Sonata 4cylinder or V6?

Thinking of buying a new Sonata, would like to get the 4 cyl for the gas
mileage but wonder if it is powerful enough? Is there a big difference
in performance and mileage between the 4 and 6?

 

The V6 are definately more powerful.

I have had 2 x 4cyl Sonatas (99 and 04 models)

Because:-
Cheaper to Register in Australia.
Cheaper to Iinsure.
Cheaper to Run

I have never had a problem power wise, even when overtaking on Highways.

When I replace the 04 I will replace it with the 4 cylinder.

I did test drive a new model 6 cylinder and the power was definately higher, but I could live without for the reasons
above.

 

Would I like greater MPG from my LX-yes. Do I regret getting the six?- no
way. The six is special. Its up to you, how do you see the car. Me, in a
nice car that size, I want the six. If I needed to max out my commuter
milage, I get a Corolla or some other such nice econobox..........PS My
previous car was a Regal LSE. I loved it.....drove it for 225k miles. ...and
yet for every one of those miles I wished I had bought the supercharged
version, but thats just me. PPS have not driver the sonata four cyl for
comparison sake to be fair. PPPS I have 40k miles on my LX in 13
months...purrs like a kitten.

 

There was a long thread on this just recently, but I think the subject
line as related to MPG. Might want to search on that for a lot of
information. The four is plenty powerful enough, but for some only too
much is enough. Drive both and see which one you like. Nobody but you
has to be pleased with your decision.

The mileage difference is pretty close to the 4 MPG difference in the
EPA ratings. I have a 4 cylinder with manual transmission and I'm
averaging 29.5 MPG overall since buying the car 18,000 miles ago. Most
of the V-6 folks that have posted mileages here are running closer to
25-26 in driving similar to mine (70& highway, 30% or less in town).


Matt

 

Of course there is a difference. Drive the four; if you like it, buy it.
It will cruise the highway along with every other car. Depends on your
priorities. The six offers higher power, but the four is adequate for most.

Another factor is the trim level and transmission. The manual is available
only on the GLS. The four only comes with a four speed trans. I've not
driven it so I don't know how good it is. If you want all the goodies, the
Limited only comes with the V6 and the 5 speed auto. You also pay about
$6000 more for the Limited.

Is the Limited worth it? I though so, compared to other cars I looked at
with the same features, it is a great buy. To get the same features in
another brand, I'd have paid about $5000 more. To get ESC, I'd have paid
still more.
The GLS with the Premium Package is still a nice car though No matter the
model, you get plenty of space, decent equipment, good handling.

 

You didn't indicate where you live, or how you drive.

Having driven the '4', I think it's adequate for a good majority of the
uses. I have actually been impressed with both the power and the smoothness
of the engine.

But if you live in mountains, or you like to "goose it" a lot, or you are
one of those people who just can't have too much power, you will LOVE the
V6. It is very powerful, but will cost you probably 2-3 miles per gallon,
overall, if you are an average driver.

Tom Wenndt

 

If one drives 15,000 miles a year at 26 MPG average one uses 577 gallons of
gas
If one drives 15,000 miles a year at 22 MPG average one uses 682 gallons of
gas

The difference is 105 gallons
At $2.19 per gallon the difference is $229.95 for the entire year.

IMHO if $229.95 for the year is going to make a difference it is in all
likelihood not a good idea to purchase either car.

Double Tap

 

Ed raises a good point. The Sonata has really bizarre option and trim
combinations. I'd have loved to had the chance to drive a standard
shift V-6. Given how much better the manual 4 is compared to the
automatic 4, the manual V-6 might have been fun. And you can't get the
higher trim levels with the 4 cylinder engine and manual. Go figure.

Matt

 

Thanks all for the good info. I'm leaning towards the 4. Just wanted to
make sure it's got adequate power.

 

I know this is a Hyundai website. But if I were leaning towards the '4', I
would actually be leaning to its corporate cousin, the Kia Optima.

The re-designed Optima has a 5-speed automatic with that same 4-cylinder
engine, and the people who have it say it makes a REAL difference, in terms
of power availability, smoothness and fuel economy. That was my only caveat
with the Sonata 4, was its 4-speeed automatic.

But if you want the V-6, you will have to get the Sonata. The Kia (at least
for now), keeps that smaller 2.7L V-6, which gets no better fuel economy
than the 3.3 in the Sonata, but has far less power.

If Consumer Reports means anything, they liked both cars, but actually liked
the Kia better, especially in the 4-cylinder version. They JUST released
results (in the March edition) on the Optima - the Sonata's has been out for
almost a year.

Tom Wenndt

 

If you like the Sonata Limited trim, wait until the 2008 model year.
Hyundai is once again making changes to its trim line-up - one almost
needs a scoreboard to keep up with their changes to the lineup!

In 2008, the Sonata Limited will be available with the 2.4L DOHC
Inline 4.

Although Hyundai is perceived to be a higher quality brand over Kia,
in my area you can buy any Hyundai cheaper (model for equivalent
model) than you can a Kia. On the other hand, Kia has some nice
features, like the 5-speed with the 4-cylinder in the Optima. Why
doesn't Hyundai offer the 5-speed with the 4-cylinder?? It doesn't
make any sense. And, Kia's new Rondo (Carens everywhere else in the
world) is opening a new market. Hyundai is following with their own
version soon, but from the spy pix of the Hyundai, I much prefer the
Kia.

 

Remember, the two brands (Hyundai and Kia) are from the same corporation.

In other parts of the country (though apparantly not yours), Hyundai's and
Kia's are sold at the same dealerships.

Both have that same 100,000 mile warranty.

The Hyundai Entourage is just basically a Kia Sedona, and the relationship
between other siblings is growing stronger and stronger.

Kia supposedly is putting more stock into handling, while Hyundai is more
into comfort. Don't know if that is true in a practical sense, but it is a
curiosity, and it is the growing reputation.

One needs to keep an eye on both brands, because they are doing what Honda
did a couple of decades ago, and they are doing it right.

I would buy either now before almost anything else.

Tom Wenndt

 

Yes, Hyundai owns Kia, but they are still operated almost
independently. Much like FedEx Express and FedEx Ground . . . same
umbrella corporation, but separate entities, and manufacturing
facilities in this case.

Our local Hyundai dealer is also a Kia dealer, and Chrysler,
Mitsubishi, VW, Mazda, Scion, and Toyota dealer. One of those mega-
dealerships with a brand new location and multiple show rooms.
However, you'll pay more for a Spectra, for example, that you will an
Elantra at this dealership. In fact, you'll pay more for an Optima,
than the equivalently equipped Sonata.

I can buy a new Sonata Limited for less than I can buy a Kia Rondo LX
at this dealership. There appears to be more discounting of Hyundai
products than with Kia. If Hyundai and Kia were truly the same
company, you should receive the Loyalty Discount or Coupon if you own
a Hyundai and buy a new Kia (or vice versa) - but, this is not the
case.

The biggest hurdle Kia has in this country is perception. Both
Hyundai and Kia have improved substantially, but Kia still is
perceived by most Americans as a low-end product, even more so than
Hyundai.

 

I haven't seen Hyundai's and Kia's sold at the same dealership anywhere I
have been in the country. I'm not saying where you are they aren't
combined, but I'd be curious to see just how often that actually happens.

Eric

 

I'm actually kinds hoping that reputation stays the way it is. While I
guess it hurts on the back end with resale value, it definitely helps on
the front end with purchase price.

Eric