Hyundai Sonata Takes on the Accord and Camry

[BMWDave]

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Comparison Test: Hyundai Sonata Takes on the Accord and Camry

Introduction
By John DiPietro
Date posted: 07-18-2005

We've been recommending the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry for years, decades even. Yes, there are other family sedans out there, even ones that provide a more entertaining drive or more style. But when overall quality, passenger comfort, reliability and longevity are paramount, the conversation always comes back to the two benchmarks, Accord and Camry.

But of late, these benchmarks are creeping up the price ladder. Load an Accord or a Camry up with a V6, leather upholstery and a premium stereo and you're looking at a sticker approaching $30K. Walk into a Honda or Toyota dealership with around $20 grand to spend and you're going to get something completely different. We began to wonder if we could find a worthy, affordable alternative to the acknowledged segment leaders. Specifically, we asked, is the all-new Hyundai Sonata, high expectations and all, ready to compete at the top?

Family Sedans on a Budget
Our Edmunds experts tell us that, as of June 2005, the average transaction price for a midsize sedan was almost $22,000. Thus, in the spirit of affordability, we asked Honda and Toyota to send us the best Accord and Camry they could for under $22,000. At that moderate price point, we got two cars with four-cylinder engines, cloth interiors and few options. We received a 2005 Honda Accord LX with a price of $21,240 and a 2005 Toyota Camry LE that ran $21,683. With their solid reputations as well-built, reliable cars and being the top two best-selling cars in the U.S. for most of the past 20 years, it's not like they have to have a huge value proposition to win over buyers.

Then we tossed in the wild card. We called Hyundai with the same request. Instead of a stripped-down sedan we got an all-new 2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS. It had V6 power, six airbags, a premium stereo and electronic stability control all standard. It had a sticker price of just $20,895 and looked pretty good, too.

Born in the U.S.A.
Interestingly, all three of these "foreign" cars are actually built right here in the States. The Sonata is being built at an all-new plant in Alabama, Honda's been building Accords in Ohio for over 20 years and Toyota has been making Camrys in Kentucky since 1988.

During our week with the cars, we subjected this trio to the typical duties of commuting, taking the kids to lessons and shopping for groceries. We also took them to the track for acceleration, braking and slalom testing. What were we looking for? The family sedan with the best combination of passenger accommodations, safety and luxury features, performance, overall quality and value.

It's Official, Hell Freezes Over
Mark this year down in the history books as the year Hyundai got serious. Not only is the Sonata as nice as the Accord and Camry, it's quite a bit better in many key areas.

Hop inside the Sonata, shut the door (which closes with a solid "whump") and check out the materials and textures. Fiddle with the climate controls and they move smoothly. Drive the car and the same sense of refinement continues. Bumps are absorbed without drama, steering and brakes feel sure and precise, the V6 provides effortless thrust, and the ride is smooth.
In the end, it wasn't even close. Yes, our editors' evaluation forms showed the Sonata just edging out the Accord, but in the areas of performance and features, the Hyundai won in a landslide. Next thing you know, they'll be selling space heaters in Lucifer's 'hood.

First Place: 2006 Hyundai Sonata
By now you've figured out that our collective socks have been knocked off by the 2006 Hyundai Sonata. If you scrutinized the car as closely as we did, and had the opportunity to live with all three cars for a week like we did, we're sure that, yes, you, too, would've been rendered barefoot after the experience.

Swimming in the Mainstream
In terms of styling, Hyundai chose to take a safe and proven route. There's nothing groundbreaking here, just clean, crisp lines with a generic grille (with its chrome mustache) and a nice sense of proportion that the Accord might envy.

A few perks to the exterior give the Sonata a more upscale look than its rivals. Standard dual chrome exhaust outlets, 16-inch alloy wheels (versus the 15-inchers with wheel covers on the others) and foglights make the midlevel Accord and Camry look like base models when parked next to the Sonata.

Inside the cabin, the fit and finish of the materials is equal to the standard bearers. It's obvious Hyundai sweated the details. The console has a padded and stitched top and the trunk is fully lined, unlike the Accord with its bare metal lid. All the controls are where you'd expect and operate with a silken quality that makes them feel as good as they look. Standard features that you might not expect include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer and side curtain airbags.

