2009 Hyundai Sonata SLX CRDi Review
November 4, 2008 by Matt Brogan
2009 Hyundai Sonata SLX CRDi Review & Road Test
This could be the smart answer to the question of your next new sedan
Model Tested:
- 2009 Hyundai NF Sonata SLX CRDi 2.0-litre turbo diesel six speed manual – $32,490 (RRP)
Options:
- Metallic Paint $375 (Fitted)
Torque Delivery, Quiet Engine, Fuel Economy, Roomy Cabin & Boot
Dated Appearance, Blue Illumination, Dull Interior, Heavy Front End
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Matt Brogan
In times where we all expect so very much from our hard earned, the Sonata sits quietly in the stalls, waiting to be noticed, confident it has a lot to offer. But like that frumpy wall flower at the high school social, its dated looks may be holding it back.
But looks aside, my justification in bolstering the Sonata’s worth remains. It’s a good, safe car that is great on fuel, eager to perform and adequately comfortable – not to mention affordable – and this particular variant, fitted with Hyundai’s common rail turbo diesel engine, represents even better value for money than its petrol sibling.
Not only is the purchase price agreeable, but it’s proven the running costs, servicing fees and five year unlimited kilometre warranty offer not only a weekly operating bill sure to keep the accountant smiling, but peace of mind you can bank on.
Now before you asked, no I am not on the Hyundai pay roll, but I will say this, they certainly have got their act together is recent years. The i30 and i-Series vans are testament to the fact the brand is on the up and up, and although the Sonata is not quite at that level just yet in terms of modern styling, it certainly is both dynamically and technically.
The somewhat uninspiring cabin offers a level of specification on par with similarly priced competitors but is a little more conservative in its approach with styling that almost borders on being drab.
That aside though you will find generously proportioned cloth trimmed seating for five adults, a single CD tuner with auxiliary input, steering wheel mounted audio and cruise control buttons, reading lights, power windows and mirrors, leather covered tilt/slide steering wheel, fog lamps and of course air conditioning.
The blue illumination of the instrument panel and dashboard is rather vivid and can be annoying despite being able to be dimmed. It may look funky at first but is simply not a good colour to distinguish detail at night becoming blurry and confusing when trying to take a quick glance for information.
Importantly though, all the features that are back lit work exceptionally well, are very easy to operate and are simple to understand. I feel this is of crucial necessity in a vehicle that is popular with more senior buyers who can’t be bothered with the complexities of some modern cars.
Under the bonnet a 2.0-litre turbo charged diesel engine motivates the Sonata effortlessly with 110kW of power available at 3,800rpm and a tidy 305Nm of torque on hand from just 1,800rpm. It’s a surprising performer, not shy off the line and will idle over in sixth gear at 100km/h no matter how steep an incline encountered.
The six-speed box, although brilliantly matched to the engine, seems out of place in such a car and although it is a delight to use, I can’t help but wonder just how many buyers will go for it.
There is the availability of a less competent and someone antiquated four-speed automatic transmission, but if you want my advice (assuming shifting gears manually doesn’t bother you) save yourself two grand and buy the more enjoyable manual.
Best of all, and despite my efforts to disprove the theory, Sonata managed an inspiring 7.4 litres per 100km around town and 4.6 litres on the open road. It defies logic really considering the 1,711kg curb weight and even managed to better the ADR claimed consumption figure by almost an entire litre (ADR combined consumption 7.0 litres per 100km).
Ride and handling are on par with expectations of a car this size though the front end does feel a touch heavy when pushed in tighter corners, exaggerating the car’s natural front wheel drive characteristics slightly.
I also found the twelve metre turning circle a little displeasing in tight multi-level car parks often resorting to Austin Powers style parking maneuvers.
Strong braking with a decent pedal feel offer confident stopping wet or dry which is backed with standard ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) featuring Emergency Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution tucked away in those handsome 16″ alloy wheels.
Front, side and curtain airbags, which are standard across the Sonata range, join the safety list along with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and Traction Control to give the Sonata a four-star ANCAP rating.
