that his parents once owned. As Autobytel's Road Test Editor, Thom strives to write articles that serve to inform as well as entertain. A proud member of the Motor Press Guild, Thom holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine. Comments may be emailed to thomb@autobytel.com.
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