I agree after inspecting it closely and sitting in all 4 seating positions. The Sonata is not a CLS or CC. Rear headroom spec is decent (as published by the manufacturers) when compared to the strong-selling Camry, Accord and Fusion. The Sonata has a longer wheelbase allowing the roofline to be especially long extending the high part well to the rear.

 

thanks for another in depth and precise review

it is amazing how fast hyundai has improved its products

 

Thanks. I hope to be doing the VW GTI pretty soon.

 

Definitely it is. I'm surprised, though, that at 6' 1", you had no problems. I'm 6' 2"....but big and stocky as well. And my body, though still basically in good shape, is not quite as agile as it was in younger years. For me, getting in and out of the back is like trying to be a Bachman pretzel.

Though the new Sonata, of course, is a family-oriented car, obviously many families have big, tall teens sitting in back....some of them may have to duck their heads and chests way down, too. Of course, they are usually more agile than I am, too.

 

Sat in one today. My lord was the chemical smell overwhelming. Not a nice, new car smell at all. Was it just the one I sat in or did anyone else notice this?

 

I haven't sat in a new car that didn't smell like the factory it was built in.

 

Previous 5th-gen Sonata:



New 6th-gen 2011 Sonata:



I didn't even realize Hyundai had changed to conventional trunk hinges until I saw the Edmunds review.

 

Took another hard look at this yesterday, significant difference between SE and Limited on the handling... but with all the bells and whistles on the Limited...

For the money, nothing close other than the Fusion... Camry and Accord well back in the rear view

 

That is typical of a number of newer Hyundai products....an interior smell that is different from most new vehicles. I don't know this for a fact, but it may (?) be Hyundai's attempt to deal with the issue that most new-car interior odors come from the ge-gassing of vinyls/plastics used in the car's assembly, and can give some people headaches or have other adverse effects. Different types of leathers, of course, also have different types of odors.

 

Good observation on your part. That appears to be cost-cutting. The scissors-type, articulating hinges on the old model are more flexible and take up less space, but cost more to produce and install. They don't impact on luggage space, though, can't hit and scar luggage, and allow the trunk lid to be raised further, up past vertical in some cases. The simpler ones on the new model aren't as flexible, but cost less.

 

I wasn't aware of the nice setup on the 5th gen....nice....trunk hinges on a non luxury car are no deal breaker....hell the GS 430 has them

 

Variations of conventional hinges are used in Mercedes. They key design feature is how they are enclosed to avoid crushing luggage and trunk contents.

 

This is what I've noticed as well. I just the love the relatively heavy steering on the SE. It makes you second guess yourself if its really electric steering.

 

Early electric power steering units were as numb in feel as a shot of novocaine in the dentist's office (the 1Gen Saturn VUE was arguably the worst example), but, engineers are now getting generally more skilled in fine-tuning the boost-levels. Just like it took some years, back in the 50s and 60s, to get the original hydraulic-boost steering/brakes correct, so will it take a few years now with the electric-boost stuff.

 

I have the 5th gen sonata right now as a rental vehicle and I think its top notch. Its just as good as the 2010 Accord a staff member just purchased. With the new look of the 6th generation I think Toyota and Honda need to be concerned.