The large boot, which can still be opened using a key if necessary – something not often seen these days – offers an exceedingly ample 462 litres of space which can be extended even further thanks to 60:40 split fold rear seats.
Should the need arise, Sonata can be optioned with a 1,100kg (braked) tow kit, perfect for towing the caravan or tinny on weekends away. You may want mirror extensions though as the standard mirrors are a little small for the job, especially in terms of height.
It’s a fine class competitor, the diesel option really helps stretch the budget and although it’s a little bland and perhaps behind the times aesthetically I wouldn’t say it’s unattractive.
Easy to live with and easy on the wallet, Sonata CRDi could be the smart answer to the question of your next new sedan.
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 1991cc SOHC four cylinder (24 valve)
- Power: 110kW @ 3800rpm
- Torque: 305Nm @ 1800rpm
- Induction: Turbo Charged Common Rail
- Transmission: Six Speed Manual
- Driven Wheels: Front
- Brakes: Disc with ABS, EBA & EBD
- Top Speed: 200 km/h
- 0-100km/h: 11.65 seconds
- 0-400m: 17.54 seconds
- Fuel Consumption: 7.0 litres / 100km (Combined)
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- ANCAP Rating: Four Star
- Airbags: Front, Side & Curtain
- Safety: ESP with TCS
- Spare Wheel: Full Size Steel
- Tow Capacity: 1,100kg (Braked)
- Turning Circle: 12.0 metres
- Warranty: Five year / Unlimited Kilometre
- Weight: 1,711kg (Tare)
- Wheels: Alloy 16 x 6.5″
Road Test the Rivals:
Print it: 
With so many negatives how can this be 3.5 stars?
The same as the sportswagon got?
Tom,
The ratings are done on a car-by-car basis, and the Sportwagon is hardly a contender against the Sonata.
As you may also notice, the negatives are not as fundamental to the car’s overall make up as those of the negatives.
The rivals for this car are listed at the bottom of the review.
Matt.
Same price as Jetta, but not quite in that league yet (not by a long shot).
4 speed auto – very ancient. Engines with short power bands need 6 speeds.
Now if Hyundai did an “Excel” with this car, and priced it at $22-25,000, they would sell bucketloads. Where it is, they will make massive profits on the few they sell, just enough to fund the spare parts inventory costs.
Jetta is a class or two smaller without as much fruit and dearer for the Diesel(slightly).
Petrol version gets a five speed auto how come?
Six speed for cars with short power bands. Xr6 turbo and ssv have short power bands?
Economy is terrific for this size car and just like the 2.2 turbo diesel Santa Fe. An engine this efficient must be a good thing design wise!
Styling looks pretty inoffensive and not much blander than Aurion. Not a bad looking think in the flesh.
My guess is if u could buy a diesel Aurion it would be 7-8k dearer at least.
On the spare parts and durability front know two examples of high mileage Lantras and no probs owners wouldn’t part with them.
Noticed dash is an improvement over previous model.
By the by I,ve seen the TRD Aurion in Sydney Papers for $49990driveaway
I’m fairly sure a 4 speed auto, and ‘dated apperance’ (considering how a car looks is the number 1 priority for most people) are pretty big negatives.
But hey, thats up to you, this car deserves 3 and a half stars, the sportswagon just deserves 4.
I think the biggest problem with this car is the Kia Magentis (do they offer it in diesel in Australia?). Its the same car, but cheaper. I would be hard pressed not to get a Ford Mondeo or a Mazda 6 over this, even if it did cost a bit more. Obviously a good car, but just like Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons, I’m sure it will lose half its value by being driven out of the showroom, unlike the Mondeo and 6.
Only time will tell as far as resale goes for Mondeo.
More cars on the road the worse the resale. Also top line models hold up a bit better short term but cost more to start.
