Product Review: Hyundai Sonata 2005

The only thing I would change about my car is the color. It is a bright but deep metallic blue. I would probably go with something more conservative, like gray or silver if I had that choice; it would help with hiding dirt better, too. But color was the last thing on my list of priorities.

I wanted a car that was roomy enough to hold some passengers comfortably while being small enough for efficient gas mileage. I wanted a vehicle with more power than the 1.4 liter engine of my last car. My Hyundai Sonata is a 3.3 L V6. It accelerates well and drives smoothly. I thought I would want another 5 speed car, which is an option, but I settled for one with a tiptronic-like feature where the up and downshifting can be manually performed (I've found it helpful in snowy conditions). My car doesn't have dual exhaust but many do. One dealer told me that all Hyundai Sonata's have a clicking sound when idling; mine doesn't have that. It also doesn't have the cigarette smell that they could not extinguish with ammonia-they had to admit what the cat pee smell that I couldn't ignore was-in that particular used car I took a look at. The interior in 2004 models and beyond is noticeably more stylish and comfortable than previous models. The controls are all functional and fashionable. In other words, I like the CD player, the air conditioning and flow, and the electronic mirrors and windows. The key fob is convenient, the anti-theft security feature is nice, and the anti-lock device is smart in keeping my keys from getting locked in (But I can outsmart it by placing those on the seat next to me and out of the ignition, of course) Then the sunroof is a cool perk, overlooking neat cup holders and a console compartment. The best part is it drives well and is rated one of the safest for its size.

Why anyone would pay for the label of a Nissan Altima or a Toyota Camry when the Hyundai Sonata is comparable to either is beyond me. The price is much better and the name of Hyundai is only catching up with the trend of the matching product. It has been a year since buying mine and I have no regrets. From where I stand, I say buy one while it is still catching on.