The seats garnered kudos all around. Well shaped and with generous under-thigh support, the Sonata seats rival the Accord's in comfort upfront and are better in back thanks to generous rear legroom and plenty of under-thigh support.

Hyundai claims that the Sonata has the largest interior in its class, and the raw specs bear that out as far as total volume: the Sonata at 121.7 cubic feet versus the Camry's 101.8 and the Accord's 102.7. All three sedans are comparable in most passenger dimensions, with the Sonata having (at 43.7 inches) the advantage in front legroom, something taller drivers will want to take note of. In trunk capacity, the Sonata boasts a generous 16.3 cubic feet (compared to the Camry's 16.7 cubes and the Accord's 14.0). A 60/40-split-folding rear seat allows flexibility between carrying passengers and cargo.

More Power to the People
Unlike previous iterations, this Sonata's V6 isn't lacking in power. Sporting a heady 38-percent horsepower increase over the outgoing 2.7-liter unit, the new 3.3-liter V6 pumps out 235 hp and 226 pound-feet of torque. This baby is state of the art, with all-aluminum construction and variable valve timing that provides a broad spread of power.

A five-speed automatic sends the power to the front wheels, and there's a manual mode for those times when you want to take part in the gear swapping. But like most other automanuals, there's a lag when you shift for yourself so it's of dubious value. Left to its own electromechanical devices, the transmission does a fine job of providing seamless gear changes and is smart enough to step down quickly and hold a gear when needed.

Track Star
With an 8.2-second 0-to-60 time and a 15.7-second quarter-mile effort, the Sonata simply embarrassed the Accord and Camry at the track. Even under full throttle, the engine didn't seem strained and remained smooth and relatively quiet. Against EPA estimates of 20/city and 30/highway, we averaged 19.9 mpg with the Sonata. This represents 4 and 7 mpg less than the four-cylinder Camry and Accord, respectively. Let's just say we really enjoyed the 235 horses in this car. We have no doubt, however, that folks with lighter feet than ours will score low- to mid-20s with a V6 Sonata.

Doing the reverse once again had the Hyundai humbling its peers. Sporting four-wheel discs, the Sonata did the 60-0 drill in 128 feet, some 7 feet shorter than the Accord and nearly 20 feet better than the Camry's best effort.

And the Sonata's binders showed virtually no fade in three consecutive panic stops ? the third stop was not even a foot longer than the first. Compare that to the Camry, whose second stop (at 149 feet) was over 3 feet longer than the first. Brake pedal feel was nearly as good as the Honda, not quite as firm but fine as far as linear modulation goes.

In the slalom, it was a virtual tie. The Sonata had a 55.7-mph speed through the cones versus the Camry's 55.9 mph and the Accord's 56-mph efforts. What's more telling is how our performance tester reacted after driving all three cars through the cones. "The Camry was a handful whereas the Sonata was easy to push to its limits." We all agreed that both on the road and at the track, the Accord felt the sportiest, but the Sonata wasn't far behind.

In the real world, the Sonata shines. The well-tuned suspension smothers the bumps and keeps its composure in turns without drama, and its tuning falls between the firm Accord and cushy Camry. There's plenty of power for effortless merging and passing, and the brakes are a strong ally in the daily grind. And let's not forget the standard stability control, unusual in the segment, and the huge 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Cinderella Story Is Complete
With the Sonata handily dethroning the twin kings of the family sedan segment, Hyundai has shown that, beyond a doubt, it's ready to take a starring role on the automotive stage. Nice job, Hyundai.

Second Place: 2005 Honda Accord
A perennial favorite, the Accord won our 2003-2004 family sedan comparison test. But that was an EX V6 with a current list price approaching $28,000. What about the average Joe who wants to spend closer to $21K? That would be Honda's bread and butter of the Accord line, the LX with the four-cylinder engine.

Beauty Is Only?
We still think the Accord sedan looks chunky, especially from the rear three-quarter view. Add in the flat, featureless hood and hokey grille treatment and you're talking about the wallflower of the group. A styling refresh is in the works for the 2006 model with a taillight treatment that helps to make it seem less "hippy."

