2014 Hyundai Sonata

The 2014 Hyundai Sonata is a great car that doesn’t necessarily have the typical family car looks. Our sincere plea to other automakers, please do something different and better and stand out. Things are getting mundane in this segment as we only have the usual rivals like Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, and Nissan Altima to go against the Sonata.

Hyundai has made sure that buying a Sonata should be a nice experience and not an options checklist. The 2014 Sonata comes in 3 trim levels, GLS, SE, and Limited and every trim has its special optional package, that’s it. No extra option just for better headlights or a stand-alone audio system. The entry-level GLS trim comes with comfort-oriented features like 16-inch wheels, cruise control, etc. The SE trim should mean Sports Edition as it has performance-tuned suspension, better wheels, and carbon fiber trims inside the cabin for a sportier appearance. 

 If you choose the Turbocharged engine on the SE trim, you’ll get a sporty exhaust note and dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. Top-trim Limited is trying to find the fine balance as we do with our lives. It comes with a little of both worlds, 17-inch alloys and a softer suspension setup being some of them. We wish every automaker could keep things this simple.

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This question has many answers depending on the buyer but we must choose one. At first, we wanted to suggest the Limited trim but then again, the price difference between the SE and Limited would let you have that SE premium package and that includes all the convenience features we practically need in a car. Thus, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata SE with the premium package will be our choice, for your reference.

The 2014 Sonata comes with 2 engine choices with the base being a naturally aspirated 2.4L Inline-4 which produces 190 hp & 179 lb-ft of torque. With a dual-exhaust system, the same engine makes 192 hp and 181 lb-ft. While this engine would be sufficient to run errands in the city, we wouldn’t rely on this one for zippy highway driving duties. The 2.0L, turbo I-4 engine rated at 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque would be a better choice if you don't feel like you are missing something. 

Some might suspect a turbo lag here but the efficient twin-scroll setup in the turbo assembly itself eliminates the lag and delivers a natural V-6 like the power which some of the rivals are still relying on. The transmission setup on both engines is an exclusive 6-speed automatic and it delivers smooth gear shifts regardless of the engine type.

The host vehicle today is the quickest in its group in both runs. Sonata does have more power than the rest but engine tuning is a science in itself and Hyundai has done a fantastic job in it. The rest of the competition isn’t too far off compared to the Sonata except for the Toyota Camry which does a 0-60 mph run in 8.9 seconds and a quarter-mile run in 15.9 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.

Hyundai Sonata has done an okay job in the fuel economy department. Well, the car ran faster than others so it will reflect somewhere at least won't it? The base engine returns 28 mpg combined, 24 mpg city, and 35 mpg highway. The base engine is best in terms of fuel economy as the 2.0L turbo engine will drop the numbers to 21 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highways. Not a problem considering the huge power bump. The car comes with a big fuel tank of 18.5 gallons capacity and gets a decent range of 500 plus miles combined.

We talked a little about engine tuning being an important factor and the engineers at Nissan have delivered on every front. The car is just 0.1 seconds behind the Sonata, has almost similar power yet the fuel economy figures are astounding and its highway range of 684 miles, puts it streets ahead of its competitors. Looks like Ford has messed up some settings in the fuel injection as the difference between city & highway economy is a bit too far off. The Toyota Camry manages similar efficiency as the Sonata but falls considerably short on range due to its smaller fuel that can hold only 17 gallons.

At a $21,450 base price, we weren’t expecting any superior quality standards and materials anyway with the 2014 Sonata. The interior of this car at base trim is more plastic and less leather. The dashboard is as curvy as the exterior is but the art class has stayed within its limits. Both sides of the dashboard blend in on the center console which creates a nice symmetry inside the cabin. On higher trims, you will be treated with faux leather or genuine leather for the upholstery and several panels. 

The front seats on the Sonata are soft and comfortable and can be had with genuine leather as well. The cabin of the 2014 Sonata is spacious and headroom or legroom is available at large. The second row of this car is equally spacious but getting in might be tricky for some, as the roofline is pretty low-slung. Taller than average occupants will feel the headroom squeeze, might need to scoot down a little bit.

The cargo-carrying capacity of the Sonata is massive. The 16.4 cubic feet of boot space is very easy to access thanks to a wider and bigger opening. Ford Fusion has better second-row legroom while still having a similar trunk capacity with Sonata. Though the difference is only marginal, the cargo space on offer with the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry is only a tad bit smaller.  Standout interior features:

• LED interior lighting
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather/cloth upholstery
• Faux carbon fiber trim

How intuitive is the 2014 Hyundai Sonata’s infotainment system?

2014 Hyundai Sonata comes with a small 4.3-inch touch screen with 6 speakers for entertainment duties. This screen could have been easily non-touch sensitive but Hyundai has made some good decisions here. The higher trim gets a more practical 8-inch color touchscreen with navigation and SiriusXM subscriptions of 90 days. A super-premium 400-watt sound system is available on Limited trim with an optional package. 

Standout infotainment features:

• 8-inch touchscreen
• SiriusXM
• Factory Navigation
• USB ports
• Infinity sound system

The 2014 Sonata has quite a bit of eccentric design overall. The exterior of this car has way too many lines and edges and it is safe to say that this car is way ahead of its time, design-wise. Hyundai has paid attention to the tiniest of the details like, the way body lines of the hood transfer themselves on the grille or the way that headlight assembly is smartly integrated with the beltline that comes down tapering towards the front bumper.  

Watching this car in the wind tunnel cutting down the air resistance would have been quite a sight for the design team. At the rear, the masterclass continues as another body line starting from the front fender seamlessly blends itself with the taillight assembly. Overall, the 2014 Sonata is designed so well that it can be sold as a luxury sedan with nicer interiors and powerful engines.

Even though the Sonata isn’t the longest car in the group it still has a better wheelbase of 110 inches than most of its rivals due to the low distance between wheels and bumpers. Ford Fusion is long, has a greater wheelbase, and looks stunning compared to Nissan or Toyota. Ford Fusion & Hyundai Sonata are the only cars in the segment that don't look boring. The 2014 Nissan Altima is the lightest sedan with a curb weight of 3,108 lbs, despite being one of the larger sedans on offer.

Standout exterior features:

• Xenon headlights
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Fog Lights
• Dark chrome grille
• Rear lip spoiler
• Dual chrome exhaust tips

2014 Hyundai Sonata has done well in the NHTSA crash tests receiving 5-stars for overall safety and rollover rating. Only the frontal crash rating has suffered a little, getting only 4-stars. Sonata just missed getting that Top Safety Pick award because of the Moderate rating in the small overlap crash: driver side. It has scored the best possible Good rating in the rest of the crash tests.

Standout safety features:

• Hyundai emergency telematics
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Blindspot monitor
• Rear View parking camera
• Cruise control

The 2014 Hyundai Sonata is an amazing family sedan that offers performance, luxury, or both as per your wish. The interior space in the Sonata is best in class and so is the trunk space. The fuel economy isn’t the best but it is not everything. At top trim levels, the Sonata gets as luxurious as an entry-level luxury sedan. The only thing it lacks is the active safety features. While the rivals are offering lane departure warning, cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control, the list of the Sonata ends before it even starts. If you can live in the absence of active safety, the Hyundai Sonata is a solid option to consider over the regulars.