Spy Shots: 2005 Hyundai Sonata (Warning: Large Images)

[robodoc]

Ah, you just gotta love those pink robots. Yes, it is true, the video coloring was not skew'd, the robots were pink. Hyundai worked out something pretty special with the parent company and managed to order all of their robots pink. You might not think of that as a big deal, but it really takes an act of god($$$) to modify anything on the base model of the robot. Ah, love to see my babies at work!

[ColonelPanic]

I know I'm going to like this car... I drove the first year of last-generation Sonata (1999 model) and it wasn't half bad! I found it pretty comfortable, quiet, and had pleasant manners out on the highway. Yep, it was a bit on the softly spung side, but I kinda like that. That car was so much better than the Malibu I ended up buying back then. But there is always room for improvement, and while the outgoing Sonata was a good car, it looks to me like Hyundai has done their homework to make the new Sonata light years ahead of its predecessor. I'm going to get the GLS model, and I don't have to check anything on the options list, everything I want is all standard (almost.) Except for the auto-dimming inside mirror, while that is optional as part of a $1500 package - I'm going to save the $1500 and install my Vibe's auto-dimming mirror, it should fit. About the only decision I need to make is Theta (4 cyl) vs. Lambda (V6.) I'm not sure which powerplant I'll end up with - I plan on driving both. The number one priority this time around is to have an engine which will be smooth, responsive, and most importantly quiet. The V6/5-speed auto will win that battle hands-down I believe. I'll get better mileage with the four, but 4 measly MPG's isn't that much of a penalty with the V6 considering the substantial increase in horsepower and torque. Very sweet car, and a sweeter pricetag. Looking forward to owning one... And if they allow it, I'll probably even look into touring the Alabama plant so I can see where my baby was born.

[soldierguy]

Hey COL Panic...I happened to pass a Hyundai dealer today and stopped in...also happened to have my camera, so I snapped a few pics of the one they had.Impressions: Nice size, with a nice step-in height...not too low at all. Great head, leg, and shoulder room in both front and rear seats, and all the seats are comfortable...the seats aren't hard, but they're comfortably firm. The interior has some nice touches...the shutter vents on the dash that close with a clean look...the plastics generally feel good, as do the switches. In the one I sat in there were no rear cupholders, but there was an ashtray in the rear portion of the center console...I'm thinking that since smoking is big here, that's why it's there, but will probably have a cupholder or two in its place for the rear seat passengers for the US market. There's a handy little retractable grocery bag holder on the passenger side of the center console...it'd be good for one or two plastic grocery bags or a trash bag. I wasn't fond of the color scheme of the one on the showroom floor...the upper dash was dark blue, and the rest of the interior was a pale gray with a tiny bit of light blue in there, but that color combo probably won't make it to the states.The underhood area is clean and well organized. The hood prop rod is a gas strut (nice touch). The air intake route is convoluted...the 4 and 6 cylinder models will probably use the same air intake routing...in one of the pics you can see the leading edge of the air intake on the driver's side front...it goes down from there, routes around the batterey down low close to the fenderwell, enters the air filter box from the bottom (behind the battery), then moves forward to the driver's side of the engine where it enters the manifold. I bring this up simply to point out that it does pull cool air (good), but because of the route, it'll probably be difficult to find an aftermarket air intake for it (not so good).Prices here in Korea are apparently higher than in the states...the one I saw today was a 4-cylinder automatic with no sunroof or nav (but with leather), and it was priced at $22,500.On the pics...Korean dealers routinely leave the plastic on the seats and the odd-colored protectors on all the trim until a customer takes delivery...that's why it's all there in the pics.Here's an exterior shot:

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[soldierguy]

Notice the electroluminescent gauges...should be nice when lit up.

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[soldierguy]

Another broader interior shot of the dash

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[soldierguy]

Here's the center console with the cupholders exposed...the cover flips down to hide them when not in use.

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[soldierguy]

The armrest has two separate storage areas in it. This is a shot of the top storage area...good for a cell phone and maybe a couple of small items. By the way, the center armrest is padded nicely for comfort...no elbow bashing.

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[soldierguy]

Here's a shot of the deeper bin under the armrest and the shallower storage area...could easily handle a smallish CD case and a few other small items. I like the fact that there are two separate storage areas in the center armrest...again, a nice touch.

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[soldierguy]

This is the domestic market 2.0L 4 cylinder. Notice the gas strut prop rod for the hood...kind of an odd mounting place for it, but it works well. Also note where the air comes in at, and the fact that it has to go from there, around the battery, back to the air filter, then forward to the throttle and intake manifold.

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[soldierguy]

Just another shot of the air intake setup. It's convoluted with several sharp bends to it, but it does take in cold air, and is unlikely to suck in water sprayed up from deep puddles...even if water did get sucked in, the water would have one heck of a time making it all the way to the intake manifold.That's the last pic...hope the give you a better idea of some other aspects of the car that may not have been covered in the press releases.

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[ColonelPanic]

> Thanks, soldierguy! Very nice of you to take time out of your schedule to grab a few pics... That's such a sweet car! I'm getting one.