-J-P-L-

Personally, I think the 3 year old Sonata still looks better than the new Altima.

And what about the Sonata's cousin, the Kia Optima? Perhaps the best looking of them all until the 2013 Fusion drops.

Also, I think the Camry, in SE form, looks better than the new Altima as well.

Based on styling alone, I'd rate them as follows (MY2013):

1) Fusion
2) Optima
3) Camry SE
4) Sonata
5) Altima
6) Malibu
7) Passat
8) Mazda 6
9) Accord

GS69

2013 Hyundai Sonata Gets Price Hike
Girds for Battle with Altima & Fusion

Just the Facts:
The base 2013 Hyundai Sonata gets a $1,100 price increase over the outgoing base model.
The midsize sedan segment war heated up on Tuesday with Hyundai accusing the 2013 Ford Fusion and 2013 Nissan Altima of "borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook."
The 2013 Sonata ranges in price from $21,670 for the GLS model to $28,370 for the Sonata Limited with a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

COSTA MESA, California — The base 2013 Hyundai Sonata gets a $1,100 price increase over the outgoing base model as the midsize sedan segment war heated up on Tuesday with Hyundai accusing the 2013 Ford Fusion and 2013 Nissan Altima of "borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook." The 2013 Sonata is on sale now.

The 2013 Sonata ranges in price from $21,670 for the GLS model to $28,370 for the Sonata Limited with a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Pricing includes a $775 shipping charge. Hyundai eliminated the base GLS with a 6-speed manual transmission from the 2013 Sonata lineup. The base 2012 Sonata GLS started at $20,570, including shipping.

The base 2013 Sonata is equipped with a 2.4-liter GDI 4-cylinder engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai went on the offensive on Tuesday, issuing a press release with the headline of "Bring It" aimed at "the new crop of midsize competitors."

"The midsize segment is more competitive than ever, with new competitors like the soon-to-be launched 2013 Ford Fusion and 2013 Nissan Altima borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook with improved fuel economy and design," said Hyundai.

The Korean automaker said the Sonata "sent competitors back to the drawing board."

In a telephone response to a query from Inside Line, Nissan spokesman Dan Bedore said: "The midsize segment is the heart of the market in U.S. There's a lot of action there. 9 months ago, the Sonata was the newest car in segment. 9 months from now, it will be the oldest. Constant improvement is what we're all trying to accomplish. Nissan's response is the 2013 Altima."

Ford did not respond immediately to an Inside Line request for a comment on the Hyundai statement.

Automakers in this critical segment often try to one-up each other, but it is fairly unusual for them to mention competitors by name.

On April 9, Nissan boasted about the 2013 Altima's "class-leading 38 mpg" in a statement — but did not mention the Sonata. The fuel-economy numbers can be a make-or-break-it element for consumers, especially those shopping for family cars. The 2013 Sonata lags behind the Altima with a 35-mpg highway rating. The EPA has not yet rated the 2013 Ford Fusion.

The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report on Tuesday said the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the U.S. stood at $3.76 versus $3.96 a year ago.

The 2013 Altima will come out of the gate in June with a higher price tag than Sonata. The new Altima will start at $22,280, including shipping. Pricing for the 2013 Fusion has not yet been announced.

The 2013 Sonata is a carryover model with a few upgrades, including the addition of heated seats as standard equipment to all models and packages except the base GLS model. Options on the 2013 Sonata include an $825 GLS Popular Equipment package that bundles such items as 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a power driver seat with lumbar support and chrome interior door handles. A $2,900 Limited Premium package on Sonata includes a panoramic sunroof, navigation system, rear back-up camera and Infinity premium speakers and stereo components.

Inside Line says: Which side are you taking in this battle?

speedflex

So what do they mean by "borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook"? By making the next generation of their cars better in design a fuel economy? I thought that was the natural play no matter what.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

^I thought the same thing. Just a bunch of overly-aggressive marketing hype.

LexFather

Let me get this right..Hyundai who copies everyone, who got caught stealing Toyota documents has the audacity to accuse the Fusion and Altima of copying? When every ****ing car/truck/goat is trying to get more stylish and get better MPG?

Are they that full of themselves? Do they really think the Sonata isn't a CLS/Passat CC knock-off?

WTF?

mordecai

LOL, Hyundai... talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

But that Nissan executive had it coming when he publically announced this... it's just giving your competition ammunition against you. And of course, Hyundai coming from a less-favorable position just a while back will not be the type to avoid low-blow marketing against its competitors

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

everyone's trying to get stylish now that hyundai showed it can be done with mainstream success, so hyundai is exactly right.

But not only stylish sells as toyota has proven with the butt ugly plain new camry. The last gen was more stylish outside.

doublehh03

Why is Hyundai increasing the prices? Their sales have stagnated, and the Sonata's sales went down last month.

mmarshall

Hyundais and Kias are selling well today, not necessarily because of their new space-ship styling (which, IMO, often s**ks), but because of their perceived value, good build-quality, and some of the best warranties in the industry.

Well, styling, of course, is subjective, but I wouldn't call the new Camry ugly by any means. Not only does it look, IMO, substantially better than the last Camry, but, with the exception of the new thinner/tinnier doors, substantially exceeds the old Camry in interior plushness and build-quality.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

so the 2013 Sonata now starts at $21,670, including a $775 destination fee and dropped the manual transmission. 6-speed auto across the board till their 8-speed comes into play no doubt

mmarshall

Both production-costs and the exchange-rate between the American dollar and Asian currencies is affecting vehicle-prices from Asian-badged manufacturers.

mmarshall

They also dropped the V6 option...one more reason (among several) IMO, why the old Sonata was better than the new one. The new turbo-4 option has torque, but is not as smooth or refined as the V6 was.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

yep won't ever be as smooth or refined. Kinda makes the Azera and its 3.3L V6 more attractive than the Sonata IMO

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Well it should be shouldn't it? The New Azera is a lot more money.

Lexuslvr91

Well a number of reasons. Namely the deletion of the 6-speed manual for the base model which makes it looks lik e the car's base price shot up. Second The plant that makes the Sonata and Elantra is running at 110% trying to keep up with the demand of both cars and will be adding another shift to increase prodiction by 20,000 units a year.