If you’ve been paying attention, you know that Hyundai has recently spun off Genesis into it’s own division. Just as there’s no “Toyota Lexus”….it’s just a Lexus….now there’s no more “Hyundai Genesis”…..it’s just a Genesis.
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A no-tricks business-like exterior….especially in metallic “Phantom Black”….with what feels like far more than their stated 245 HP running through an 8-speed auto, heated and cooled leather, heated steering, blind-spot, auto braking, parking sensors, auto headlights that bend around corners, lane-keep, smart-cruise, wireless charging, high-end sound, Apple and Android connectivity, moonroof, and sport suspension…….in other words, virtually everything that you’d expect in today’s sport / luxury five-seater, right?
Except this isn’t a review about a Genesis…or a Lexus. We’re talkin’ about a Hyundai Sonata here. True, it’s their very best Sonata, but it’s still a $30,000-ish vehicle. $33,460 to be exact. Including destination fees. And, again, if you haven’t been in the market for a while, you may not realize that that’s within a couple of bucks of the average new vehicle price today.
And I’d have issues with the person who’d call the newest Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0 T “average”. This vehicle looks good….feels good….and runs good.
As good, in fact, as some vehicles costing around 10K more.
Now….if you’re just looking for the room, economy and warranty of a Sonata…and don’t need all the luxury, performance and handling of the Limited Turbo, you can get into a base Sonata for a window sticker in the low $20’s.
You’ll get a non-turbo 2.4 liter, 185 HP engine….the same 8-speed auto….cloth seating….and 25 city and 36 hwy MPGs.
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Then there’s an “ECO” version for $600 more that wrings 28 city and 37 hwy out of a 1.6 liter turbo.
As expected, you can work your way right into the high $20’s by adding luxury in a couple other trim levels.
And if you like the idea of the 2.0 Turbo’s performance, but want to save a few bucks, you can forgo some of the luxury touches and get a “Sport” 2.0 Turbo Sonata in the high $20’s.
The EPA says that the Turbo will cost you 2 mpg in the city and 4 hwy MPGs.
It’s a price that I’d willingly pay for the “go-now” thrust of Hyundai’s 2.0 Turbo.
And in Limited trim, you get a “no-excuses” luxury / performance 5-seater that your passengers could easily confuse for a well-known $40,000 premium European or Japanese offering.
(Bob Jackson – Entercom Local)
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