Mazda 6 has advantage as not many sold is a good car but diesel version as is the case with Mondeo a lot dearer at the same model level as this Sonata.Try 7-8 k. Correct me if wrong.Hang on is Mazda 6 available in diesel here?
4.6 litres on the Highway blows me away even taking into account the extra cost of diesel.
Mazda 6 good car but requires premium unleaded and styling is starting to date IMO. Getting a bit sick of the pointy front look on the Mazdas. CX7 looks weird.
I like the look of the Commodore Sportswagon but doesn’t the plane Jane model come with a four speed auto?
Reckless1 Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
“Same price as Jetta, but not quite in that league yet (not by a long shot).”
Hmmmm… I reckon there might be more than a long shot involved here, I’d say about a million light years.
realcars Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
“By the by I,ve seen the TRD Aurion in Sydney Papers for $49990driveaway”
That’s a national price, as per TMCA’s November bulletin to dealers. Camry 27990, Aurion ATX 30990, Yaris YR 3 dr 14990, all driveaway. Toyota is getting desperate – their prices are starting to come down to Hyundai levels. However, Toyota’s major failing here is no diesel in passenger vehicles. They can’t compete with the rubbish Sonata. Are you reading this TMCA?!? It’s time to start do diesels in passenger vehicles!!!
I dont think i’d say Toyota are getting desperate, if you look back over the last 3 to 4 years those drive away prices have appeared regularly on Camry and Yaris. Although i would agree that they do need a diesel option on Camry and Corolla, and i think it would be a popular option on the latter, even at a 3 to 4K.
Personally I would coin up the extra for the Mondeo…. Better by a country mile and choice of sedan or hatch with more room than the Camry clones.
But the big Question, would the average punter go for the Hyundai with the lot or the HOLDEN (epicrap) with less but a badge (kind of an excuse you could use at the BBQ “No it’s a Holden not really Korean it’s only made there).
Be interesting to compare the two.
Camry has a 5 speed auto and its a piece of junk, have any of you driven one? There is no difference between Hyundai and Toyota lately except Toyota dont offer a cutting edge diesel engine in their models, and charge a lot more for the privlidge. Also the interior fit and finish in the Camry is horrible. Hyundai have overtaken them here. Once people realise this in a few years resale value will improve for Hyundai
Hyundai resales can only improve (for the sonata they couldnt get any worse at the moment).
If i wanted a cheap mid size Korean diesel, then I’d get an Epica and save the price difference.
Why I would want a mid size Korean diesel when there are great cars on offer in the segment, I don’t know.
OK its really economical but very lardy performance. Similar sized cars with similar power crack the 10second barrier easily. Take BMW’s 318D does 9.3’s on 96KW (I think) and still gets 4.9’s/100km
I would consider this car if I was 65 yo.
while we’re on the subject of epica diesel,has anybody noticed the big turbo lag in the new epica…it’s like,bang the loud pedal,nothing,then 2 seconds later the esp’s stopping the front tyres bagging up,the same motor in the craptiva doesn’t…is the hyundai the same…
“1,100kg (braked) tow kit, perfect for towing the caravan” – I don’t think so. 1,100 kg is quite inadequate for towing most caravans. Barely even enough to tow one small horse in a float. What happened to Sonata’s previous rating of 1,700 kg?
Hyundai have all the resources and competitor products available to them so why are most so boring to look at. The camry has really handed the cardigan down with these. I mean that interior? It’s practically a Honda accord from 1999!!
A safe write up CA and hyundais are mostly up to their competitors technically but most people buy cars with up to the minute styling in mind these days so I’m lost as to why the sonata (or grandeur for that matter) dies when put next to mazda’s 6 or ford’s mondeo. We’re heading into 2009 and I really expected the i30’s styling to have rubbed off on its siblings by now.
