After a busy month, I’m finally able to sit down and assemble a proper 2015 Hyundai Sonata review. There are two major things that I gleaned from my Hyundai plant tour in Alabama back in June:
- You pronounce Hyundai like Sunday.
- The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is a seriously nice car.
Thanks to Hyundai USA for covering all travel and lodging costs associated with this event. All opinions are my own.
2015 Hyundai Sonata Review
For most of the morning, my driving partner Nicole Wakelin and I drove around the rural roads of Alabama in the Sport 2.0T model. Whoo-eee was this thing loaded! The panoramic sunroof went all the way back, the automatic vehicle hold was awesome when waiting at red lights (press a little extra on the brake then let go, the car will stay stopped until you press on the accelerator pedal), and the hands-free smart trunk opener sensed when the key fob was nearby instead of you having to do a one-leg dance to open it.
The new layout of the control console was very easy to adapt to and use. The designers purposely laid everything out to be along one line of sight, lessening the amount of time your eyes need to be off of the road to adjust something. The shape of the side mirrors was genius. In many cars, the use of the blind spot monitoring icon in the mirror slightly obstructs the view. However, the 2015 Sonata is slightly longer to accommodate that extra feature, giving you full view in what’s to the side/rear of you. The navigation touchscreen was clear but I would have brighter, more contrasting colors in the display as it was tough to differentiate the varying terrains and roads.
Handling was good and the ride was smooth. You could choose from three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. This affected the steering and how the car performed. You could immediately tell the difference. Eco mode is great for city driving to conserve gas, Normal mode works nicely on the highway for an easy and relaxing drive, and Sport mode was just right for the winding turns and uneven side roads. Sometimes, though, I did wish the suspension and handling was just a tad tighter in Sport. The turbo engine gave some great “oomph” for passing slower drivers and merging into traffic.
Inside the car, it was so quiet that you could have a normal-volume conversation with those in the back seat. The seats were also extremely comfortable in front and back. It’s rare that I get into a car and don’t have to do a gazillion adjustments to the height, distance, angle, and lumbar support to get comfy. This car was just such a joy to drive and to ride in.
Sonata Sport vs Sonata Sport 2.0T
During the afternoon, we switched out to a standard 2015 Sonata Sport. Unfortunately, this felt like a completely different automobile. The engine had a larger capacity but lacked the power of the turbo, making the drive feel more forced. With cloth interior, a blind spot mirror on the driver side (has a secondary mirror in the corner verses an electronic detection light), and an non-updated control area, I wasn’t feeling the love experienced in the 2.0 turbo.
Final verdict of this 2015 Hyundai Sonata review? The all-new Sonata is a car that I’d highly recommend to families, carpool groups, and people who want a sensible yet fun car. However, to really enjoy the newest design features and technologies, it’d be best to go with the Limited or Sport 2.0T trim and shell out some extra for those upgrades. In the long run, they are very much worth it and you’ll be happy with your vehicle for a much longer period of time.
29 comments
Looks like a great car. They seem to have improved a lot!
I have never owned a Hyundai but I have heard that they are great cars. I like the look of the Sonata.
My hubby used to have a Sonata. It was a really nice car!
Oh what a fun car… seems like it has pretty much everything one needs… and it is cute and sporty. Thanks for sharing.
Love this car- my parents have a 2012 and 2014 and they love them (and the Genesis, which is AWESOME!). I think the cupholders in the back are the best feature- no spills because they’re easy to grab- a total win!
The Sonata is a really great car. It has very good safety ratings, and that’s extremely important in my book.
That is a nice looking car. The good safety ratings are so important so I am glad to see it has those!
What great features! I spend so much time in my car, driving all over each day to school and activities – all these features are greatly needed and wanted!!
Oh that car is just so beautiful! We used to have a hyundai and it was a favorite car. I would love to get another one some day.
Very nice! I love the slick design with lots of nice uploaded featured.
Hyundai has been making some really nice vehicles for a while now. I really like the look of that Sonata.
It looks really, really nice inside! So new and luxurious! I de hear that they have a good reputation for safety and mechanics too…hmmmm. Might have to go look at these this weekend. My hubs needs a new car BAD!
I can not believe that I have been pronouncing the name wrong for all these years! Great review.
This looks like a really nice car. I love the color and all the features!
That is a nice looking car! Awesome!
I had a 2014 Hyundai Elantra for a loaner car and it was terrible! Good to know that the 2015 Sonata 2.0 is better.
That’s a nice looking car, I always struggle with pronouncing Hyundai.
Since I’ll probably get a car when I replace the one I have, this sounds like it could be a very real option for me. (Turbo version of course.) Excellent review, Terri Ann.
Beautiful car! I have to drive a SUV, too many kids!
You always have the best car reviews. This is one fabulous car.
She’s a beauty, love the color!
Looks like a great car with many wonderful features. Love that color too!
WOW.. I had to look twice, at first I thought this was a different car brand… WOW.. LOVE the Hyundai… this one looks awesome and so affordable with all the bells and whistles.. we are currently looking so this will be on my MUST see list for sure..thanks for the great review and I would have never looked at a Hyundai, totally excited now.
That is a very sleek looking car! I really enjoyed your review of the Sonata; I feel like I got a really good look at the Sport vs. the Sport 2.0.
My friend is in the process of looking for a car. I’ll have to share this with them.
I absolutely love the color. Too cute!
Hyundai has come such a long way in the past few years. I really the Genesis!
I love the look of the new Sonata. I am a huge fan of Hyundai cars, this looks like it is going to be great too!
I love the look of it. I feel the same way about the car I’m driving now. It’s worth it to pay for the upgrades. In hindsight, it would have kept me in love with it longer.
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