Hyundai YF Sonata breaks Korean sales record

By Tim Beissmann | January 14th, 2010

The new Hyundai Sonata (codenamed the YF) has set a sales record in its domestic market of South Korea with more than 100,000 contracts signed since the car hit showrooms in September last year.

Translating to more than 1000 vehicles per day, the popularity of the all-new mid-sized sedan has secured 10 months of sales for Hyundai.

The new Sonata, which shares its “fluidic sculpture” design language with the all-new ix35 compact SUV Tucson replacement, is due to enter the Australian market in the first half of this year.

Hyundai Australia’s director of marketing, Oliver Mann, said the record has made him even more eager to get the YF to Australia.

“This is an exciting result, and we can’t wait to see how Australian buyers react to the car’s bold design,” Mr Mann said.

Australia is likely to get the Sonata with the 148kW 2.4-litre direct injection petrol engine, while a 121kW 2.0-litre unit available in selected markets is another possibility.

A 125kW 2.5-litre CRDi diesel is also on the drawing board, with full specification and pricing details to be revealed closer to the car’s launch.

Shak

This is a very good car like its predecessor, but the thing that will kill it is no marketing. Like the previous Maxima, the marketing want there and that failed. Hyundai need to market this like Kia is marketing their products. Give one to all the local mags and websites and let them decide. Or put a lot of them in Airport fleets.

Elizabeth Langley

No Market you joking, a luxury style car that you don’t have to pay 70 – 80K for? Kia is crap it has the worst record for reliability I have several mechanics who say they might be cheap but steer clear of them. Toyota is complacent in the market and are reeling from that with the recent bad press and recalls. This is something new and exicting and people are placing orders for it! read the press, Hyundai had to change its whole production strategy to cope with demand. I30 is a success. Shak I think you need to rethink the whole game.

Ken

Elizabeth, you do realise that Hyundai own KIA and their components are shared between them don’t you? If reliablity is an issue with KIA, you would expect that to be the same with Hyundai considering the components are identical. Reliability reports for both these makes are quite good in fact. The old KIA’s that had reliability issues are long gone and the new generation of KIA’s don’t suffer with reliability anymore. Read the reports for the new models on the web.
I have owned several KIA’s over the years and not one has given me a reason not to buy this make again. I service them at the dealer by the book and it keeps on going without trouble.
I think the Sonata/I45 is a nice car personally and if I was looking at a medium size sedan, I would definately take a closer look.

Fenno

Sonata’s have chagned everyyear since they first were release (almost) and every time they bring one out it looks like it was styled of another vehicle. This one looks like an accord at the back with 3 series taillights and Liberty headlights…

Whitbomb07

Every car will always have a hint of something else in it. Get over it Fenno. Very rarely will a car be made that is completely unique in EVERY single possible way, it’s way too hard to do with such a platform (4 wheels and an engine) There’s only so much that you can do.

Regards

Whitbomb07
Paul

What are you on? This car looks amazing. Nothing like what you have described.

Deco

Can someone clarify to me the size of this car? Is it midsize, i.e. Mazda 6/ mondeo competitor or is it small?

HM

It is about Mondeo size or slightly bigger than Mazda 6.
Howard

This is the Specification of Hyundai YF Sonata. It seem like bit bigger than Mazda6 or Ford Mondeo.

Hyundai YF Sonata

Length(mm) : 4,820
Width(mm) : 1,835
Height(mm) : 1,470
Wheel Base(mm) : 2,795

Mazda 6 Luxury Hatch

Length(mm) : 4,735
Width (mm) : 1,795
Height(mm) : 1,440
Wheel Base(mm) : 2,725

Ford Mondeo

Length(mm) : 4,778
Width (mm) : 1,886
Height(mm) : 1,500
Wheel Base(mm) : 2,850

Whitbomb07

Pity it’s taking so long to get here (just like the ix35).

So much for either of the ‘R’ engines being in it………Not that I’m complaining can’t wait to see the figures for this 2.5 CRDi, hopefully it’ll be a Mazda 6 MZR-CD killer.

150+KW 500+Nm?

Regards

Whitbomb07

Devil’s Advocate

Howdy Bomb, the article mentioned in the last paragraph that the 2.5 CRDi on the drawing board only produces 125kW. Kind of confusing considering the 2.2L in the Santa Fe/Sorrento is mid 140kW+. I guess time will tell…

Whitbomb07

I didn’t notice that the first time I read it, second time I thought it was an error and is either incorrect or a typo (ie 152KW which would make alot more sense)

I’d say it’s more likely that either or both R’s will be what’s put in it, as this was what has been stated previously. Possibly the 2.0 petrol they refer too is in fact the 2.0 R? As the power figures match (125KW).

Regards

Whitbomb07

Baddass

Very good results for Hyundai, and this sharp suited car deserves it.
Tinman

WOW! This should definately stand out from the crowd. I wonder if they are staying with the double wishbone front end and stepping up to the new 6 speed auto.
These guys are not getting serious, they’re already there.
nomateno

so sick of the f-ags (FENNO) saying how hyundai just copies designs???
look at the lexus’ new RX, KIA’s new sorrento and the honda accord euro…
look at lexus’ GS and Merc Benz E class…
look at KIA’s old sorrento and Merc Benz NEW M class…

and now Hyundai’s new sonata 2010…with subaru’s new liberty 2010…and all of peugeot’s headlights…

so FENNO…do you have anything else to say? how about ASTON MARTIN’s, BENTLEY’s and MINI’s badges???

AUDI and…Its similarity to the Olympic rings caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in Rochester, MN small claims Court in 1995.

yea mate,

Golfschwein

So why not chuck a tanty instead of putting up a solid discussion? Oh wait! You already have!

Simon

Golfie, while what you say is completely true, sarcasm doesn’t suit you.

Byron

Can’t wait for it to come here. Sales results should be interesting. Great Exterior/Interior & Great Engines = A great car. Go Hyundai
Captain Mainwaring

This car will be a major success in every market it enters. But why would the 2.5 diesel only put out 125kW when the 2.2 in the Tuscon/Sorento already has 145? Why not just use the 2.2?
Tony

more importantly compare this to a camry

there simply is no comparison… especially the interior

i definitely am no fan of 1,5 ton four cylinder cars but this is the best of a bad bunch… why would you buy a camry?
Andrew M

Looks well styled……..

This will kill Mondeo and Mazda6 on price point.
Mondeo and Mazda are actually an expensive bit of kit.

Cheap cars are in, but I reckon it must be further hurting an already wounded 2nd hand cars division
Kds

It’s uglier than a fisted bum

Matt

I don’t agree but I love that expression lmao
mmmmmmmmmm

wow, you must be very flexible in front of your mirror

Callous Aussie

Nice car. I reckon it will easily outsell the current car here in Aus. The only stumbling block will be people’s ignorance.

o

Hyundai has already said it wont be called sonata here. I think it will be called i45

Callous Aussie

That doesn’t surprise me . The current Sonata didn’t sell well so that is smart business planning. They are about to introduce the i10 and i20 also ,so it will complete the passenger car linage.

I am guessing the santefe replacement will be the ix45 as the Tuscon replacement is the ix35. It won’t be long until the i45 has a decent diesel in its line up too.
Robin Graves

I think its i40. The current Sonata is on sale in some countries as the i40

whitbomb07

i40 is currently the name used o/s for the stationwagon equivalent of this. Hyundai Aus wants to use i40 but there is doubt whether it will be approved as it may cause confusion between sedan and station wagon versions.

So I’d say they’ll probably go for i45 (or maybe just keep YF?) and possibly later on we’ll see the station wagon i40 get here aswell.

Regards

Whitbomb07

Valet Dabess

if i had the money, would i buy it? no
Simon

Looks good. I’m sure it will drive reasonably well, but go well?
Please Hyundai – bring a performance car to OZ. One that handles well and doesn’t cost the earth. If anyone can do it, Hyundai can – and that would put a big cat amongst the pidgeons.
Genesis anyone?
http://www.caradvice.com.au/53209/hyundai-yf-sonata-breaks-korean-sales-record/ Paulo

Hyundai need to drive a few Mitzi’s and get there suspension right. Last Sonata I test drove was horrendously bad at cornering. Put me right off, even my current car [Honda Accord V6] is better
HyundaiSmoke

The American version of this car will be more equipped and have more standard and optional fuel Economy and Horsepower than a Buick Regal.

The American version of this car is a near luxury car, not an economy car like Accord and Camry. Hyundai here in the US is becoming a Near Luxury company (Chrysler, Buick, Mercury, Opel), the same will happen over down under too.

Base Regal HP-183 30 MPG
Base Sonata HP=201 35 MPG

Regal GS=255 HP 29 MPG
Sonata SE=275 HP 35 MPG

Regal will come with Cloth seating standard, Sonata wont.
HyundaiSmoke

Genesis Products will come down under in a couple of years dont worry guys. Hyundai is trying a few tings as it goes upmarket. The Hyundai CEO said last week “We want Hyundai to be seen as a Legitimate Luxury Company, and we will work on it.” Just like Hyundai developed itself to be a competent Economy car company, now they are working on becoming a Luxury Company.

However, it wont take them 20 years they can do it in 10.

Frm an American viewpoint, I think the i20 is a superior car in everyway to the Merc A class. Not a good an as Audi A2, but better than Merc A-class. Both have leather/Leather-cloth. Both are about the same size. i20 has more power and better fuel economy. Both have interiors that mix the cheap and upmarket together.

In the US Hyundai will go after MINI with their veloster which is unofficial yet, but most details of that car point to it being the next gen Accent hatch.
Same size as an Accent hatch, it will use the same powertrains as the next Accent Sedan. The next Gen Accent sedan looks like a baby version of the Sonata.
Aviator

Hyundai should focus on doing the mass car market well but with a more stylish and sportier edge than Toyota. I like how Mazda have designed their vehicles, however Hyundai have the advantage over Mazda with better engines and better technical design.
Robj

Here why I wound’t consider this car:

1. They a still not a premium brand. They think they are.

2. Bland styling designed for the mass market. Camry buyers. Nothing special.

3. No soul or passion for he brand or its customers.

Its whitegoods

Whitbomb07

Then Sir you are one of the most ingnorant posters I have seen on this site……..

Epic Fail on your part, I’d love to be there on the day you realise that you have to eat your own words, and it’s a lot closer than your ignorance chooses to believe.

But you just keep up your badge snobbery………..

Regards

Whitbomb07

HyundaiSmoke

Aviator that’s what KIA is for smart guy. Our KIA will be a sportier smarter, more reliable and a better more relevant to the times Toyota. 2 Economy brands under the same roof cannibalizing each other’s sales was foolish.

Both of the brands had to do something.

Think about this:

Just on Hyundai alone, as you guys talk about high gas prices, and international events making them that way tied to a “New Normal” Economy, Hyundai’s future is super bright as it goes upmarket.

Ill Explain:

Hyundai is the most fuel efficient automake in the US already. Could you imagine 5-10 years from now, here comes Hyundai the savior of the High Volume luxury Market with their highly fuel effieicent and reliable powertrains? As the years go by the cars become more sophisticated, and they keep the prices relatively low the following that “Frugality” thing.

Hyundai is totaly banking on High Gas Prices.

They have the bandwith like Benz, why waste Billions on a Luxury brand, when you can acutally make even more money through a global upmarketing scheme of the Hyundai brand itself.

Look at Hyundai Europe, the i20 is as good as a Merc A class in interior fit and finish, and the Merc A-class is about $7500 more. It has more powerful and Fuel efficient powertrains than the Benz too. US will get small cars functoning in this manner like this and the Europeans will get the big Sedans. Its s much cheaper, and with a more diverse customer choice and option range, you can make more money.

Taking 20 years to build Hyundai into a Premier Luxury name is cheaper and will make tons more money, than a $2 Billion Dollar Mistake (That could be a $20 Billion Dollar Mistake if things get really bad on the gas price front) thein building another useless RWD Luxury Brand.

The changes to the rest of the brands will happen as well. Have some imagination. Most of you didnt see Bye bye: Saturn, Pontiac, SAAB, Chrysler (Almost), Hummer, Volvo (almost), etc… I saw this Years ago.

I saw it coming. Those brands are very irrelevant to the times we live in, and they couldnt be modified to fit that role either to be more modern. Like Beer, Potato Chips, etc… Cars have a Brand dying-off period too.

Guess what???!!!

THE TIME IS NOW!!!!!

You guys are the most ignorant lot Ive ever seen.

Tinman

Go you little crystal balling septic tank!

Robin Graves

Seppos dont get the Septic Tank thing. They tend to spill out as much effluent as the real thing tho!

Hyundai and Kia are on the way up tho – big time.

Andrew M

Maybe Hyundais fuel consumption as a company is quite low, but you must consider the likes of GM, Toyota and Ford have truck ranges, and sell masses of them in the US.
I would be interested to see those sort of figures reflected amongst classes rather than the whole of a company. Perhaps just concentrate on passenger car averages to start with…
Im sure if Toyota dumped their truck range overnight you wouldnt see hyundai top the average. Even the typical US makes in GM and especially Ford are starting to be bench marks in passenger economy.

Those sort of stats never really give a clear picture when talking advancements

HyundaiSmoke

Hyundai leads in US small car fuel economy as well. As noted on the EPA website. KIA has more trucks than Hyundai so they were ranked 3 MPG lower than Hyundai.

The Whole point of the study was to influence policy to get rid of as many trucks as possible. Trucks are a big contributor to the problems here in the States. We dont need that many trucks from these brands in the first place. The car companies show why the average Joe needs some type of lmited but neccessary government intervention. If we let the market dictate condtions, we will end up another lost civilization bannished to the annals of insignificance only for some historian to dig us up 1000 years from now, to say “How stupid were these assholes.”

Think of the Frog boiling slowly in water experiment, but this time we are the Frog, and the boiling water is the Earth.

Elizabeth Langley

People speak such rubbish about Hyundai not selling cars, or that this one is better than that one. End of the day Hyundai has been in business for 20 years, one manufacturing site can churn out 1.6million cars a year. I say those numbers tell me regardless of the Australia market for which global we are small potatoe, they will succeed. go out and try the car, if you like, buy the car simple principle really>