Hyundai hits a high note with the new Sonata

MANILA, Philippines - Hyundai seems to have the “looks” part down pat when it comes to its new models. First it launches a compact SUV that makes its competitors look positively geriatric in the curvaceous new Tucson. Then it unveils a sports car that is suddenly on the cover of every car magazine here and abroad in the fabulous new Genesis Coupe.

So what’s next for the inspired Korean carmaker? It’s the new Sonata, that’s what.

Hyundai has actually been toying with the Sonata’s styling for some time now. Two generations (and roughly five years) ago, the Sonata sported Jaguaresque lines. However, the quality and reputation of Hyundai cars at that time probably made the Jaguar inspiration a bit too farfetched.

Then came the new Sonata’s immediate predecessor, the 2006 (or was it the 2007?) model. This car looked a lot like an earlier-generation Honda Accord – a more realistic target given that this Japanese model is literally in the crosshairs of the Korean upstart.

But this is 2010 – and Hyundai has gone straight from taking potshots at the Japanese carmakers to absolutely bombarding every car company regardless of brand, image and country of manufacture.

No surprise then that the Tucson is as sexy as the sportiest SUVs from BMW, the Genesis Coupe is being compared against the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, and the flagship V8-powered Genesis sedan is being uttered in the same breath as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus.

And now the new Sonata is reminding me so much of a CLS, Mercedes’ breathtakingly beautiful luxury sedan. You’ll see it in the oh-so-graceful sweep of the roofline, the dramatic headlamps and bold front grille, and taut lines highlighted by that delicious pinched character line that runs from the front fender all the way to the rear taillamps.

Thankfully, it’s not all looks as Hyundai has successfully injected its uncanny leapfrogging ability not just in styling, but in overall build quality as well.

Hence, we get overall fit and finish that’s at par with the best that the current Honda Accord and Toyota Camry can offer – an a package that’s slightly shorter than the former and slightly longer than the latter.

Slam the door and you hear the same, reassuring sound you’d hear in those upscale Japanese sedans. Ditto the panel gaps, the paint finish, the smell and texture of the leather (and the rest of the cabin), the almost inaudible crank of the starter when you turn the ignition, the purr of the engine at idle, and the smooth, silent and velvety engine as it races towards redline. Every aspect of the new Sonata is a match or, dare I say it, even better than its illustrious competitors.

Braking is equally competent, but more tellingly, the mix of handling and riding comfort is spot-on for a car in this size and price range. Korean cars used to have their Achilles heel in the ride and handling departments – but not the current crop and certainly not this Sonata.

It’s no BMW when it comes to cornering but it does an excellent job of approximating the sheer riding comfort of say, a Volvo or a Lexus. Perhaps the downside would be that the ride might be too soft (or the ground clearance too small) that you find the Sonata scraping its underbelly when negotiating steep dips and ramps, especially with five people on board.

Acceleration is strong, if not outstanding. There is no fire-breathing 3.5-liter V6 unlike those found in the top-of-the-line Accords and Camrys. The Sonata gets its go-power from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder variable valve timing-equipped engine developing 176 hp and 229 Nm of torque. This powerplant is mated to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic with manumatic function and paddle shifters.

Having six speeds is commendable, but the responsiveness when shifting to manual mode or via paddle shifters can still be improved. Nothing major really, but it’s something a spirited or hard-charging driver can detect, especially when back-to-backed with similar systems from Honda and Mitsubishi. I also deplore the use of plastic paddle shifters in a car in this segment and price range, particularly in light of those gorgeous magnesium paddles used in Civic and Lancers.

And while the spacious cabin boasts exemplary build quality and luxurious materials, the choice of an almost all-black interior motif lends it an austere ambience, at least visually. On the plus side, the Sonata does have an ace up its sleeve that you can only get in – drumroll, please – a P5 million-plus Mercedes E-Class. And that is its piece de resistance: a panoramic all-glass roof that gives the Sonata’s occupants a breathtaking view of the sun, the stars, or of a city skyline. Beautiful.

At P1.588 million, the new Hyundai Sonata undercuts the likewise 2.4-liter Accord by roughly 100 grand, and neatly slots between the two 2.4-liter Camry variants, price-wise. Will it wreak havoc in this relatively small but high-profile category the way the Tucson did in the compact SUV class? Only time will tell. But it’ll be an exciting wait, that’s for sure.