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23/03/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
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There's something European in the feel of the Hyundai Sonata turbo-diesel we've been driving for the last week. Not so much in the dynamics, though we will talk about them in a moment, but in the fact that this is a mid-size car with a smallish engine and a manual gearbox.
 Whether it's due to the sheer joy of driving that our European cousins like to have a manual transmission, or because fuel over there typically costs twice as much as it does here.
So the thought of driving a family-sized car with a 2.0-litre diesel and changing the gears yourself is very much ingrained into the psyche of the typical European driver. And today, there are also advantages in the low emission levels from cars like this.
The latest Hyundai diesel engine, installed in the Sonata CRDi is a modern, four-cylinder, common-rail design. It has a capacity of 2.0 litres and produces 110 kW, with torque of 305 Nm in a handy spread between 1800 and 2500 revs.
On the road test we found the turbo-diesel to have good performance after the initial lag was out of the way. But grunt is on the marginal side when climbing long steep slopes in a car of this size and mass. Intelligent use of the six-speed manual gearbox kept it on song in most circumstances. However, the six-speed unit carries on a Hyundai tradition of being on the sticky side in its actions at times.
The price premium for the diesel engine is $2500, which is about on par for diesels in this class on the Australian market. Now that diesel fuel is around the same price of petrol again there are real savings at the diesel pump, particularly if you do long distances each year.
Expect fuel consumption to hover in the six to seven litres per hundred kilometres range when you are touring comfortably on the open road or driving on motorways. This will move up into the low eights when you are running in hilly conditions in the country, and isn't likely to go over nine litres per hundred around town unless you really thrash the Sonata along.
 In a clever touch, Hyundai supplies a packet of latex gloves with each diesel vehicle it sells (Sonata or otherwise) to help keep the potentially sticky fuel off your hands when you refuel. A nice touch and one that shows the attention to detail we really like.
The Hyundai four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine isn't the most refined of units, at least not in the new-generation common-rail class. It's comparatively noisy at idle, even when you are sitting inside the car, and isn't as smooth as we would like it. Then again this is a modestly priced car, especially when you compare it with European family cars, and there's obviously a limit to the size of the research and development budget the engineers had to work within.
Though it may generally have a Euro feel in its powertrain, the Hyundai isn't in the same ballpark when it comes to handling. While it's better than the average Asian car in the chassis department it's softer than we like in both its ride and the feel through the steering wheel. Of course, this is a family car, not a sports sedan, but the European (and Australian) family cars are so much more pleasant to steer.
On the other hand, the Hyundai Sonata is pleasant to ride in with seats that support well, a back passenger compartment that can cope with three adults, though two and a child is a more logical load, and noise and vibration levels that make a long trip pleasant enough.
It comes as no surprise that the Hyundai Sonata is crammed full of luxury equipment as well as a full range of safety gear like ESP and multiple airbags on all models, and with a price list beginning at a mere $30,490 the turbo-diesel offers excellent value. We expect that price to remain for some time to come because the Korean won and the Australian dollar remain at roughly the same exchange rate as applied before the GFC really started to hurt.
Midway through 2008, the Sonata received a facelift with a cleaner Euro-type look. It now uses a reshaped radiator grille with a fair bit of chrome plating. There are also changes to the shape of the front and rear bumpers and to the design of the taillights. This restyle probably also influenced our thinking in the direction of European cars during this test drive period.
 Inside, the instrument panel has received a reworking in style and functionality, with blue lighting being a feature. Hyundai is a modern company (in fact, Hyundai means modern in Korean) and is very much at the forefront of in-car entertainment. So there are MP3 connections that can let you handle your favourite music through the standard audio controls and screen. A real safety feature as it lets you avoid the temptation of looking at the iPod when your eyes should be on the road.
The South Korean maker has made its name in Australia by having an extraordinarily generous warranty and the Sonata, like all Hyundai passenger cars has a five-year scheme with no limit on the distance travelled.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
SLX 2.4-litre petrol: $27,990 (manual), $29,990 (automatic)
SLX CRDi 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $30,490 (manual), $32,490 (automatic)
Elite 2.4-litre petrol: $34,490 (automatic)
Elite CRDi 2.0-litre turbo-diesel: $36,990 (automatic)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Air Conditioning: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: $2000 option in SLX, standard in Elite
CD Player: Standard in both models
Central Locking: Standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in both models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in both models
Stability Control: Standard in both models
Traction Control: Standard in both models
SPECIFICATIONS (Hyundai Sonata CRDI 2.0-litre diesel four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.991 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: SOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 17.3:1
Bore/Stroke: 83.0 mm x 92.0 mm
Maximum Power: 110 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque: 305 Nm @ 1800-2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.036:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4800 mm
Wheelbase: 2730 mm
Width: 1830 mm
Height: 1475 mm
Turning Circle: 10.9 metres
Kerb Mass: 1659 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
Towing Ability: 750 kg (up to 1700 kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: N/A
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.0 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years/unlimited km |
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