Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Hyundai Sonata Hyundai Sonata vs. Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry vs. Ford Fusion 
2824 messages, Last post on Feb 06, 2006 at 6:12 PM
You are in the Hyundai Sonata Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
Now that the 2005 Sonata has been out for a good month and change, i think this comparison makes sense. I have driven all three cars recently since i'm planning to buy a new family car and all three cars are very good to be qualified as genuine family cars(quiet, quality and not overly sporty(no offense mazda 6 or altima owners)) but after making my analysis i have my mind only on one unless otherwise. I would also like to hear your compararo analysis which will help me with my decision. Styling : Sonata Elantra + Audi A6 = Sonata. Hyundai even has admitted they borrowed many cues from the Audi, i even tend to believe this car would make Audi proud. Very clean, classy and will age very well. Honda looks ok, some design cues don't work together very well. Same goes for the Camry, and i hate it how the wheels look so small on this car. Not very tasteful Interior: Sonata The layout was very good, good materials, alot more room and comapared to the accord or camry, has a more airy classy feel to it. Sonata was slightly more quieter on idle and while driving, but all three cars are pretty quiet in general. Accord has a more sporty appeal, but felt like it was tight compared to the sonata or camry. Camry feels roomy, and even though the interior is of high quality, there is no class about it. Engine : Accord 4 cylinder Fantastic engine that feels like has an added turbo, that kicks in when needed. Smooth revving and a great transmission to go along with it. Camry pulls well but nothing fancy nor does it have any extra juice, but all the time driving it , i thought about the engine, i thought about quality. Sonata has the same feel as the camry. Honda wins Driving: Even All three cars are very good in absorbing bumps and are quiet. Camry though has a numb center that bothered me little while driving on the 70 zone. Accords engine made straight driving a pleasure, and the sonata's added quietness made me feel as i was driving a much more expensive car. essentially no outside noise or engine vibrations could be heard Handling: Sonata Accords handing is good, but it lacks the elastic feel on its steering. The turning is a little absurb and too eager to please. Camry has the worst handling out of the three, and i just felt really nervous especially if a quick lane change was needed for some reason. Sonata's steering is a little light, but when u try to make a quick change it does not disappoint. I was frankly amazed how composed it was when changing lanes even though on standstill doesn't feel like it has any athletic abilities. I personally liked the way they designed it this way, and has a poor mans mazda 6 steering feel. Intaginbles: Sonata More room, more equipment and a large trunk. Accord doesn't have much of an intaginble unless the H emblem means something and the Camry has the biggest trunk out of three and also feels roomy. But the sonata i think did some more homework, and put alot more effort in general. Price: Sonata even with the rebates offered for the Accord or Camry, sonata still was over a grand cheaper and had more bells and whistles that came with it. Better value for a car on such par with the accord or camry. So basically in my analysis the sonata is the winner. The accords heart, its engine is a teaser, but everything else about it turns me off. Camry's steering feel scares me in general, but it is a nice family car for those who like to take their time driving. I have heard about the mid cycle changes happening soon for both Accord and Camry, and when asking the sales man about changes to the car other then exterior and interior look and some extra add ons, everything else(like driving dynamics, engine etc) will stay the same. I'm thinking about the silver Sonata 4 cylinder with 17 inch rims option for it. I welcome any other analysis
|
|
|
