Recently, I had l look at three cars from Hyundai that caught my eye. I didn’t get a chance to drive them (yet) but I wanted to share my thoughts about them.
2015 Hyundai Sonata
When I first climbed into the 2015 Hyundai Sonata which is brand new for 2015, I thought I was in the 2015 Genesis Sedan. In fact, I got out and went around to the back of the car to make sure it was the right car. It was, and that’s the first thing that impressed me about this car. It’s level of refinement is something that you don’t expect in the mid-size space.
From the exterior, the fluidic sculpture that was the hallmark of the previous generation has been replaced by a more even-tempered look that is similar to the 2015 Genesis. It looks good and I believe that it will work to Hyundai’s advantage. Inside the Sonata, the interior has been toned down a lot. The carbon fiber and aluminum-like trims do a fine job of dressing up this cabin and I think you’ll like spending time in it. One thing that I should highlight is the moonroof:
The moonroof is one of the larger ones I have seen lately. Another thing that caught my eye is the centre console:
You get a big screen and real logically laid out buttons and knobs. In a world of pseudo switches and buttons, this is welcome.
The instrument panel has large, bright major gauges that will find favor with many drivers.
Another improvement over the previous generation is the fact that it’s longer and wider (both by 30 millimetres). Something you’ll appreciate if you have to put more than two people in the car.
You get two engine choices:
- A 2.4L gasoline direct injected four-cylinder engine that puts out 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This is slightly lower than the previous generation’s 190 horsepower, but the engine consumes less fuel and delivers more torque at lower engine speeds.
- There is a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 245 horsepower and 260 lb-ft torque.
A quick note about Gasoline Direct Injection. This is a shorter, more direct path of fuel delivery which allows for greater control of the fuel mixture at the optimum moment, thus improving efficiency. In short, you get more power using less gas.
Technology abounds in the 2015 Sonata. Here’s a quick list of the key improvements:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear cross-traffic alert and lane change assist
- Blind spot detection
- Frontal collision warning
- Hands-free trunk opening. This was first seen in the 2015 Genesis and it senses your (or actually your key fob’s) presence as you stand behind the car. After three seconds, the trunk lid helpfully opens.
- Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold
- Standard five-inch colour touchscreen
One improvement that you won’t be able to see is the improved body structure. It has been optimized for ride, handling, quietness and crashworthiness. Over 50 percent of the body uses Advanced High Strength Steel, and overall body rigidity is increased by 41 percent over the previous generation Sonata. Additionally, the suspension and steering systems are revised and improved.
What will really get your attention is the price. The base GL trim level goes for $23,999 and goes up to $34,799 for the Sport 2.0T Ultimate that has every option box checked.
2015 Hyundai Elantra
The 2015 Elantra has to be a very serious player in the compact car segment because you get almost luxury like features.
You get a choice of two engines:
- A 1.8L Nu four-cylinder engine that outputs 145 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque.
- A 2.0L Nu Gasoline Direct Injection engine producing 173 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 154 lb.-ft. of torque
Both engines offer excellent fuel economy which is important given the price of gas these days. The 1.8L returns and excellent 7.5L/100km combined fuel economy, and the 2.0L returns an equally excellent 8.3L/100km. In both cases, you have the choice of a 6 speed manual or 6 speed automatic transmission.
One area that sets the Elantra apart from the rest of the class is the interior:
The more upscale models get features that you don’t typically see in compact cars. Such as heated seats and dual zone climate controls. In all models, you get clear and easy to read instruments and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel along with comfortable seats that are made of lightweight, environmentally friendly foam. Plus as you can see above, you get a great infotainment system and controls for the HVAC system that are easy to use.
Another thing to note about the interior is the space. The Elantra’s total interior volume of 110.4 cubic feet beats the 2014 Honda Civic sedan, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, 2014 Ford Focus and 2014 Dodge Dart. What came as a shock to me when I was researching this article, surpasses the 2014 Nissan Maxima (110.0 cu. ft), and VW CC (106.8 cu. ft.) in total interior volume. That’s impressive!
Exterior wise, there’s one thing that stands out:
You get LED taillights which give the Elantra a very upscale look. The chrome tailpipe adds to that upscale look.
On the safety front, the Elantra is a winner. It was named a “2014 Top Safety Pick” by the IIHS and the holder of a NHTSA five-star overall crash safety rating. Plus it comes with these safety features standard:
- Six airbags
- Vehicle Stability Management
- Electronic Stability Control
- Traction Control
- ABS
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- Brake Assist
- Hill-Start Assist Control
- Seatbelt pretensioners
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Daytime Running Lights
- Driver’s blind spot mirror
Another thing that is standard is a great price. You can get the L trim level with a manual transmission starting at $15999 and the fully optioned Limited trim level for $25649 with plenty of choice in between.
2015 Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is a compact SUV that has a lot going for it as it won both the 2014 Strategic Vision Total Quality Award in the Entry CUV segment and a 2014 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award. So in 2015, Hyundai made some tweaks that will keep the Tucson at the front of the pack.
First, two all new engines enter the picture:
- There’s a 2.0L Gas Direct Injection engine that delivers 164 horsepower and 151 pound feet of torque.
- There’s a 2.4L Gas Direct Injection engine that delivers 182 horsepower and 177 pound feet of torque.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on most trim levels and both engines are available with front or all wheel drive. The base model has a six speed manual which is on the unique side, but should find favour from those who like to shift their own gears.
The interior has a premium feel to it and you’ll just love to spend time inside of it. One thing that the stands out from an interior perspective is the panoramic sunroof:
Both front and rear passengers will be able to catch some rays. Another thing that will get your attention is the 60/40 split rear seats and the 1,580 litres of cargo volume (with rear seats folded down). That will make trips to Ikea a non-issue.
Exterior wise there are a number of premium touches:
- The Tucson has projector headlights, with LED accents that frame the upper edges of the headlight. That’s paired with LED day time running lights.
- At the back there’s LED taillights that not only look great, but dramatically increase visibility both day and night.
- You also get LED side repeaters which increases your visibility for added safety. Side-mirrors are body colour, power-adjustable and heated to defrost quickly in cold weather.
On the safety front, you get an abundance of safety features:
- Advanced front, front-side impact and side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors
- four-wheel disc brakes
- Anti Lock Braking
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- Brake Assist
- Hill-start Assist Control
- Downhill Brake Control
- Electronic Stability Control
- Traction Control System
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Active front head restraints.
The 2015 Tucson is one of the best values in the compact SUV segment. Pricing starts at $21999 for the GL with front wheel drive and a manual transmission and goes up to $33999 for the Limited with all wheel drive and every option box checked.
The 2015, Elantra, Sonata, and Tuscon from Hyundai are in dealerships now. Clearly they have a lineup that is meant to challenge every other car manufacturer, and make them step up their game.
From the side it looks well proportioned.
