Staking a claim
The new Sonata is a testament to Korea's engineering prowess, and stakes a claim in the crowded mid-sized luxury sedan segment. How does it fair?
What we like:
Great design inside and out- lots of standard kit
- comfortable and one can tell great time and effort have been put in to make this a class winner.
What we dislike:
Flat and uninspiring engine- although it does the job OK. There is also no navigation
- and a single tailpipe at the rear feels incomplete.
The Sonata is a seriously impressive package. It truly stands tall amongst the traditional stalwarts in the segment like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, both of which are priced higher. Perhaps the greatest competition to the Sonata is its other Korean sibling – the Kia Optima K5 – which itself has also climbed up the charts in every measurable way.
The main thing preventing the Sonata from being a true segment leader is its lacklustre engine. Many Singaporeans may loathe at me suggesting this, but if it was offered with a turbo-diesel, I reckon it could be a really great car. Which is why I often say, taxi drivers have it good with their cars. Who hasn’t had the experience of being usurped by a surprisingly quick Sonata taxi sprinting off the traffic lights?
Credits: Story and photos by Wong C W
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