2010 Hyundai Sonata Review

Overview

The 2010 Hyundai Sonata is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in SE, SEL and Limited trims. After an extensive redesign last year, the Sonata, a highly competitive family sedan for 2010, is known for its upscale interior, a lot of features for the price and a lengthy warranty.

Power and performance

A 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 175 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque is standard on 2010 Hyundai Sonata. Another version of the same engine rated at 168 hp and 163 lb ft of torque which meets Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) standards is available. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the GLS and a five-speed automatic is standard on the SE and Limited and optional on the GLS. A 3.3-liter V6 engine producing 249 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque is available on Sonata SE and Limited models. A five-speed automatic is the only transmission available with this engine. The Sonata's fuel economy is a little bit above average for a family sedan, with the four-cylinder delivering 22 mpg in city and 32 mpg on highway (21 mpg city with the manual), while models with V6 engines yield 19 mpg in city and 29 mpg on highways.

Body and styling

The Sonata GLS comes with AM/FM/XM/CD player/MP3 audio system with iPod/USB and auxiliary input jacks, 3-month XM radio service, 16-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers, tilt steering wheel, power windows, doors locks and heated side mirrors, cruise control and air conditioning. Front fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels / 215/55R17 performance tires, automatic headlights, front fog lights, solar control glass, - leather bolster/cloth insert sport seat, power driver seat with lumbar support, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, AM/FM/XM/CD player/MP3 audio system with iPod/USB and auxiliary input jacks, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows, door locks and heated side mirrors, cruise control and air conditioning make up the Sonata SE trim. The main features of the top of the line Limited model include AM/FM/XM/6-disc CD with Infinity speakers, subwoofer, external amplifier, iPod/USB and auxiliary input jacks, leather seating surfaces, automatic temperature control, power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof, bumper fascia, body side molding and exterior handles with chrome inserts and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. A navigation system (which replaces the six-CD changer with a single-CD player) and Bluetooth are optional on the Limited.

Safety Features

The 2010 Hyundai Sonata scored excellent ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS crash tests. Advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and roof-mounted side curtain airbags, remote keyless entry and alarm, active front head restraints, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), - Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are standard.