2006 Hyundai Sonata Review

Specifications

Quality is Hyundais Number One Selling Point

If theres another automaker being praised as much as Hyundai these days, we dont know about it. The South Korean automaker, which incidentally makes some of its top models, such as the Sonata, in North America, has been winning award after award from all manner of third-party organizations, and the auto companys latest prize, is no exception. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, which now rates Hyundai amongst the top-five automakers in customer satisfaction, improving on its score from last year, also cites the brand as one of the “Industry Leaders in Quality”.

The quarterly survey is conducted by the University of Michigan, and measures customer satisfaction of a variety of products. The survey questioned 8,096 vehicle owners between April 1 and June 30, 2005, with average scores ranked at 80 out of 100 points. Hyundais cars and crossover SUVs returned an overall score of 84 to rank fifth.

University of Michigan Professor Claes Fornell, who compiles the index, stated that Hyundais rapid climb in the rankings illustrates that focusing on quality can significantly improve satisfaction ratings.

“An example of the success from a focus on quality is Hyundai,” stated University of Michigan Professor Claes Fornell, who compiles the index. “South Koreas number one automaker entered the U.S. market in the late 1980s as a low-priced competitor, but also with low quality cars.  Following a change in strategy and a strong commitment to quality and styling improvements, backed by the industrys first 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, Hyundais customer satisfaction improved a remarkable 24 percent over the next six years. It remains one of the most competitive automakers on price, but is now among the leaders in quality as well.”

Such is the recipe for success, adhered to by front runners Toyota and Honda, among others, and now the mantra chanted by Hyundais executives.

“Hyundai had dedicated itself to quality over the past several years, and this consumer satisfaction study again demonstrates the results of our emphasis on building quality products while respecting and retaining the traditional Hyundai emphasis on value,” stated Bob Cosmai, President and C.E.O. of Hyundai Motor America. “We understand that quality is the number-one priority for consumers, and we have responded with constantly improving quality rankings in numerous individual studies. In addition, the recently introduced 2006 Sonata offers a unique combination of quality, safety, style, performance, spaciousness and value that is indicative of where Hyundai is going as a brand as we continue our rapid-fire new product barrage into 2006 and beyond.” 

Well, you must know by now that we wouldnt have included such an obviously biased statement in the above quotation if we didnt agree with it, which gets us back to our long-term Sonata GLS V6.

Since we last reported on the car, and the upper-scale Premium Packaged loaner Hyundai gave us while ours was being serviced, weve added 313 miles to the odometer for a total of 4,232 miles. So without keeping you waiting any longer, here are the test logs for the last two weeks of life with our Sonata:

Odometer: 3,937 miles

Trevor: The few days prior to leaving for Detroit to take in the auto show of auto shows have been more than a bit busy, so I havent been driving around that much. Rather, Ive been parked in my office on my big leather chair next to my desk, feet up on the ottoman, laptop in my lap, of all places, typing out story after story so that when I get to Detroit Im not having to stay up all night working, and then forced to keep up with the following days grueling schedule with legs that want to give out from hour one. Ive just finished a story on the cool new Dodge Challenger Concept, one on a 70th Anniversary Morgan 4/4 that wont even be offered in North America but is pretty cool nonetheless, plus one on Fords new Edge crossover, impressive, Chryslers first SUV, the Aspen, which also seems appealing, and when I get back home after my short drive to the store to by healthy munchies ahead of my voyage, Ill be finishing up a long overdue road and track test of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, whats turning into a slightly negative commentary on Lincolns new MKS Concept, and the list goes on, plus over the last few days Ive edited a bunch of stories from other writers, such as Kays article on the new GM hybrids, Justins news stories on new Lamborghini Miura Concept and Aston Martin Rapide Concept (he likes the bling), Robs Chevy Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid piece, etc, etc. I think one of the most impressive cars I personally wrote about, though, is Hyundais completely revised 2007 Santa Fe, that I havent seen yet, other than in photographs, and therefore left spaces where I can type in my comments when it finally debuts at the show and I jump on stage and poke around inside. Im not particularly blown away with its expected performance, although it looks to be well endowed with the same top-line engine as my overly exuberant Sonata V6, so it should pull away from stoplights quickly, but Im more impressed with the high level of refinement the vehicle appears to have. I wont know for sure until I see it first hand, and then more so when I finally drive it, which could be some time, but the SUV, or should I say CUV, sounds as well put together as this Sonata (yes Im in it now scribbling this extremely long note) and the even more upscale Azera, but of course, by the time you read this I will have already made my thoughts known about it along with the other new production and concept vehicles revealed over the course of the three-day press event that Ive already mentioned, so I might as well shut up about it and tell you to go read the review if you have any more interest. So, I had better get to the store to buy my munchies and then drive back to my office, sink into my big leather chair and continue rambling on about something else.

Odometer: 3,947 miles

Jennifer: Trevors gone to Detroit and Im regularly loading up kids and gear into the Sonata to go back and forth to the store, church, soccer practice… how did I ever become a soccer mom? Ugh, the stigma! Im just glad Trevor didnt get us a long-term minivan. The brakes made that squeak a few minutes ago, yes the one that Trevor said wasnt a problem, but I still find it disconcerting. The rest of the car seems to work flawlessly though, so I can hardly complain.

