Reliable, Roomy, Efficient
We love our 2009 Sonata 4cyl with 5spd manual. It is surprisingly spritely for a 4 cyl in a full size car (which is why we didn't bother to upgrade to the 6cyl). It is great in the snow and ice of new england as well. The ONLY gotcha is that when it gets SUPER cold (below 0 F), you need to let it warm up a little before it'll shift easily. It has never had a failure, never stranded us (has multiple cross country trips), and put up to lots of abuse both inside the cabin and in road surfaces, all while being heavily loaded. Unlike modern cars, the power window of the engine isn't so narrow that you can only get decent mileage while on the flat and unloaded at 1 speed. It is always above 30mpg with mixed driving, often up around 34, even while loaded, and the sweet spot is just about average fast cruising speed on most highways, making it all that much better. The small details like the spring loaded cup holders so all sizes of drinks fit snugly and perfectly, and the trunk using pneumatics instead of a hinge that drops into the trunk taking away usable trunk space, are what help set this car apart from the others, including newer models.
Recommended
Verified Owner
