No V6 For The New Sonata

Sorry if this is a repost:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/2011-hyundai-sonata-review/

Doesn't need it.

It the 4-cylinders are anything like what is in my 2010 Santa Fe, the 6-speed transmission makes up for it. Deep first gear with a loose converter launches nicely. Honestly, with the expected average HP of a 4-cyl now in the 200hp area, and V6 engines in the 300hp range, there is no need for a V6 engine.

I agree with you. 4's have come a LONG way from being just the "economy" engine.

198HP in the N/A version and the turbo comes next year. Sweet car!

Can i have this motor in a tiny Hyundai Accent?

I don't understand... they have all the parts they need to make a TRULY hot hatch, and where is it?

slefain wrote: Doesn't need it. It the 4-cylinders are anything like what is in my 2010 Santa Fe, the 6-speed transmission makes up for it. Deep first gear with a loose converter launches nicely. Honestly, with the expected average HP of a 4-cyl now in the 200hp area, and V6 engines in the 300hp range, there is no need for a V6 engine.

Oh, I agree, but I just thought it was interesting that they took this stance. The article itself is a review of the car, not just the engine, and the design route they are taking may bring some of the last holdouts into saying "ok, maybe they do make good cars." To build a car of this size and power, yet still being able to deliver the fuel mileage that the testers were able to squeeze out of it is pretty impressive. (Two teams broke 47MPG even though EPA rates it at 22/35)

A turbo 4 is also supposed to be in the plans.

if you read through the comments on that article.. there are VERY few naysayers.

YEAH! I am not sold on the styling yet. I just saw my first one in person and am 50/50 on the love it/ hate it looks. But the mechanicals are right where they need to be.

IMO, the last gen Sonata caught up with the best the Japanese had to offer. This one has surpassed it and then some. Go Hyundai! Yay for a car company still interested in building the best vehicle they can.

I have always bought Japanese or German. I drive the German for thier style and handling and always put the wife in kids in Japanese for reliability. But I have already priced out the options on a couple of different Hyundais, they may be my new favorite manufacturer.

I think another thing to remember is the Direct Injection technology gives a big boost in low-end torque for small engines, if my Mazdaspeed3 is anything to go by. I'm sure the Sonata Turbo will not be a rip-snorting, torque-steering beast like my MS3 but it will probably get up and go just as well as any traditional V-6 family sedan.

If what I read was true they are aiming for 280hp out of the turbo 4. With 3200lbs, that should be a fun car.

Looks like we bought one just in time. For X-mas my wife traded her 02 Camry in on a 2010 Hyundai Sonata Limited V6. I went with her and test drove both. I usually agree that modern 4-cyl and 4 or more gear AT helps with performance and drivability. Our Camry was a 4-cyl w/4-speed AT and was plenty powerful. However driving a 4-cyl Sonata w/5-speed AT was a nightmare, kept shifting gears back and forth at a steady speed. Didn't seem to bother the wife but she's not a car person and the salesman said it was the speed I was driving on the highway (about 65-mph, the flow of traffic) and it wouldn't do it higher or lower. Drove me batty and I wouldn't live with it. Plus as mentioned in the article, the engine was kinda buzzy. Not something I would expect for the class of car. However the V6 didn't have that problem, it cruised comfortable at all speeds. I don't mind driving it on the rare occasions that my wife and I go out together. Doesn't hurt that the V6 is pretty quick. Anyway, wife happy then I'm happy.

wlkelley3 wrote: . Plus as mentioned in the article, the engine was kinda buzzy. Not something I would expect for the class of car.

I didn't read his comment as describing the engine as buzzy. I read it as he didn't like the exhaust note.

"Power delivery of the 200-hp four is smooth, but the engine sang in a typical four-pot key (read: not so pleasant)."

.

Looked it over and you can get a 6 speed stick, sounds tasty

yea, probably one manual shift sonata per state.

carzan wrote:

wlkelley3 wrote: . Plus as mentioned in the article, the engine was kinda buzzy. Not something I would expect for the class of car.

