2016 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is offered in 7 trims: Base, SE, Eco, Sport, Limited, Sport 2.0T, and Limited 2.0T, where the SE, Sport, and Limited comes is propelled by a 2.4L inline-4 engine, the ECO is powered by a more fuel-efficient 1.6L turbocharged inline-4 engine and the Sport 2.0T and Limited 2.0T is thrust by a more powerful 2L turbocharged inline-4 engine.

 The SE which happens to be the bottom level trim comes packed with 16˝alloy wheels, Rear lip spoiler, 7˝color touchscreen audio display, AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3 audio system, 6-way manually adjustable passenger seat, Rearview Camera, Automatic headlights, and many more. While the upper trims offer exterior and interior embellishments, better seating, added safety features, and many others.

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The features and engine drastically change from trim to trim. As you pay higher prices for the higher trim levels, the existing features either improve or newer crucial attributes get added to the sedan. So, we recommend the Sonata Limited 2.0T as you get a turbocharged engine compared to the regular, packs more car comforts, better seats, and most importantly crucial safety and driver-assist measures.

There are 3 engine choices packed among the different trims of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The base and SE get powered by a 2.4L inline-4 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine generates a default 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft torque which is suitable for everyday commutes and daily tasks. The power is sent to the front wheels as standard and there is no option for AWD. Overall, the base engine feels feeble and unsatisfying and fails to feed your thrills.

The ECO comes with a turbocharged 1.6L inline-4 engine, which is more fuel-efficiency oriented as the name suggests. This engine comes mated to a 7-speed automatic and this duo generates 178 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Though it considers the least about the performance, it should be a good take if one considers the car for city drive and casual commutes. However, if one demands performance, the Sport 2.0T and Limited 2.0T must be an ideal choice. The 2L turbo inline-4 on these trims churn out 245 horses and 260 lb-ft torque. This helps the sedan reach 60mph from rest in 7.2 seconds, and cover a quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds.

Let’s compare the pricing first, the Sonata is the most affordable followed by the Accord. The Camry trails at the bottom in terms of engine power and torque, while the Accord leads here with the best performance figures. Moreover, you get a manual transmission with the Accord. For a wide range of choices, Hyundai is your go-to car.

The 2.4L inline-4 engine puts out satisfactory power and it is economical too. The base engine offers 25MPG in the city, 38MPG on the highway, and 30MPG combined. However, Hyundai offers a more efficient 1.6L turbo in-4 that boosts mileage to 28MPG in the city, 38MPG on the highway, and 32MPG combined. With 18.5-gallon fuel tanks, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata offers a whopping 703-mile maximum highway driving range.

Accord offers good performance, but when it comes to efficiency, it lags. Not only it returns the least fuel economy in the competition but also comes with a comparably smaller tank which hampers its driving range. The Nissan Altima is the most fuel-efficient of the lot thanks to its CVT transmission and with a large 18-gallon tank, it also crosses the 700-mile driving range mark.

The 2016 Sonata comes blessed with an opulent cabin and offers adequate room for 5 people. Coming to the seats, it comes wrapped in premium cloth and the cabin is covered with decent quality patterned plastics. As you go up in higher trims, the seats come wrapped with leather while the cabin is embellished with carbon fiber appearance/ 3D tech appearance/ dark wood grain accent. The seats are cushioned well, wide and upright. The driver’s and front passenger seats are power-adjustable and come with heating functions too. In the rear, the seats are well laid and can be folded at a 60/40 split function. 

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and comes fitted with control buttons. You also get a panoramic sunroof and dual-zone climate control as you go up the trim ladder. The instrument cluster consists of a 4.2 color LCD and displays all the essential information. Moreover, you get 16.3 cubic feet of standard trunk space and the seats can be folded in a 60/40 split to get additional space.

It’s quite evident that the Sonata enjoys the airiest cabin with the best passenger volume and the largest trunk space, followed by Camry. The big trunk of the Sonata makes it a good commuter as well as a weekend getaway vehicle. Among the competition, the Honda Accord offers the most balanced front and rear row seating. Standout interior features:

• Leather upholstery
• Heated and Ventilated front seats with a heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• Dual-zone automatic temperature control
• YES essentials cloth seats
•  Rear air vents

How intuitive is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata’s infotainment system?

The most significant and most anticipated change for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata is the Infotainment. It has had major rework and now comes with a heap of features. A newly fitted 7-inch touch LCD now supports AM/FM/HD Radio, CD, and MP3 player in the standard model. However, the higher trims feature an 8-inch touchscreen with a navigation system, Dimension premium speakers or Infinity premium speakers with subwoofer and amplifier, and SiriusXM Travel Link. Standout infotainment features:

• HD Radio technology with multicasting.
• 8-inch touchscreen navigation system.
• Infinity 9 premium speakers with subwoofer and amplifier.
• SiriusXM Travel Link.
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.
• Blue Link Connected Car System.
• Dimension Premium Audio System (Optional).

The 2015 Sonata received a full redesign; the newer face of the sedan looks conservative and has a traditional appeal, yet very pleasant to the eyes. For 2016 MY, the primary design silhouette remains the same. The sedan comes fitted with a variety of elements which depends on the trim model you choose. 

The SE comes fitted with 16” alloys, rear lip spoiler, Automatic headlights, and heated power side mirrors. A 17” sport alloy with bumper fascia and grille, dual exhaust system, LED DRLs comes standard in the Sport. Apart from these, the flagship embellishments comprising 18” Sport/Limited alloys, Rear diffuser, LED tail lights, etc. come standard in the higher trims which add generous spice to the overall appeal.

The 2016 Sonata is the heaviest car among the competition and it also remains ahead with a larger wheelbase, broader and higher body. This makes it bigger than the others and also more challenging to maneuver. The Toyota Camry has the best ground clearance, while the Sonata has the shortest ground clearance which merits instability. Standout exterior features:

• 16-inch wheels
• Lip spoiler
• Sports exterior trim (Sport)
• Dual exhaust with chrome trims (sport)
• Panoramic roof (limited 2.0T)
• 18” wheels (Sport 2.0T)

The Hyundai Sonata comes equipped with all standard features. It comes built on a rigid and tensile chassis and is further strengthened with side impact beams and pillars. The cabin comes fitted with an airbag system at the front, sides, and rear. Apart from this, the NHTSA has rated the car 5 stars, while the IIHS rated the sedan “GOOD” with the 2016 Top Safety Pick+ award. Additionally, it comes with some best in class driver safety/ assist measures such as:

• ABS and traction control
• Electronic stability control
• Multiple airbag systems
• Blind-spot monitoring system (optional extra/standard on Limited and both 2.0T)
• Rear Cross-traffic Alert (optional extra/standard on Limited and both 2.0T
• Rearview cameras

The Hyundai Sonata is one of the most affordable, preferred, and value-for-money sedans you can buy in the market. There are several trims with 3 engine options to choose from. The exterior styling looks traditional and pleasant, which exhibits its uniqueness. The cabin on the other hand is spacious, comfortable, and well-built with a lot of features. However, if you’re looking for a better option, the Accord is definitely something to take a look at.