Inside, the Accord scored points for its large gauges and generous storage space. Firmer seats than the other two lent an almost European feel to the cabin, as did the two-tone scheme and suedelike door trim. Demerits were issued for the stereo's odd controls (we can't count how many times we turned up the fan speed when we meant to pump up the volume) and the lack of a 60/40 split for the folding rear seat, a feature the other two cars had. In its defense, the Accord does have a pass-through for skis and the like.

Eager to Please
Although the Accord's 2.4-liter power plant is similar in size and architecture to the Camry's, it's more of an athlete. One editor praised the Honda's engine in his notes: "It's strong for a four and doesn't run out of breath on steeper hills like the Camry. Although it shares a 160-horsepower rating with the Camry, it actually has slightly less torque (161 pound-feet versus 163 lb-ft). Strange?maybe it works out at the same gym that BMW's inline sixes belong to.

What certainly helps the Accord's performance is the smart "Grade Logic" automatic transmission. This five-speed gearbox was never caught flat-footed and knew when to hold a gear (rather than hunt down and up), such as when running through hilly terrain. One driver stated that it's "like it knows what's coming up, great transmission."

At the track, we recorded the 0-60-mph sprint in 9.5 seconds, with the quarter taking 16.8 seconds at 82.8 mph. This is respectable performance for a midsize sedan with a four-cylinder/automatic drivetrain. Fuel economy was outstanding at 27 mpg, no mean feat considering our staff's lead feet.

In the braking area, the Accord was midpack, with a 60-0 distance of 135 feet. Not bad for a car with drum brakes in back. We also saw no fade in three panic stops ? the first and third stops were identical at 134.6 feet. A firm, progressive brake pedal inspires confidence and, as with the other two cars, the Accord comes standard with ABS.

Snaking through the slalom, the Accord essentially tied the others, with a 56-mph run through the cones. But where the Camry felt dicey when pushed hard, the Accord felt planted and sure. On our road loops, that feeling continued as the Honda was called "the sport sedan of the trio" by one enthusiastic pilot. The ride was deemed firm but comfortable by all but one driver, who complained that you could "feel more bumps [than the Camry], a negative to me."

Has Core Values but Lacks Strong Value
The Accord has the basics nailed down. A strong powertrain, a well-sorted suspension, reassuring brakes, an accommodating cabin and a bulletproof history for long-term happiness are all aces in the Accord's hand. Furthermore, people who need an affordable midsize sedan and appreciate a responsive, involving drive won't be disappointed with this choice.

But perhaps Honda is relying too much on its sterling reputation. At $345 more than the equally refined Sonata, the Accord lacks features that come standard on the Hyundai, such as stability control, a potent V6, four-wheel disc brakes and a split-folding rear seat.

With the Sonata equaling the Accord in fit and finish and trouncing it in performance and features, one can see why the Honda finds itself in unfamiliar territory ? second to a Hyundai.

Third Place: 2005 Toyota Camry
Millions of consumers can't be wrong. There are some valid reasons why the Camry continues to ride atop the sales charts. Rock-solid quality and unfailing reliability have been this model's calling card for years.

Yet the 2005 Toyota Camry finished in third place, soundly beaten by a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. How could this be?

Comfort Zone
Inside the cabin the styling is clean and functional, if unexciting. Storage compartments abound and controls are simple and intuitive. Although most staffers thought the front seats were comfortable, a few complained about the upholstery, saying that it "grabs my clothes" and "attracts lint like a magnet." Rear accommodations drew favorable comments ranging from "the seatback angle is perfect and there's tons of headroom back here" to "[it's] super easy to install a car seat."

Under way, the Camry impresses with a soft, quiet ride and a general feeling that everything has been built using a micrometer.

Hold Your Letters
So why the last-place finish? Let's start with the detached driving experience. Sure, everything is butter smooth ? the steering and brakes are both light to the touch, the engine barely audible and the transmission nearly invisible in action. But it's not all good, the numb steering provides all the feel of an '80s video driving game and the brakes were not just soft, but downright mushy.

Under the microscope of the test track, a few of these downfalls were magnified. Yes, all three cars posted virtually the same time running through the cones (only four-hundredths separated the slowest from the fastest) but where the Accord and Sonata felt confident, the Camry felt shaky when being pushed to its limits.

