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Our advice is often sought when it comes to
buying a car, but no matter how good you tell
someone a car is – watch their eyes glaze at
the mention of the word Korean.

Going back a few decades, the reaction was
pretty much the same to the then new Japanese
fare – “Jap crap” as it was known.

It’s a mindless, ill considered and rather
costly response that is likely to see cars like
Hyundai’s new Sonata overlooked.

Which begs the question, just what does it
take to make the grade?

Sonata is easily the best thing to come out of
Korea since Hyundai started selling cars here in
1986.

This the fifth generation Sonata is a quantum
leap forward from the previous, competent but
otherwise unexciting model.

It’s not perfect, mind you, but it’s damn
good.

Our gatekeeper, George, a Beemer and
family man, gives the car a score of 9.5 out of
10 in the looks department.

By George he’s right.

Sonata is one slick looking piece of
automotive machinery, reminiscent of Honda’s
Accord from the rear and not unlike the Euro
or Commodore from the front.

The V6, subject of our test, even gets a set
of twin pipes.

With Sonata, Hyundai has managed to lift
the bar again, not just one notch but two or
three.

There’s still room for improvement.

It needs the services of a young, hip stylist
to transform the interior into something a bit
funkier, but the ground work is well and truly
in place.

The 3.3-litre V6 maximum is good for an
impressive 173kW at 6000rpm and maximum
torque of 304Nm at 3500rpm.

Ask Hyundai and they’ll tell you that’s
32kW more than Camry, 18kW more than
Magna and just 2kW shy of a Commodore.

Let’s just say it’s got plenty of get up and go,
especially hooked up to the brand new five-
speed sequential auto.

The equipment list is impressive, especially
considering the $29,990 price tag.

Six airbags are standard as are traction and
electronic stability control.

Build quality is first rate, ride is quiet and
refined and there is a full size spare under the
good-sized boot.

Sonata seats five with adequate rear
legroom, but for adults four would be a better
fit.

The velour trimmed seats themselves are flat
and lifeless, and could do with some more
contouring.

Aussie Sonatas are fitted with firmer
European spec suspension, with better German
gas dampers and matched, firmer-rated coil
springs, thicker stabiliser bars and firmer
bushes front and rear.

We felt the handling in our base GL model
was compromised by the tyre and steel wheel
package, which generates too much tyre noise
and contributes to sloppy handling when
pushed hard.

GL gets 215/60 Hankooks while the Elite
receives larger 17 inch 225/50 Dunlop SP
Sports. 16 or 17 inch alloys like those on the
Elite are dealer fit option.

Hyundai claims fuel economy figures for the
V6 of 10.1L/100km, but we felt it was a little
thirsty, returning 14.6L/100km.

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