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Posted on: Aug 18 2007

Hyundai Sonata Embera

Hyundai's new value for money Embera is considerably larger than the old 'Jag-Sonata.' Hyundai's focus is on taking the crown away from the Honda Accord. Is the Embera upto the task?

Design, Engineering and Interiors:
The new Sonata does not seek to attract attention to itself; restrained elegance is more its design mantra. This is sure to make it more attractive to traditional buyers that want to make a statement, without being loud. A full-sized bonnet, high-mounted Audi A6-like headlights, Accord-like tail lamps and clean, perfectly proportioned lines give the Sonata a handsome stance.

The Sonata uses a double wishbone front suspension and an independent suspension at the rear, while safety equipment like ABS brakes and two airbags are standard. The car feels least impressive on the inside, and this is a shame. An attractive design and good quality are let down by a few low-rent parts like the aircon controls, the steering wheel, gear stick and instrument panel. The front seats are comfortable with plenty of legroom, and one of the most comfortable rear seats in this class. You sit at a good height, under-thigh support is excellent and so is seatback rake and support.

Performance, Fuel Economy and Handling:  
The Embera motor is more powerful than the Honda Accord’s at 160bhp, but performance is not much better. The Tiptronic automatic transmission is marginally slower to respond than the Accord’s and because it has one less gear — it is a four speed — there is not as much power put down to the road as could have been. Also, the engine feels strained at the top of its powerband and labours along, thus robbing performance.

Go for the five-speed manual; it’s quicker, power is more accessible and it is a better drive overall. A hundred kph comes up in 11.57seconds (on the automatic), so it is adequately brisk. The Sonata is also a strong cruiser thanks to its refined ‘Theta’ engine which was developed jointly with DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi. This motor is smooth in the lower half of the powerband and pulls well at these engine speeds too; partially due to the variable valve timing system.

Fuel economy is not too bad either with the car returning 7.4kpl in the city and 10.4kpl on the highway. It also rides much better on its long travel, recalibrated-for-India suspension. Bumps are absorbed better than the Accord, but, the Hyundai gets upset by large, deep bumps. The steering is well-weighted, but the car isn’t an enthusiastic handler and needs to be coaxed into tight bends.

Verdict:
The capable Embera has a lot going for it. It rides well, has very comfortable rear seats and is very refined at low engine speeds. Which make for a great chauffeur driven car. It also lacks that luxury car feel, but like most Hyundai's, it is surprisingly good value for money, reliable and backed by the company's huge service network. The understated styling is just a bonus.
Source: autocarindia.com