The Hyundai Sonata has been with us through many different guises over the years but one thing about the previous generations was noticeable - they were probably some of the most boring cars around.
Despite being well specced and competitively priced, the old Sonatas had a pipe-and-slippers, off-to-the-bowling-club air about them.
Not so the latest offering from the Koreans. I can't recall ever having driven a car which has attracted so much attention, with numerous people stopping to admire it wherever it was parked and asking for the "guided tour".
All came away suitably impressed by the quality, styling and all-round package on offer.
Aiming at a slice of the luxury sedan market, Hyundai makes no secret of its desire to challenge the existing incumbents and believes that the new Sonata's blend of sportiness and luxury will help them make inroads.
The design is in keeping with Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" theme, already seen in the iX35 - with flowing lines and softer curves. One of the advantages is a distinct lack of wind noise at speed, which is in keeping with the all-round character of the car as a refined and powerful executive sedan.
10-spoked, 18" alloy rims add to the look, as does the black glass full-length roof. It is a big car, no doubt about it, but not imposing.
Build quality seems excellent - the doors and boot-lid open and close with a satisfying weightiness, panel fit is excellent and, even over rough roads, there are no rattles or rumbles.
The Sonata's interior is equally impressive - not as overpowering as many vehicles have become and without that Tokyo-by-night dashboard illumination which has become synonymous with some manufacturers.
Fittings are a mixture of matt and shiny black, without acres of distracting brightwork. Controls are functional and well laid out, with audio, cruise control and dashboard display functions mounted in the comfortable leather-clad steering wheel, which is height and reach adjustable.
Again, the build quality is excellent, with a solid feel to the controls and switches.
The instrumentation is all digital, with easy to read tachometer and speedometer flanking a combination odometer/economy/trip/fuel consumption display and warning light panel.
The power-adjustable front seats - covered in perforated leather - are roomy and comfortable, with plenty of fore-and-aft, height, lumbar support and squab-angle adjustment.
The driver's side seat automatically moves back 100mm when the engine is turned off, which can be quite disconcerting at first, but, even fully adjusted to the rear, there is still plenty of leg room in the back.
Storage space is ample, and there is a USB/iPod connection linked to the six-speaker radio/CD player. Sadly, this is one feature which lets the Hyundai down - a lack of RDS made constant retuning a necessity as I travelled round the Cape Peninsula. However, Hyundai said this omission would be dealt with shortly.
'SET AND FORGET' AUTO AIRCON
The simple set-and-forget auto aircon (available on the GLS Executive model) proved to be a godsend, coping well with both cold early mornings and midday heat. The three-piece glass roof features sliding headliner panels in the front and rear, which give an "open" feel even when the sliding sunroof is closed.
The boot is cavernous - you have to climb in, legs protruding, to fetch small items which have slid forward - and can easily swallow a couple of golf bags and enough luggage for a week. The rear seats fold down to offer even more space, but I can only imagine skiers, surfers and javelin throwers are going to use this feature.
Because the Sonata has a smart-key system, the 131kW, 2.4 litre, four-cylinder engine is activated by stepping on the brake and pushing the start button. Your seat moves forward, the diagnostics whir through their stuff, you shift the six-speed autobox into drive, release the floor-mounted parking brake and off you go. Then the fun starts.
If you've selected the Economy function from the steering-wheel controlled menu, the Sonata wafts away calmly and quietly. If you haven't, it wafts away with a bit more vigour. And you're after real stomp, the steering wheel-mounted paddles allow you to override the 'box, drop down a gear and take off like a scalded cat.
At cruising speeds, the paddle shift gives you instantaneous acceleration, and more control, especially on windy roads. Based on throttle input, however, it will revert back to "D" when the gearbox senses the need for the lower gear is over. The gear lever, however, allows you to lock down into a preferred gear.
Anti-lock braking with electronic brake-pressure distribution and brake assist brings the car to a stop very rapidly - I have no reason to doubt Hyundai's figures of a 42m stopping distance from 100 km/h - and the suspension, which feels neither wallowy nor too stiff, has amplitude selective dampers, which stiffen the ride on bumpy and uneven roads.
The solid build of the Sonata not only keeps it from excessive "play" on the road, but contributes to the safety of occupants. Hyundai has been awarded a five-star rating by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in the US. Six crash bags - including side curtain bags - are standard, as are seatbelt pre-tensioners.
BOTTOM LINE
Fuel consumption tends to drift when you are being enthusiastic with the Sonata but, once I'd become used to the various settings, keeping the figures close to nine litres/100km on the daily commute proved easy - though Hyundai's claim of 8.2 is achievable.
With a five-year or 150 000km warranty and five-year or 90 000km service plan part of the package, the Sonata is well-priced at R279 990 for the GLS.
It's a lot of car for the money and the Sonata will certainly make the traditional "luxury sedan" makers sit up and take notice. - Argus Motoring