2007 Hyundai Sonata news, pictures, and information

SONATA RAISES THE BAR ON MIDSIZE SEDAN VALUE FOR 2007

The Hyundai Sonata has earned the Ú.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts. This accomplishment was made possible by Sonata's standard-setting active and passive safety technology. Every Sonata has ESC wîth Traction Control as standard equipment, along wîth an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) wîth Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and four-wheel disc brakes. This is important because the NHTSA has reported that ESC results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars.

In the event that a crash is unavoidable, the Sonata features six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags—along wîth active front-seat head restraints. Other passive safety features include shingle-style rear-seat head restraints for improved visibility, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, front-seat seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, and a rear-seat Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system for child seats.

CONTEMPORARY EXTERIOR DESIGN

Following Hyundai's mission to provide more for the money, the Sonata measures 188.9 inches long, 58.0 inches tall and 72.1 inches wide – making it both taller and wider than the 2007 Accord and Camry.

But it is the sophisticated design that really defines the Sonata. The unibody, made of high-tensile steel, features a bold, concave hood design, distinctive rear-door cut lines, strong Z-lined body-to-fascia interfaces, and four-barrel jeweled projector lens headlights. Furthering its look of solidity are 16-inch wheels on the GLS and standard 17-inch alloy wheels on the SE and Limited. The model range also offers a choice of 11 solid, metallic and mica colors.

A WELL-CRAFTED INTERIOR THAT IS A 'CLASS-ABOVE' THE COMPETITION

The Sonata is classified by the EPA as a Large Car, truly a 'class above' the Accord, Camry, Altima, Fusion and Malibu (all are categorized as midsize cars). Even in trunk room, the Sonata shines. Sonata's 16.3 cu. ft. of trunk space give it a 16 percent advantage over Accord, an eight percent advantage over the new Camry, and a four percent advantage over Altima.

Sonata likewise delivers on Hyundai's pledge to offer more sophistication and refinement. For instance, premium doorsill scuff plates greet Limited passengers, who also enjoy either gray metalgrain or woodgrain interior trim accents wîth their gray, beige, or new-for-2007 black leather interiors.

Standard convenience features include tilt §teering and an auto-up/down power-window function wîth pinch protection. The front center console offers dual-tier storage and two covered cupholders (deeper for 2007); two more cupholders are located in the rear center armrest.

Sonata also delivers class-leading cabin quietness and reduced wind noise. Designers increased the strength and stiffness of the body structure to reduce engine and road noise.

CHOICE OF TWO CLEAN, POWERFÚL, FÚEL-EFFICIENT POWERTRAINS

	Vital Stats
Engine : 2.4 L., 6-cylinder Power: 162 hp Torque: 164 ft-lbs Engine : 3.3 L., 6-cylinder Power: 234 hp Torque: 226 ft-lbs
4-speed Automatic, 5-speed Automatic

A pair of engines combine excellent front-wheel-drive performance wîth fuel economy. The 2.4-liter DOHC inline-four cylinder in the Sonata GLS is part of Hyundai's 'Theta' group of engines, and is rated at 162 horsepower and 164 lb.-ft. of torque. This high-tech all-aluminum 16-valve engine features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), a durable stainless-steel exhaust manifold, and twin balance shafts and hydraulic motor mounts to reduce vibration. It meets ÚLEV emissions standards and returns an impressive 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway wîth the Sonata's standard five-speed manual transmission, and 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway wîth the optional four-speed automatic transmission wîth SHIFTRONIC®. The Sonata four-cylinder engine's power output exceeds that of the 2007 Camry, while matching its fuel economy.

Standard in the Sonata SE and Limited models is the 3.3-liter V6 that produces 234 horsepower and 226 lb-ft. of torque. As the first member of Hyundai's 'Lambda' engine family, this engine also has all-aluminum construction, dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, CVVT and hydraulic engine mounts. It also features a Variable Intake System (VIS) to further broaden its power curve, improving off-the-line acceleration and passing performance. The Sonata SE and Limited offer 15 lb.-ft. more torque than the Accord V6. Mileage estimates are 20 mpg city/30 mpg highway. For 2007, the 3.3L engine is enhanced to achieve higher mileage emissions durability through the introduction of a high-technology catalytic converter wash-coat.
All SE and Limited models use Hyundai's five-speed SHIFTRONIC® automatic transmission, which features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel economy. Neither the Accord nor Camry offer manual-mode operation.

SÚPPLE RIDE, AGILE HANDLING