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Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hyundai, First Drive

Hyundai Aims To Lead The Mid-size Hybrid Pack

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

At some point, the minds at Hyundai got serious about the company’s mid-sized sedan game. Seemingly in a heartbeat, the Korean manufacturer went from being completely under the radar of the average American family sedan buyer to a viable alternative to default buys like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. That jump fell solely on the shoulders of the all-new 2011 Sonata, a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. But if you want to go the full distance in this segment, you had better come to the fight packing more than just a competent base model.

That’s something you don’t need to tell Hyundai. The company has shored up its Sonata line with a potent turbocharged 2.0-liter model designed to tango with V6-equipped competitors as well as the car you see above – a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Is it enough to put the Sonata Hybrid ahead of the electrified versions of the heavy hitters already prowling the scene? We took the wheel to find out.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Second Drive

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, First Drive

Forced Induction Makes For More Family Fun

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here in the U.S., the mid-size sedan market is thought to be all but impregnable to newcomers. Ruled for decades by models that have become icons of the industry, the segment has enjoyed a long and peaceful reign by the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But the funny thing about success is that if you’re not very, very careful, it breeds complacency. While the titans of the four-door kingdom have been sleeping on beds of cash made on the innovations of two decades ago, Hyundai has been busily polishing its reputation and pouring over $550 million into fresh research and development for new and advanced drivetrains for its 2011 Sonata.

One of the long accepted tenants of the mid-size sedan is “Thou Shalt Have a Six-Cylinder Option.” Ironically enough, this mode of thought arose as a challenge to the previously held belief that if you wanted to move four-doors in America, you had to offer a V8 under the hood. But when Japan’s Big Three proved they could dish out V8 horsepower with six-cylinder fuel economy, the eight-cylinder family hauler all but disappeared from the scene. Now, Hyundai is out to repeat history by debuting a turbocharged four-cylinder designed to rattle the cages of Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: First Drive

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Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo priced at $24,145

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai’s ever-expanding Sonata lineup will soon include the delectable 2.0T model, packing a turbocharged and direct injected 2.0-liter (Theta II) four-cylinder. You’ve probably already memorized the most important figures – 274 horsepower, 269 pound-feet of torque, 33 mpg on the highway, all on 87 octane fuel – but here’s a new one for you: $24,145. That’s what the 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T will set you back, and there’s a lot more on offer than just a hot engine.

Mated to the blown 2.0 is a six-speed automatic that can be manipulated through a set of steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, while a (modestly) sport-tuned suspension holds up 18-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance summer rubber. A host of standard features are included in the kit, while two packages – Navigation and Sunroof and Limited – are available when sales begin later this year. Get all the details in the press blast after the jump and read our impressions from behind the wheel.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

[Source: Hyundai]

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo priced at $24,145 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai Sonata overtakes Nissan Altima for third in mid-size segment

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is movin’ on up. According to The Detroit News, the Sonata officially displaced the Nissan Altima as the third best-selling mid-size sedan in America last month. In August, the Korean manufacturer sold 21,399 units, falling just behind the Honda Accord at 22,506 and the Toyota Camry at a little over 30,000. Those numbers are just based on retail sales, not the vehicles that are sold off to rental fleets. The Sonata has been besting rivals like the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu for a good while now, but this is the first time the car has managed to rattle the Japanese triumvirate that dominates the segment.

It seemed to be only a matter of time, though. The Sonata now wears some of the best looking sheet metal of any midsizer out there and its price tag comes in a good bit lower than both the Accord and the Camry. Throw in a snappy interior and very efficient drivetrain options, and suddenly you’ve got the attention of the car-buying public. The Detroit News says that since the 2011 Sonata debuted, the number of car buyers considering the vehicle has leapfrogged from 6.2 percent in January of 2007 to 19.5 percent recently. Thanks for the tip, Nicolai!

Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Hyundai Sonata overtakes Nissan Altima for third in mid-size segment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHTSA investigating steering issues on 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has only been on sale for a few months, but it’s already winning over many American mid-size sedan buyers, and we’ve been every impressed by what we’ve found in our first drive and review. However, the rakish new Sonata could face a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into about 16,300 Sonatas due to potential steering issues.

NHTSA has received reports that cite problems with either a separation of the upper universal joint in the intermediate steering shaft assembly. The result is a complete loss of steering capability, though the universal joint was not completely separated.

Hyundai says that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries connected to this issue and that it is fully cooperating with NHTSA on the investigation. The automaker also says that it had received reports of two vehicles with a steering problem linked to the upper universal joint, but that both were repaired without issue. Expect the results of NHTSA’s investigation to be released in the coming weeks.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL
[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA investigating steering issues on 2011 Hyundai Sonata originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Hyundai Sonata (i40) wagon caught testing again

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Hyundai

Hyundai Sonata i40 wagon spy shots

2012 Hyundai Sonata (i40) wagon spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s no secret that we Autobloggers are big fans of wagons. Unfortunately, the market here in the United States isn’t as wagon-friendly as those in other corners of the world, and because of this, there are very few examples to choose from – most automakers would rather introduce crossovers, as it’s a significantly bigger (and growing) market.

With that in mind, it’s unlikely that we’ll get a version of this five-door Hyundai Sonata (which will be dubbed “i40” in other markets), though the automaker hasn’t officially given America the red light just yet. Aside from the cargolicious rear end, the Sonata wagon caught by the spy shooters at CarPix employs a different chrome treatment at the base of the A-pillar, and we can see that a slightly different front fascia has been adapted. In keeping with the Sonata’s sleek design, Hyundai has opted for a more rakish hatch assembly.

While you wait for Hyundai to take the wraps off this load lugger, scroll through the gallery below to see the prototype out on the street.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Hyundai Sonata Wagon (i40)

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 Hyundai Sonata (i40) wagon caught testing again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Reviews

The Best Mid-Size Base Model Money Can Buy

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’ve been keeping up with Autoblog lately, we’ve had a lot to say about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. We’ve tested the top-rung SE and Limited trims out in California. We’ve even had the chance to sample the upcoming Sonata Hybrid and Turbo versions in the automaker’s homeland. But when you get down to brass tacks, the majority of dealership transactions will be made up of the volume GLS model. Sure, a loaded-up $28,000 Sonata Limited is one heck of a nice car, but since 50 percent of all 2011 models sold to date have been fitted to GLS spec, it’s important for us to see if Hyundai’s swoopy new sedan is worthy of such high praise even without the extra gee-whiz goodies.

With that in mind, we recently invited an Iridescent Silver Blue Pearl (what a mouthful) Sonata GLS into the Autoblog Garage to find out what sort of goodness lies within the bargain bin. Hyundai has always prided itself on being able to offer outstanding overall value in all of its models, but when it comes to the new Sonata, its success extends far beyond the price tag. Follow the jump to learn why.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Continue reading Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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