I didn't read his comment as describing the engine as buzzy. I read it as he didn't like the exhaust note.

"Power delivery of the 200-hp four is smooth, but the engine sang in a typical four-pot key (read: not so pleasant)."

.

That's actually what I meant. I just tried to simplify the authors wording into my own words. I'm not known for choosing the right terminology. I tried to say that the sound in the cabin was kinda buzzy not that there was a buzz or vibration felt. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to save words in descriptives. The sound just wasn't as nice as an exhaust system with a decent sounding muffler, kinda intrusive to me which is why I used the term buzzy.

As a Marketing guy, I wonder how this will play out. Remember, the Accord was always a 4cylinder car only and no one really was crying for a V6. However, everyone else had one and they had to keep up with the Jonses so they dropped in a V6. The Suzuki Grand Vitara and Mazda MX3 are two other cars I can think of that added a V6 over a powerful 4cyl for what I think were purely marketing purposes. I may be wrong, but that was my impression from what I read at the time.

In today's cost and fuel-efficiency concerned market, I think a turbo-4 markets much better than a big V6 so I think Hyundai is spot-on, but the American car buying public is pretty hard-wired for bigger is better.

wlkelley3 wrote: That's actually what I meant. I just tried to simplify the authors wording into my own words. I'm not known for choosing the right terminology. I tried to say that the sound in the cabin was kinda buzzy not that there was a buzz or vibration felt. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to save words in descriptives. The sound just wasn't as nice as an exhaust system with a decent sounding muffler, kinda intrusive to me which is why I used the term buzzy.

Oh, sure.

I'll bet there's room engineered into the design so a V6 can be dropped in there...if it's needed.

As I understand it, Hyundai is really getting serious about being the "most fuel efficient vehicle manufacturer" on sale in the U.S. Their small and mid-size SUVs are slated to become 4 cylinder only, also.

nothing wrong with being able to combine power AND fuel efficency. Might prove to the sheep that hybrids are not the only answer

pinchvalve wrote: As a Marketing guy, I wonder how this will play out. Remember, the Accord was always a 4cylinder car only and no one really was crying for a V6. However, everyone else had one and they had to keep up with the Jonses so they dropped in a V6. The Suzuki Grand Vitara and Mazda MX3 are two other cars I can think of that added a V6 over a powerful 4cyl for what I think were purely marketing purposes. I may be wrong, but that was my impression from what I read at the time. In today's cost and fuel-efficiency concerned market, I think a turbo-4 markets much better than a big V6 so I think Hyundai is spot-on, but the American car buying public is pretty hard-wired for bigger is better.

Oh... you didn't like the 1.8 litre V6?

93celicaGT2 wrote: Oh... you didn't like the 1.8 litre V6?

I have one in my blender right now as a matter of fact.

Sounds like your blender is ready for a KL-ZE swap then....

Nice car. As with many others, totally rips off the benz CLS from some angles.. or rips off a rip off, the passat cc. Not a bad thing.

I just put together a 3100 lb 4 cylinder with a bit under 200hp and 5gears.. i just drove it for ~120 miles and the power is enough to be pleasant. Of course, mine will gain 40whp and end up with almost 300 lb ft of torque for a total outlay of ~$1300. Just saying, 200hp/6psd in 3000 lb car aint bad!

At first I was thinking that they were shooting themselves in the foot by not offering a V6, but Ford is doing an excellent job advertising their turbo 6 as a great alternative to a V8, and will be doing the same thing with the turbo 4 in the Fusion, Edge, etc., so why not Hyundai, (though Ford is offering a 6 in the Fusion and Edge)? It will be interesting to see how this gamble plays out. They said they were able to keep the weight down by not having to reserve the room and larger supporting structures for a 6, so I don't know how easily they can stick one in.

They are getting lucky that all the eyes are on Toyota right now, their (relatively small) recall on the new Sonata probably won't get much coverage.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/58370/2011-hyundai-sonata-recall/

Bob

I'm continually impressed by Hyundai's rapid rise. Less than ten years ago, they were the butt of jokes. I'd take a 4-banger Genesis coupe any day.