The 2019 Hyundai Sonata comes with quite a few engine options The ‘SE’, ‘SEL’, and ‘Sport’ trims have a 2.4L inline-4 motor as a standard which generates 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the ‘Limited’ trim has two engine options: the base will be the same 2.4L motor while the other one is the 2.0L turbocharged motor mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and produces 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
Under the hood of the ‘Eco’ is a 1.6L turbocharged engine that is mated with a 7-speed automatic gearbox and produces 178 horses and 195 lb-ft of torque. All the trims offer only FWD drivetrain and perform well on road. However, we expected the base engine to perform better in terms of acceleration. It takes 6.8 seconds to sprint from 0-60 MPH and can complete a quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds.
Models
|
2019 Hyundai Sonata
|
2019 Toyota Camry
|
2019 Ford Fusion
|
2019 Kia Optima
|
MSRP
|
$23,580
|
$25,555
|
$23,835
|
$23,915
|
Engine
|
2.4L Inline Four-Cylinder
|
2.5L Inline Four-Cylinder
|
2.5L Inline Four-Cylinder
|
2.4L Inline Four-Cylinder
|
Drivetrain
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
Transmission
|
6-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
Power
|
185 hp @ 6,000 RPM
|
203 hp @ 6,600 RPM
|
175 hp @ 6,000 RPM
|
185 hp @ 6,000 RPM
|
Torque
|
178 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM
|
184 lb-ft @ 5,000 RPM
|
175 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
|
178 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM
|
0-60 MPH (seconds)
|
6.8
|
7.6
|
8.8
|
6.8
|
Quarter-Mile (seconds)
|
16.1
|
15.9
|
16.6
|
15.2
|
Top-Speed (MPH)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
All the cars in the competition come with a similar engine capacity, but the Camry produces somewhat higher power and better torque figures, while the Fusion feels quite underpowered. The Camry also comes with an 8-speed transmission which makes it a better highway cruiser. The power produced by the Sonata and the Optima are identical and are quite decent figures. Surprisingly, the Optima and Sonata are the fastest among the others, while the Fusion is the slowest to sprint from 0-60 MPH.
How well does the 2019 Sonata handle?
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata offers comfortable seating and good NVH levels rather than providing you a fun-to-drive experience. The steering response is quite good, and it adds on some weight in the Sport mode, which further enhances handling and gives a crisp response. The suspension is tuned towards the softer side and can absorb road undulations well.
The sedan, even with its considerable length, manages to offer a shorter turning radius and has decent agility. It is also easy to maneuver in the city. The lower height really helps in keeping the body roll very minimal. However, the car doesn’t give awe-inspiring performance even with its 2.0L turbocharged motor. It's not slow by any means, but the adrenaline rush is missing.
Braking Performance
The panic braking situation tests haven’t been conducted on this sedan, but considering the 12-inch brake rotors at the front and 11.2-inch ones at the rear, an impressive braking performance can be expected with it. Especially in the Sport mode, the brakes get even better than the comfort mode, and you can expect much more effective braking.
Models
|
2019 Hyundai Sonata
|
2019 Toyota Camry
|
2019 Ford Fusion
|
2019 Kia Optima
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
|
12.0
|
12.0
|
11.8
|
12.0
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
|
11.2
|
11.0
|
11.9
|
11.2
|
Curb Weight (lbs)
|
3247
|
3241
|
3411
|
3219
|
60-0 MPH (feet)
|
N/A
|
122
|
122
|
124
|
The brake rotors in the Sonata are of similar size as compared to the competition, while the Fusion is equipped with smaller rotors. However, the stopping distance of the Fusion is really appreciable, considering its weight and smaller rotors. Considering the fact that Optima and Sonata are cousins, we expect the Sonata to have a similar stopping distance as that of the Optima.