Last week, I had the chance to take a test drive a fully loaded Sonata LX and was very impressed. Over the weekend, I was at Philadelphia Park Racetrack for a Hyundai sponsored and very enjoyable competitive assessment program; the Accord EX V6 and Camry XLE V6 were on hand (as well as many Sonatas). Overall, I'd say the Sonata is the victor, especially at 3K less than the other two. Snaking through the pylons as quickly as I could, I found the Sonata LX, with its V6 and well programmed stability control, the easiest to pilot, and the most forgiving. The steering is well weighted and the 17 inch tires provided good grip. The steering didnt feel particularly quick, however, and body roll was less contained than in the Accord. The Accord easily provided the best steering feel, with good feedback and sharp response. BUT- even having driven the Accord three times around the same track, I really didnt feel as confident. Without any available stability system, it felt too easy to break tire adhesion and rotate the rear end. The tires were unimpressive and the car felt as if it 'slid' around the course more than it did feel as if it was negotiating it. The Camry XLE V6 surprised me. I thought it was going to feel like a barge, but decent tire grip and the VSC (which beeps very annoyingly when activated) helped me cut clean lines. The steering is more similar to the Sonata's than the Accord, but the VSC is more intrusive than in the Sonata (which is typical of Toyota systems). It was not sporty, but it felt more reassuring than the Accord. In terms of acceleration, the Accord literally LEAPS off the line. The Sonata is similar, but subjectively, it felt like the Accord might beat it by a few ticks through the quarter. The 210 horse Camry didnt slingshot out of the gates like the other two, but it felt plenty strong, and theres a new Camry around the corner in 9 months. (Plus, theres the 225 horse variant that wasnt at the test drive). Braking would seem to go to the Sonata, IMO, with decent but not outstanding pedal feel but what felt like plenty of stopping power. The Accord's pedal is outstanding, but of the three vehicles, it felt as though it had the LEAST raw braking power.... ie.. I got the impression it would stop last. The Camry's pedal is softish at the beginning of its travel. I found it amusing that twice I had to abort driving agressively because the folks in front of me were driving so slow that I caught up to them. For the rest of you who attend this event, HAVE FUN! You can be gentle when you buy the car, lol. I also drove the Sonata GL 4cylinder around a course that did not feature a competitor. It was fine, but really, the V6 is such a gem in refinement and power that I really cant see purchasing the 4. Around the cones, it had noticeably more limited tire grip than the LX, and I found the 4 speed transmission easily perplexed when I nailed the accelerator, as compared to the V6's 5 speed. I dont believe that this 4 cylinder would clock times like the Altima or Accord 4s, perhaps maybe on par with the Camry, but even in the Camry I can get the tires to bark off the line without brake torqueing. (And yes, I know the Sonata has TC, but it didnt activate on the start). Thats all the time I have now, but I'll post my impressions on interior and room based on my dealership test drive shortly. Overall, this is a winner among the mainstream sedans, IMO, but moreso in V6 guise. The 4 cylinder is good, but it doesnt stand out as does the 3.3L. ~alpha |
|
|
Do you think VSA and 17" tires would have made a difference on the Accord EX V6 ? (two features that will probably make it onto the MY06 Accord in about 2 months) If I was in the market for the Sonata V6, I would wait at least 7-12 months (new plant, new model, new engine, etc.). Also by that time, the new Camry and better deals will be available. If I was in market for the 4-cylinder and didn't mind Hyundai's omission of folding-mirrors (like we do), I would go for it, but based on Alpha's review, the 4-cylinder appears to fall short in some areas so the V6 may be the one to get. ~bklynguy
|
|
|
Replying to: choe13 (Jun 19, 2005 2:23 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: bklynguy (Jun 20, 2005 11:26 am) FWIW, I didnt say or intend to imply that the 4 cylinder falls short. It is definitely ON PAR with the 4 cylinder Camrys and Accords that Ive driven. However, it isnt necessarily the huge leap forward that the V6 is. Best value, IMO, is the GLS V6 w/ Premium Sport Pkg. ~alpha
|
|
| Which sonata did you buy and what did you get it for? I'm trying to decide between the sonata, accord and altima. So far, I've received a quote on a V6 Sonata with cloth and sunroof for 21875 including taxes and tags. | |
| Afwun, I moved your post to our Sonata Prices Paid & Buying Experience discussion since that's the best place for it. Here's the link - afwun, "Hyundai Sonata: Prices Paid & Buying Experience" #465, 27 Jul 2005 2:07 pm - congrats on your new ride! | |
| Anyone know if the Sonata has been crashed tested? If it has the same or better ratings than Accord, this would be a great car to have. | |
| for changing to 2006 sonata. | |
You are here:
Forums
Sedans Hyundai Sonata Hyundai Sonata vs. Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry vs. Ford Fusion
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2011 Hyundai Sonata
2010 Honda Accord
2010 Toyota Camry
2010 Ford Fusion
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
