Sonata
05 Jul 2007
The Sonata, priced between Rs 11.90 lakh (ex- factory) and Rs 13.30 lakh, looks like an unaffordable car, which it is not. Perhaps this explains why in value and price-conscious India it is the most successful D-segment car.
The Sonata is available in India in two variants — Sonata Gold and Sonata DLS — and six colours. The car was launched in India in early 2002 after being introduced in South Korea and two months after it was launched in the US. But, in these and other countries, earlier versions of the Sonata have been on the roads since the early 1990s.
According to the company this is the sixth-generation Sonata. Certain changes have been affected in the version of the car meant for India, such as the rear seat being made more spacious by replacing it with that of a larger Hyundai car — Grandeur — in recognition of the fact that most cars of this class in India are chauffeur-driven.
The local content in the Sonata will be 40 per cent, which is significantly higher than many cars of this category made by other manufacturers. The sensational styling of the car is a combination of Korean design with a tilt towards the European.
Hyundai, which earlier borrowed technology mainly from the Japanese, has now made major strides in auto engineering, manufacturing and design. The Koreans have not only managed to almost completely replicate the Japanese build quality in cars, but have also made rapid strides on the technology angle.
The Sonata is a prime example of these achievements. The car is second to none when it comes to engineering and technology. The 1,997cc Sirius in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve mill performs with amazing smoothness and capability. The ride quality is smooth and the car disappoints when driven hard. The interior is also very classy.
Competitors of the Sonata include the Accord and the Mondeo, both D-segment cars. Over the next two years, the indigenisation percentage in the Sonata is expected to climb to 60 per cent. But that is as far as it will go, say senior officials in the company.
Hyundai has exclusively invested $20 million in its Tamil Nadu plant for the Sonata, which includes a new weld-and-assembly plant.
Technical specifications:
| Specifications | Sonata Gold | Sonata GLS |
| Body | Three Box 4 door Saloon | Three Box 4 door Saloon |
| Antilock brake system | Yes | n.a. |
| Front | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear | Solid disc | Drum |
| Traction Control System | Available | n.a. |
| Front track | 1540 mm | 1540 mm |
| Ground clearance | 177 mm | 177 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1445 kgs. | 1445 kgs. |
| Overall Height | 1420 mm | 1420 mm |
| Overall Length | 4745 mm | 4745 mm |
| Overall Width | 1820 mm | 1820 mm |
| Rear track | 1530 mm | 1530 mm |
| Tank capacity | 65 litres | 65 litres |
| Wheelbase | 2700 mm | 2700 mm |
| Bore & Stroke | 86 mm x 97 mm | 86 mm x 97 mm |
| Brake Horse Power | 133 bhp @ 6000 rpm | 133 bhp @ 6000 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Construction | n.a | n.a |
| Displacement | 1997 cc | 1997 cc |
| Fuel | Petrol - Unleaded | Petrol - Unleaded |
| Ignition | Multiport Electronic Fuel injection | Multiport Electronic Fuel injection |
| Layout | 4 cylinder in line, DOHC | 4 cylinder in line, DOHC |
| Torque | 16.7 Nm @ 4500 rpm | 16.7 Nm @ 4500 rpm |
| Valve gear | 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder |
| Transmission | Manual- 5 speed | Manual- 5 speed |
| Type | Front wheel drive | Front wheel drive |
| Type | Power assisted & Tilt Steering | Power assisted & Tilt Steering |
| Front | Double wishbone type independent suspension with gas shock absorbers | Double wishbone type independent suspension with gas shock absorbers |
| Rear | Multilink independent rear suspension with gas shock absorbers. | Multilink independent rear suspension with gas shock absorbers. |
| Tyres | 195/65 R 15 | 195/65 R 15 |
| Wheel make | Alluminium Alloy wheels | Pressed steel |
| Wheel size | 15 inch | 15 inch |
On road prices
Sonata Gold
| City | Ex-Showroom | Registration & Service Charges (Individual) | Registration & Service Charges (Company) | Comprehensive Insurance | Total (Individual) | Total (Company) |
| Chennai | 1,320,002 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,320,002 | 1,320,002 |
| Delhi | 1,330,012 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,330,012 | 1,330,012 |
| Hyderabad | 1,337,909 | 93,660 | N.A. | 49,192 | 1,480,761 | 1,387,101 |
| Mumbai | 1,322,189 | 57,888 | 163,663 | 42,033 | 1,422,110 | 1,527,885 |
| Pune | 1,291,320 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,291,320 | 1,291,320 |
Sonata GLS
| City | Ex-Showroom | Registration & Service Charges (Individual) | Registration & Service Charges (Company) | Comprehensive Insurance | Total (Individual) | Total (Company) |
| Chennai | 1,180,002 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,180,002 | 1,180,002 |
| Delhi | 1,190,001 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,190,001 | 1,190,001 |
| Mumbai | 1,202,271 | 53,091 | 149,273 | 38,319 | 1,293,681 | 1,389,863 |
| Pune | 1,126,759 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | 1,126,759 | 1,126,759 |