The braking exercise confirmed our suspicions about the squishy brakes. At 146 feet from 60 to zero, the Camry posted a stopping distance more akin to an SUV than a middleweight sedan. By contrast, the Sonata performed the same feat in just 128 feet, an accomplishment more befitting a sport sedan. And where the Camry's second panic stop grew to 150 feet (we didn't bother with a third stop), the Sonata's second and third efforts were within one foot of the first stop.

Notes from our editors universally praised the Camry's ride quality while hammering the car for its lazy handling. "A nice soft ride, but the handling is floaty compared to the other two." "It's great around town, but lacks precision when the road gets curvy." Now we know this car's mission is not to chase down Bimmers in the twisties, but a taut suspension is as reassuring on a straight highway as it is in the mountains.

When it was time to step into the sprinter's blocks, the Camry was still back o' the pack. On paper, the Camry's inline-four specs virtually match the Accord's, and it is also teamed with a five-speed automatic. Yet although both felt about the same around town, the Accord (and, of course, the Sonata) had the edge in the hills and at higher speeds.

The Camry's 10.3-second 0-60 time put it over 2 seconds behind the Sonata, and nearly a second behind the Accord. Running around town, the Camry seems peppy enough. Lay into it off a light and it pulls sweetly up to about 45 or so. But throw in some elevation increase at medium speeds or goose it to merge into fast-moving freeway traffic and the Camry runs out of breath. On the hilly parts of our loop, the tranny would hunt, constantly downshifting to get up a head of steam in order to maintain speed.

Driven on its own, a four-cylinder Camry will probably strike you as acceptable, but if you've just stepped out of the V6 Sonata, you're going to feel some major disappointment.

Still Not a Bad Choice, Just Not the Best
How about strengths? The Camry's got plenty of them. There's the comfortable ride and seats, a spacious rear compartment, a roomy and well-finished trunk and the promise of trouble-free motoring for years to come.

That's all well and good, and certainly you won't be doing something stupid if you buy a 2005 Toyota Camry. But it's our job to let you know that, yes, there are better choices out there and you should consider them if driving enjoyment and overall value weigh into your decision.

[ifcar]

I believe I beat them on that point by a couple of weeks.

[Tom]

It's a winner, no doubt, made a better value by it's exceptional warranty.  But the Accord has it beat in sporty driving, especially with the V6.  At the risk of sounding like Powered by Honda, the Accord V6 would own the Sonata V6.  Though as the article pointed out, there is a wide disparity in price that can not go unnoticed in a budget-driven segment...

[TBR]

It's a winner, no doubt, made a better value by it's exceptional warranty.  But the Accord has it beat in sporty driving, especially with the V6.  At the risk of sounding like Powered by Honda, the Accord V6 would own the Sonata V6.  Though as the article pointed out, there is a wide disparity in price that can not go unnoticed in a budget-driven segment...

I am not quite so sure of that myself, C/D said the Sonata handles better than the Accord.  

[Tom]

It's a winner, no doubt, made a better value by it's exceptional warranty.? But the Accord has it beat in sporty driving, especially with the V6.? At the risk of sounding like Powered by Honda, the Accord V6 would own the Sonata V6.? Though as the article pointed out, there is a wide disparity in price that can not go unnoticed in a budget-driven segment...

I am not quite so sure of that myself, C/D said the Sonata handles better than the Accord.

The Accord automatic makes it to 60 in, what, 7 seconds?  A 1.2 second difference combined with better handling will result in a beating.

[TBR]

C/D also got 7.0 seconds to 60 for the Sonata, you can't compare numbers from different mags. And, C/D prefers the Sonata's handling.  

[Tom]

C/D also got 7.0 seconds to 60 for the Sonata

Really?  C/D always seems to squeeze out good times.

[TBR]

That is because they know how to drive.  

[thewizard16]

I'm not wild about the Sonata's front styling, but it's not ugly. Seems to be a decent car. Don't know if I'd be interested in one or not, I haven't driven one yet, but it sounds pretty nice.

[TBR]

Give it a shot sometime, feedback from a loyal Camry owner would be interesting.  

