2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T
Managing a precocious child’s maturation into adulthood can be a fraught endeavor. As Hyundai was designing the 2015 Sonata, the corporate version of such a parenting conundrum was certainly at play. The swoopy last generation model had made the company a real player in the midsize sedan market. Where should they take the new midsizer?
Unfortunately the class the Sonata competes in has become insanely competitive; it’s like all the other parents are sending their kids into private tutors so they can ace they SATs, while Hyundai has been consumed with new offspring. A muddled marketing message meant also that the new Sonata only increased its sales five percent; this is like a smart kid who formally got strait-As coming home with a C+ on his report card.
The 2015 Sonata itself—at least in Sport 2.0T form, is itself a more than compelling car. There’s lots of neat detailing around the air intakes, a black chrome grill and some nice lighting graphics, but the new model’s stance and proportions are off compared to its dynamic predecessor. The interior’s suffers in much the same way: great overall design, some nicely textured trim including satin chrome on a steering wheel worthy of an Audi, undone by seats finished in a leather that is incredibly stiff and cheap feeling and some obviously subpar plastics. The current Hyundai infotainment interface is just about above average, and soon to be augmented by one that will run the new Apple or Google in-car systems. Back seat room is generous, but the Sonata Sport’s front chairs are nowhere near as supportive as those in a Mazda 6 or Camry SE—though they are better than those nasty NASA-designed penalty pews blighting the Nissan Altima.
The new Sonata’s ride quality is much more sophisticated than old car, and road and wind noise are down too. Steering precision and general dynamics are benignly competent but lack the engaging nature of the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord Sport or Mazda. The 2.0T four cylinder engine has been detuned from 274hp to 245hp due to a smaller turbo. Low end muscle is great—there’s almost no lag—but the top end is flat and lifeless. These seems like a great mainstream powerplant for such a car; 0-60mph takes about 8 seconds but feels faster at Denver’s altitude and observed fuel economy is close to the ratings, but not for a model labeled “Sport.” It certainly doesn’t exhibit the verve of the renovated Toyota Camry SE V6.
The Sonata Sport 2.0T is a really nice midsize car that is just slightly off the pace; dynamically and visually the 6 and Fusion have it soundly trounced, and it doesn’t have the strait line cojones to fend off the V6 opposition. But, like a basically good kid, with a little time extra effort—and maybe some extra attention from mom and dad—it could be headed to Harvard.
EPA ratings: 23/32mpg; 26mpg combined
Price as tested: $34,460
Here is what Hyundai has to say.
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