Sonata 4cylinder or V6?

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

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.

"Rev. Tom Wenndt" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@enews4.newsguy.com:

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

"Don Allen" wrote in news:1171507716.801252.27160 @h3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

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