Sonata

05 Jul 2007

1

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

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