2010 Hyundai Sonata By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Hyundai, as a brand name, has been moving up in customer satisfaction and recognition the past few years.  The Sonata is one of their vehicles that help shape customers opinions. Hyundai and Kia offer the absolute best warranty on the market today.  Some of the other manufacturers come close, but Hyundai led the way.  Last year, Hyundai introduced their customer assurance program that allowed a purchase and if a job was lost, they would buy back the car.

  The Sonata is not a new introductory vehicle by Hyundai.  It has been around for a few years.  For 2009, Sonata received a make-over from the previous model, so the 2010 model is basically unchanged.  For 2010, there was some touch-up on the outside, but most of the re-do was on the interior.   They added a lot of new soft-touch plastic, padded surfaces, and a matte-metallic finish.  This is the sixth generation of Hyundai’s flagship sedan.

The exterior is nicely proportioned and looks good, although many might call it a non-descript conservative look.  It does not stand out from the crowd as an eye-catcher, but it certainly has attractive styling.  The grille is clean looking and has a touch of chrome. 

Inside the Sonata, the design engineers opened up their creative thoughts and ideas and really improved the appearance and comfort for the benefit of the driver and passengers.  The interior is closer to a premium-level vehicle that is slightly more upscale than before.  The design of the dash includes moving the controls for the radio and AC-heater unit.  These are located higher and easier to reach, but it also allowed a lot of lower room for small storage areas.

The Sonata seats five fairly comfortably.  It comes in three trim levels – GLS, SE, and Limited.  The Sonata is powered by a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine that provides 175 horsepower.  A V-6 engine is an option for the SE and Limited models.  The base transmission for the low-end GLS is a manual, and it is an option on the other models.  The SE and Limited offer a five speed automatic as their base unit and as an option on the GLS.

The Limited model of the Sonata includes heated, leather seats and a dual-zone climate control system that is automatic.    Safety features available include traction control, anti-skid system, ABS, curtain side airbags, front side airbags, and more.   Pricing begins around $20,000 for the very basic and economy style, but most sales will be in the $25 to $29 thousand range.  Mileage averages between 22 and 25 mpg.

Bottom line – the 2010 Hyundai Sonata has an attractive look a spacious cabin, comfortable seating, great sound system, handles well, and is very comfortable.  It is perfect for daily commuting or short trips.  Check it out yourself at a Hyundai dealership.