Built by Hyundai for the North American and Indian markets, the Hyundai Sonata is a midsize sedan. The Sonata first became available for the 1989 model and has seen several makeovers in the years of 1993, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2004. All of these makeovers have continued to make the Sonata very appealing to a wide range of consumers.
The Hyundai Sonata was part of the expansion of Hyundai in North America after it experienced great success with the Excel. The Sonata was a Hyundai design, though Mitsubishi had some hand in engineering as well as powering the car with a 2.4-liter I4 engine. Though the 2.4-liter engine was initially used, that engine was replaced with a 2.0-liter engine in 1992.
Hyundai updated the Sonata in1993 to give it a more contemporary shape. Though the engine had been replaced the previous year, Hyundai marketed a 3.0 liter V6 engine in some markets, though the 2.0 liter engine was typically seen in the United States. Finally in 1996 Hyundai replaced the underpowered 2.0 liter engine with a 3.0 liter 142 horsepower V6. The exterior was also updated, giving the Sonata a more up market look as it was influenced by the Mercedes-Benz. The changes brought in more sales, with a 25% increase that year. The upscale look and low prices made the Sonata very attractive to most consumers.
A new model was introduced in 2002 with an even more upscale look. The V6 engine was updated to a 2.7 liter with 173 horsepower. Hyundai reported the sale of 104,000 units sold for 2004. In 2005 the Sonata was redesigned again, taking styling signals from vehicles such as the Honda Accord and the Audi A6. New engines were offered as well, making the Sonata more powerful than ever.
It's thought that the 2006 and 2007 model year may help Hyundai outsell some of its biggest competitors such as the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the Nissan Altima. The US EPA classifies the new Sonata as a large car and with a price ranging from just over $18,000 to just over $21,000 the Sonata is the perfect car for those looking for quality and luxury at a great price.
