The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is a redesigned iteration and hence has some new features and trim levels on offer. It comes in three basic trim levels that are named GLS, SE, and Limited. Along with the three different trim levels, Hyundai also offers two powertrain options that you can avail of with any of the three trim level options. It packs abundant features for a sedan that falls under the $30,000 category. 

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If $30,000 is your budget for a large sedan, then the Limited trim is the best option to go for without a doubt. It brings in some really good features that add to the Sonata’s interior quality and exterior looks. The SE trim level is also an alluring option as it adds some useful features to the standard features that come in the GLS trim.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata comes with a humble yet efficient 2.4 L naturally aspirated inline-4 engine that produces 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. It also offers a more powerful 2 L turbocharged inline-4 engine option that produces a good 274 horsepower and 269 lb-ft. of torque. The power delivery in the naturally aspirated engine feels smooth and linear while the turbocharged engine allows for a punchy and sporty driving experience due to a good amount of torque at the lower rev range.

Both the trim engine options come mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission while a 6-speed manual transmission unit is available for the base GLS trim level as well. The Sonata is only available in an FWD drivetrain configuration and has decent ride quality and handling characteristics for a car of its segment.

The base variant with the naturally aspirated engine and a manual transmission unit does a 0-60 mph acceleration pull in 7.5 seconds and covers a quarter-mile distance in 15.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 142 mph.

The Hyundai Sonata is one of the best value for money cars in its segment as it costs less than its rivals while still managing to get better performance results due to the fact that it possesses more power and torque output compared to its rivals. While the outputs of the competitors differ only diminutively, they are slower to the 60mph mark with the Honda, Chevrolet, and Toyota clocking 8.1, 8.8, and 8.4 seconds, respectively. In addition, the 2011 Malibu is the only vehicle that makes use of an automatic transmission as standard.

Just like its performance figures, the Sonata doesn’t fail to impress you with its fuel economy as well, it delivers a combined fuel economy of 28 MPG which is the highest in its segment. Along with the combined fuel economy figure, it also offers the best in class fuel economy in the city and highway mileage as well with 24 and 35 MPG being the fuel economy figures respectively.

Having the largest fuel tank capacity in the segment helps the Sonata offer a combined fuel range of 518 miles and a maximum fuel range of around 648 miles on the highway which is a great deal for a sedan.

The Sonata with its 18.5-gallon fuel tank capacity and best in class fuel efficiency figures never fails to attract customers towards it especially due to the fact that it is also one of the best performing sedans out there. The closest rival to the Sonata both in terms of power and efficiency seems to be the Honda Accord that averages 27 MPG. While the 2011 Camry and Malibu average 26 MPG, the Toyota and Honda have a certain ascendancy over Chevrolet by sporting the most-voluminous tanks.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is gifted with a spacious and comfortable interior space that hosts a number of standard features and creature comforts making it one of the best sedans to go for in its class. The overall interior design feels fresh as it has been redesigned for the 2011 model year version and the overall design layout speaks of Hyundai’s new generation design philosophy. The dashboard has a fresh look with excellent quality buttons and knobs and does come in single and dual-tone color options. The center console gets a revised design 

The front seats in the base trim level are comfortable and confidence-inspiring but don’t come with power adjustability. The seats are trimmed in either leather/cloth upholstery and have a comfortable feel to them. The front row gets an armrest with a small storage area underneath it in the center console. The rear seat is a 60-40 split-bench seat that is wide and spacious offering the best in class comfort. The second-row seats also get an armrest concealed in the middle seat’s backrest as well as HVAC vents.

In the segment, each sedan aims at providing an enlightening experience with their furnished cabins and abundant features. However, in terms of space, it is the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry that lead the segment. While the former has the lowest cargo capacity of 14 cubic feet, the latter alongside the Chevrolet Malibu manages 15 cu.-ft of space but falls short of the segment leader, 2011 Sonata.

Some standout interior features are:

• 8-way power-adjustable seats with power lumbar controls and active head restraints (available with the Limited trim only)
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rear seat auxiliary climate control ducts
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 
• Leather-trimmed seats with heating in the front row
• Heated seat bottom cushions in the second row

How intuitive is the 2011 Hyundai Sonata’s infotainment unit?

Hyundai cars never fail to provide the best of infotainment systems and the 2011 Sonata is no different. Although the number of standard infotainment features might be less in the base trim levels, the higher trim levels offer the best in class infotainment features. a 6-inch infotainment display along with a 360 watt sound system with 7 speakers. Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity is a standard feature in all trim levels.

Some standout infotainment features are:

• 104 watt sound system with 6 speakers
• Aux input jack
• 6-inch infotainment display
• SiriusXM satellite radio 
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Steering wheel controls for the infotainment system

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata truly stands out in its class when it comes to its exterior styling and built quality. The redesigned Sonata follows the Hyundai ‘Fluidic’ design philosophy which brings in a lot of curvy and flowing lines along with the Sonata’s exterior bodywork.

Its flowing chrome grille along with long headlamps with projector lens add beauty to the exterior as compared to the previous generation Sonata that had a bland exterior design. The side profile of the Sonata is one of the most appealing parts of its exterior and it really shows that Hyundai has put in a lot of effort to get each element right. The rear fascia has redesigned tail lamps as well which complement the overall design. The wheels are 16-inch ones in the base trim level while the higher trims get 17-inch alloy wheels. The Sonata also gets a power sunroof as an optional extra.

The Sonata is the lightest vehicle weighing 3,161 lbs and has one of the lowest wheelbases in its segment of 110 inches. This allows the Sonata to handle in a better way and a powerful powertrain unit too complements the handling and ride quality in a great way. The 2011 Honda Accord is evidently the largest vehicle standing at a total length of 194.1 inches and at a width and height of 72.7 and 58.1 inches, respectively. However, it is the Chevrolet Malibu that sports a wheelbase of 112.3 inches, almost two inches longer than the Hyundai. The Toyota Camry falls in a similar ballpark of dimensions and has a ground clearance of 5.5 inches.

Some standout exterior features are:

• 17-inch machined alloy wheels
• Heated power-folding mirrors
• Chrome grille
• Auto on/off projector lens headlamps

The Sonata has promising structural integrity and built quality which is paired with some of the latest and best of safety features. The redesigned Sonata proves to be the safest option in its segment with an overall safety rating of 5 stars from the NHTSA and similar ratings from agencies like the IIHS.

Some of the safety specifications are:

• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Side impact beams
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Front/rear crumple zones
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Energy-absorbing steering column

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the best value for money sedan in its segment by all means as it delivers great performance, interior build quality, comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety all in a price range less than most of its rivals. It proves to be a functional and practical car for families and also seems to have excellent reliability ratings making the ownership experience worry-free too.