I made the mistake of buying a leganza 10 years ago, when my second daughter came along, thinking that it made sense. It was the most colorless, lifeless, and excruciatingly boring car to drive, although it compared well to the 626/sonata at the time. I sold it 18 months later and los half the cost price doing it, but I was air-punching just to get out of it. Never again will I buy a car because it makes sense, or on what the reviews say. I’ll put up with some inconvenience to drive something that I want to get into. I wish that wasnt true – I admire people who are happy to drive something just for function – it would save me a lot of money if I could. Love GTR, agreed, but add in my case “and blind, and deaf, and neutered, and dead”.
It is hard to take the review seriously just as it is hard to take the Sonata seriously. The Sonata is clearly a vehicle for those who need a car but do not like driving or even cars, i.e. it is an alternative to a Camry.
Why was the Dodge Avenger, the only attractive car in this category, not mentioned? Very well equipped, a delight to drive and has a diesel with a 6 speed auto.
Fourwheelbikie, as you said, not everyone is a car enthusiast, and as I noted in the review, some older folks appreciate simple motoring. They may wish to take the review seriously, even if you don’t.
Dodge avenger, hahahahahahahahahahahaha, joke, right !!
A friend of mine recently ditched his 3yo Camry and bought a DSG diesel Jetta.
Tooke me half an hour to get a word in edgeways when I bumped into him the other day – he loves it. Can’t believe how bad the Camry really is.
I checked the Hyundai web site and the braked towing capacity is 1100 kg for the 4-speed auto and 1700 kg for the manual. Strangely the 2.4 litre petrol version is rated at 1700 kg for both auto and manual. Furthermore the petrol model gets a 5-speed auto. So the diesel’s auto strikes me as being quite unsatisfactory. The motor seems to be crying out for a DSG style automated manual box. Maybe Hyundai are working on somesuch and stuck in the 4-speed as a stop-gap (non) solution.
Matt,
An interesting reply. You gave the car a very good write up “This could be the smart answer to the question of your next new sedan” and “But looks aside, my justification in bolstering the Sonata’s worth remains. It’s a good, safe car that is great on fuel, eager to perform and adequately comfortable – not to mention affordable”. In a competitve market, you have to justify this praise. I do not think you can, but we are each entitled to our opinions.
Further “There is the availability of a less competent and someone antiquated four-speed automatic transmission, but if you want my advice (assuming shifting gears manually doesn’t bother you) save yourself two grand and buy the more enjoyable manual.” Very few manuals are purchased today as in city driving, an automatic is far superior. You recommend a manual for enjoyment on a car you think is for people who don’t like driving? Does not make sense. A manual in a sporting car for country drives – yes. Not for an everyday sedan.
I was on holiday in Singapore last month. I saw the Hyundai Sonata being used as taxis over there. Come to think of that, Sonata’s styling really suits it to be a taxi being totally bland and nondescript on the road!
Hello everyone,
First of all, I love reading CA as it seems to be less biased than some car mags/websites.
I also love to read all these blogs written by people. From my observation, there are two types of people here.
The people giving a decent/realistic view on the car here are those who actually have purchased or driven the actual car and the other half are those who complain and drag down a car without having driven one.
Commonsense tells you that to make a valid opinion, you should/must drive the car. Otherwise please keep the whining to a minimum and increase personal opinions on what you actually see…and not what you’re imagining.
My opinion of this car is that it’s not bad. Like the review, it is a car worth considering. I have driven one for 1 year as my company car. If I was to compare this car to a 3 series BMW then yes, I would have endless amount of negative comments about this car, HOWEVER if I was to compare this car to my current car (Mazda 6) it’s not that far off the pace. If you want to argue about it then drive the 2 cars and then tell me…keeping in mind that I am not a race driver. I just make my daily commute to work and occasionally go for a long drive to the Hunter Valley.
In hindsight, the lack of popularity of Hyundai’s in Oz is the fact that our market is just bloody too small. Hence the Hyundais having a poorer ride due to the company not spending millions in making the suspensions to the local settings. In the US or Europe it is a different story altogether. For any business to make $’s you have to have a profitable return in order to invest.
So, stop whining and I challenge those -ve’s to actually spend some money buying NEW cars so that our Aussie market will be prominent in all manufacturer’s.