[ifcar]

Took out one of the most loyal Camry owners in a Sonata yesterday (guess who!). She thought it was fine, which is what she thought of everything else she's test-driven. A stroke of luck was that the Edmunds comparo came out yesterday as well, so I could show her that, which only could have helped my case that the Camry is good but not the best.

[Raghavan]

the new sonata's nice, but why are the 0-60 times so slow?
And i think MT got 6.8 or something for the accord v6.

[ifcar]

Edmunds never gets the same times as enthusiast mags. C/D got a better time with their Sonata than their V6 Accord test vehicle.

[Raghavan]

Edmunds never gets the same times as enthusiast mags. C/D got a better time with their Sonata than their V6 Accord test vehicle.

the accord'll probably be faster when it get's the manual.

[TBR]

Well duh, probably 6.2 seconds, but next to no one will order it with the manual.  

[Raghavan]

Well duh, probably 6.2 seconds, but next to no one will order it with the manual.

but if the accord wants to compete with the altima it needs a manual.

[TBR]

If the Accord wants to compete with the Altima 3.5se manual it needs some style too.  

[Raghavan]

Hmm... MT got 6.6 for the Accord V6 sedan...

[Raghavan]

If the Accord wants to compete with the Altima 3.5se manual it needs some style too.

it'll get more style when honda gets rid of the butt ugly taillights.

[TBR]

Doubt it will get enough, Honda won't take the risk.  

[NomisR]

Boring is good enough, it's not as plain jane as with Camry and it actually drives like a car.  It's simply a safe design without being offensive to people.  Although people may disagree about the taillights of course.

[TBR]

I agree that it is a great car for most people, I am just pointing out that it needs more than a manual transmission to compete with the Altima 3.5SE.

[ifcar]

It's great for people who want a manual midsize V6, or just a manual midsize with high-end options, but don't want the stiff ride of the Altima 3.5SE or the Mazda6 s.

[TBR]

How many people want a manual transmission 25k sedan and don't care about handling or style?

[ifcar]

Several people on C/D have mentioned that they'd have considered an Accord V6 manual sedan. It's no Mazda6, but it's still an agile vehicle, and not everyone either hates the car's styling.

[BMWDave]

The Accord manages to be conservative looking where the Camry is just plain old boring.  

I think that the Accord V6 Manual would sell, but to consumers who dont want a raw edged sedan.  It would be kind of like an all arounder.

[TBR]

The Accord manages to be conservative looking where the Camry is just plain old boring.  

I think that the Accord V6 Manual would sell, but to consumers who dont want a raw edged sedan.  It would be kind of like an all arounder.

I just don't think there are many people out there look for a manual transmission sedan who are looking to neither save money (the EX-V6 is too expensive for the thrifty set) nor have a more exciting car than the norm.  

[ifcar]

I assume that the manual would be offered across the V6 line, not limited to the $26k EX. And the fact remains that the Accord is both quick and agile, without giving up either ride comfort or interior space, which is no doubt a combination that some people will be looking for. Car enthusiasts often like the Accord V6 too, several people own them on C/D IIRC, and they would have probably chosen the manual. Also, it would represent a full third of the V6 midsize market, so it would be bound to absorb a few Altima and Mazda6 sales as well.

It'll do just fine.

[Raghavan]

The Accord manages to be conservative looking where the Camry is just plain old boring. 

I think that the Accord V6 Manual would sell, but to consumers who dont want a raw edged sedan.  It would be kind of like an all arounder.

I just don't think there are many people out there look for a manual transmission sedan who are looking to neither save money (the EX-V6 is too expensive for the thrifty set) nor have a more exciting car than the norm.

Accords aren't boring you know. Maybe not as fun as a 6 or Altima, but it's not as boring as you think. It's a good allrounder, and offering a manual is a good idea.

[ifcar]

Accords are boring in that they are decidedly mainstream, and hundreds of thousands of even the current version are already on the road. Take any car and sell hundreds of thousands of copies, and it could easily be considered dull, no matter how good or how attractive it is.

But there are enough enthusiasts who are already buying Accords, so the manual option should do well enough to cover the cost of moving it from the coupe to the sedan.