2011 Hyundai Sonata debuts at LA Auto Show

The family sedan from the Korean maker Hyundai has though barriers to brake if it’s to sell well in the US. Firstly, the family sedan segment is packed with good cars and Americans tend to keep to “classic” picks. Secondly, Hyundai are (mostly wrongly) seen as mediocre cars, more on the affordable side with compromises for quality. But years of shapping and constant improvements make Hyundai one of the safest choices for an entry level car. Let’s see if the Sonata proves that.

Marketed worldwide in due time, the first Sonata series from Hyunday date back from 1985. Five generations followed, and the car kept getting better and the selling market was expanded. Sure, progress was slow – but constant. The series, as we see it, always offered a bit of everything: enough room, nice if not strikingly beautiful design, good mileage and so on. Now the Sonata has reached it’s sixth generation, with the 2011 that was unveiled at the LA Auto Show.

Hyundai 2011 Sonata

Looking sharp, this Sonata reminds you a lot of European sedans – Mercedes CLS par example. Short rear decks are the trend these years, and Hyundai went along with that. he design language was described by product planning director Scott Margason as “Fluidic Sculpture.” It’s not an entirely unique direction or concept as we head into 2010, but it does seem very well executed on this sedan. Starting at the grille, the Sonata gets a stylized three-bar look, just like Ford these days. We love the the chrome strip that begins at the trailing edge of the headlights. That’s on only two of the three trims available.

The trims available for the 2011 Hyundai Soanta are: GLS, Limited and SE. SE is meant to be an option for sports trim fans out there. Overall dimensions of the new YF Sonata are virtually the same as that of the model it is replacing. The biggest difference is in overall length (where it is less than an inch longer) and the wheelbase, which has grown by 2.6 inches to 110 inches. In spite of that sloping greenhouse, the YF only loses 0.4 inches of rear headroom as compared to the current model. Hyundai is among the companies that embraces quickly new technologies and materials, and that’s probably why the new Sonata is lighter with 130 pounds than the previous model. Good job guys!

Hyundai 2011 Sonata - interior

At launch, the new Sonata will only be available with one engine, a 2.4-liter direct injected four-cylinder. Enough power for a mid-size sedan.  The l4 beauty spurs at 198 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. The dual exhaust system on the SE  trim (see above) adds two units to each of those numbers. All transmissions in the new Sonata will receive six forward gears and the base GLS will be available with a manual transmission. You can also get a steering wheel-mounted paddles, on the SE trim only. And that’s optional, not included in the SE.

What about mileage on the Korean sedan? Final EPA numbers aren’t in yet, but Hyundai estimates that the Sonata will be rated at 23 mpg city and 35 mpg highway compared to the 22/32 mpg of the 2010 model. That would also beat all of the Sonata’s major non-hybrid competitors by 1-to-4 mpg on the highway. More and all in the press release, click the button from down below.

Until drive tests, the car gets a bit thumbs-up from our side. Take a look at the gallery and… keep checking for future posts on the Hyundai 2011 Sonata!

[ PHOTO GALLERY: Hyundai 2011 Sonata ]: