Home - Automobile Reviews - 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 Long-Term Test Update No. 14
2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 Long-Term Test Update No. 14
Top-Tier Safety Makes the Sonata a Sound Bet
One of the reasons why Hyundai continually keeps its Sonata on top of the sales charts is because when developing the new model its engineers occupied themselves as much with safety as its designers focused on style. The result of their preoccupation are top marks in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) front and side impact crash tests, achieving a five-star rating; the best performance possible*. The Sonata also scores well in rollover resistance tests, managing a slightly less than ideal four-star rating.
The Sonata scored well, partially due to its six standard airbags, including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags, plus active front-seat head restraints. | | Hyundais engineers occupied themselves as much with safety as its designers focused on style when developing the new Sonata. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) |
Additional passive safety features include shingle-style rear seat head restraints for improved visibility, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, front-seat seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, and a rear-seat LATCH system for child seats; the latter items also extremely easy to use. Interestingly, the cost of prepping the Sonata for the NHTSAs tests included internally crash testing 300 | | The Sonata achieves near perfect NHTSA crash test results. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
new Sonatas in both front and side collisions.
Fortunately, our long-term Sonata GLS V6 hasnt had to endure a crash test; an experience that none of our West Coast journalists would want to encounter. Rather, we just like driving it, something we more of during the past two weeks than we have in recent months. When we last updated the log entries, a total of 4,714 miles were on the odometer. Now it reads 5,164 miles, for a total of 450 miles added. While this may not seem like a great deal of driving to some, | | During the past two weeks weve added 724 kilometers to the odometer. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
it would equal almost 12,000 miles per year if sustained - about average. And now, for more detailed coverage, here are the logs:
Odometer: 4,751 miles
Trevor: After ridding ourselves of the smart coupe, a literal nonstarter, we received yet another smart fortwo, this time a cabriolet model. Fortunately it started each and every time, resulting in the only smart vehicle weve had in the test pool yet that has run without problem - one out of four isnt bad. Just the same, its rather tiny dimensions meant | | The Sonata and its all-seasons were turned away thanks to slippery conditions on the way up to the local ski resort - traction and stability control would have made it more acceptable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) ? |
it stayed in the garage most of the week starting March 13th and ending on the 20th, causing us to rack up more miles on our Sonata as well as our other tester. Interestingly, when needing to take my five-year old son up to our local ski hill for his second day of lessons, the road conditions were so slippery, according to the parks entry gate sentries, that the Sonata and its all-seasons were turned away. After meeting up with Jennifer to trade vehicles - she was down the road in a new Pontiac Torrent crossover - I had no problem getting through | | While I like Pontiacs Torrent, the Sonata is faster, smoother, and generally more comfortable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
past the guards. Although the Torrent was only equipped with front-wheel drive, just like the Sonata, its tires were better suited to snow and ice while its traction and stability control made climbing the steep grade much easier than the Sonata would have been. While traction and stability control is available as part of a premium package, our long-term Sonata GLS V6 wasnt optioned out to include such safety features, therefore it sat at home while I went up and down the mountain multiple times that week. While this was frustrating, I can understand why Hyundai doesnt simply make traction and stability control standard, being that it would be the only car | | The Sonata regularly needs cleaning thanks to this little munchkin. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
in its class that did, causing the Sonatas price to be less competitive than it is.
Odometer: 4,800 miles
Jennifer: Ive been spending a lot more time in the Sonata now that Trevor needs the SUV to drive Kaden to ski lessons, which is fine by me. While I like the Torrent, the Sonata is faster, smoother, and generally more comfortable. The lack of traction control can be a bit embarrassing when taking off quickly, however, as sometimes its powerful engine produces wheel-spin which causes all passersby and adjacent drivers to stare. While Ive never been one to shy away from attention, making a name for smoky burnouts has never been part of my personal mandate.
 | | The Torrent is a bit of a slug when right foot hits the pedal and its refinement, especially the drivetrain, leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the Sonatas velvety smooth V6 and five-speed automatic. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? | | />Odometer: 4,824 miles
Jennifer: Time for a cleaning, the Sonata has been the sole family hauler all week and therefore has suffered through a number of in-car lunches. Im usually fairly good at getting the food into my mouth even when behind the wheel, but Kaden (5) and Anika (2) are a little less adept. Kaden is capable of doing so, and normally doesnt drip all over himself unless engrossed in the meal to the point his mind is lost in the moment, although hell toss his garbage aside without a care as soon as that food is ingested and he no longer has use for its containers. Anika, on the other hand, is only in the initial stages of physical coordination despite having | | Too bad the Range Rover Sport Supercharged had to go back, as it would have made a good replacement for when Trevor has to take the Sonata to the airport. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
the vocabulary of a five-year old, the result of which is all-too-often goop running down the side of the car seat, pooling up underneath. The sorry state of the seating surface when the child safety seat is finally removed can be shocking, but thanks to a durable leather covering, it washes easily without a trace of evidence. That washing process, mind you, is what our long-term Sonata now needs. Trevor!!! Where is he when you need him?
Odometer: 4,854 miles
Trevor: Yes dear? OK, Id admit to being whipped if it were true, but in reality I cant stand driving around in something dirty so I just have to clean it out. Jennifer knows this, of course, and therefore makes sure to "need" the other car when the Sonata gets particularly nasty. Still, like Jennifer | | While the Sonatas trunk is pretty large for a sedan, I miss the functionality of an SUV. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)? |
was alluding to, cleaning the goop off the seats didnt take long and resulted in like-new gray leather, although getting the dirt out of the carpets took a little more work. All the same, it was good to get into the Sonata drivers seat after a few days with the Torrent. Its not that I dont like Pontiacs new crossover SUV, I actually like it quite a bit; but its a bit of a slug when right foot hits the pedal and its refinement, especially the drivetrain, leave a lot to be desired. The Sonata, on the other hand, is about as refined as this class gets.
Odometer: 4,918 miles
Jennifer: Ive been busy, sorry for not writing much in the last hundred or so kilometers. Just the same, there hasnt been much to write about. Its now the weekend, so weve been tripping around town a lot. Now Trevors preparing for a rather long four-day trip to the | | The driving position is comfortable, but the seats would be nicer if you sat in them rather than on top of them. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)? |
nations capital, one that he now informs me will require him to leave the Sonata at the airport. I wonder what Ill be stuck with.
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