Odometer: 3,985 miles

Jennifer: Im glad Trevor took the small little Hyundai (Accent) to the airport because I need the Sonatas space this week. Did a bunch of errands and filled the car up with gas (I love those new speed pass things that gas stations have now, just swipe it over the pump and it automatically takes your credit card info). I like the fact that despite the Sonatas powerful engine it only needs regular fuel. We had an Audi recently, that wasnt anywhere near as fast as the Sonata, and it needed premium fuel, which as you know, cost a heck of a lot more than our already pricy regular. This is an important point for anyone needing to stay on-budget regarding fuel expenses, as a 10 percent increase with todays prices could result in a major budget overrun.

Odometer: 4,068 miles

Jennifer: Oops. I probably should have made a log entry over the last couple of days, but Trevor gets back tonight and Ive been ultra-busy while hes been gone. Not to say that life wont be just as busy when he returns, because hell probably just go down to his office and not be seen nor heard from for awhile, but there will be the odd break from the kids and other things when he finally emerges, which should help keep me sane. And what about the car? Im still missing the powered pedals from the Premium Package Sonata we had a couple of weeks ago, and still recommend those that want to buy a Sonata step up for this option package as its soooo worth the $1,400 (read the 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 Long-Term Test Update No. 9 for more detail - Ed.). Ive got no problem with the standard audio system in our long-term car, however, and have been pumping up the volume recently, just to filter out some of the chatter from the back seat. Kaden loves AudioSlave, Philosopher Kings, Norah Jones, and the rest of my eclectic mix of CDs, and no, I havent figured out how to mix mp3 discs yet or Id have all of these tunes on one CD. I have an iPod anyway, but unfortunately cant plug it in to the Sonatas system. Ha, theres a complaint! Why cant I plug my iPod into this car? I suppose well give Hyundai a little more time to figure this one out. Itll probably be available next year.

Odometer: 4,100 miles

Trevor: Instead of driving the Sonata to the airport for my trip to Detroit, I borrowed a tiny Accent and left Jennifer with our long-term car. I see in the test notes that she was grateful that I did so, but not so much that I went away for four days in the first place. Can hardly blame her. The show was pretty good, but I must admit not as spectacular as in previous years. The money drain on Ford and GM showed up in Detroit, with fewer cool concept cars and less glitz during introductions, well, except for Chrysler which once again pulled off some pretty cool stunts and brought a few top stars plus some in-character Broadway clowns on stage. Hyundais introduction of their Santa Fe and Talus Concept was extremely well done, and Im not just saying that because I know theyll be reading this. The presentation probably did the best job of any automakers at explaining where the company has been in its recent past and where it is going, using a really effective dual-screen video production before CEO Bob Cosmai come on stage to introduce the two vehicles (Bob Cosmai, CEO since 2003, was unceremoniously dumped a few days after the show and replaced by South Korean O.S. Koh).

The Santa Fe was even more impressive than I had expected, so I think Hyundai will do very well with it. Even the third row of seats fit me in pretty well, other than headroom being a bit tight, but overall better than many in its segment. The Talus is pretty cool too. A nice design; kind of a rugged off-road sports car look to it. Who knows if theyll build it, but my guess is some of the styling will show up in the Tiburon replacement expected in a year or so. Anyway, good to be back home and good once again to be tooling around town in the Sonata, coming back from the bank right now and then off to the post office box to see what goodies are awaiting me. Smooth and effortless driving once again, much appreciated after a day of flying, three days of walking and standing, plus another day of flying. I want to go back to bed just thinking about it.

Odometer: 4,117 miles

Jennifer: I dont often think about it, but now that Trevor is loaning the Sonata to Alexandra for a few days so that she can do her due diligence and add some comments to the log book, Im yet in another car, and on that note I was switching out the car seats before loading the kids into this new Acura CSX (replacement for the EL - Ed.) we just received, and while its a nice little car with an amazing amount of room considering its compact dimensions, its nowhere near as spacious as the Sonata, especially in back where the kids child seats get locked into place. I suppose I should be more grateful for all the space provided in our long-term car, rather than sometimes wishing we still had an SUV with all that extra room in the back for stuff. Of course, it would just get filled up to the point of being useless anyway, but the thought of an SUV, maybe even the new Santa Fe Trevor just mentioned in his log entry, seems more appealing. The Sonatas trunk has so much stuff in it, most of which Ive wanted to get out of there for some time, but with two kids to herd back into the house after returning home, and bags of gear to carry, needed just for the two kids, which I cant leave alone in the house while I empty the trunk, hows it going to get done? Am I having a moment? Yeah, Ill be better in a few minutes, no doubt.

Odometer: 4,150 miles

Alexandra: Its been a while since Ive been behind the wheel of a Hyundai, but as Mondays would have it, the day I drive all over town, from manufacturer to manufacturer swapping cars, I had the chance to get behind the wheel of the 2006 Accent again, and being that I had a few days between my outgoing car and a certain MINI (ha ha, cant wait) I took a stint in the long-term Sonata. During my excursions Ive driven a few premium sedans, some easily more than three times the price of the Sonata. And even after having driven these luxury models, the Sonata still looks great and feels fabulous. The interior quality is definitely there, at least when it comes to the way everything fits together, and so is the ride comfort. The feeling of the soft leather seats (with bum warmers turned on high, of course) is as comforting as I need, and the shape of the leather-clad steering wheel is nice to grip.