2003 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6

However, you don't get something for nothing, and what the Sonata lacks is the refinement of the some of the competition, particularly the Accord and Camry. The car is solid, well-built, and things generally line up well, but it doesn't display that near-fanatical attention to detail of fit and finish you find in, say, the Accord. For one thing, and this may not matter to or even be noticeable by some people, but on the Sonata we drove some of the interior plastic panels seemed off in color coordination; kind of like arriving home with wallpaper that came from different dye lots, and some of those different-colored panels didn't line up quite right. Still, the interior is an entirely decent place to sit for a ride, with plenty of room for front and rear passengers, and all the conveniences of features and storage spots you'd like to have at your disposal. And out back is a generous trunk with one of those nice over-center hinge mechanisms so the lid lifts up and out of the way.

A 2.7L V-6 is willing and able to move the Sonata briskly with traffic.

The powertrain, while willing and able to move the Sonata briskly with traffic—remember, we're talking about the V6 here, the four would be expected to be a little pokey—also lacks the smooth, quiet and eager-to-go refinement of the Accord and Camry. The automatic features a manual override that allows the driver to upshift or downshift by tapping the gear lever incrementally; it's handy for holding a selected gear while driving on twisting roads in hilly terrain. While little about the Sonata is aimed at spirited driving, that's not the point. The Sonata does everything with competence and gets down the highway with smoothness, comfort and easy stability. No Sonata owner will find any unpleasant surprises.


What will likely be most pleasant is the Sonata's terrific value. At well under twenty grand, the GLS V6 we drove represents a lot of car for your transportation dollar. Figure in the peace-of-mind of a warranty that will outlast the payments and there are a lot of reasons to like the Hyundai Sonata. (www.hyundaiusa.com)