Hyundai has returned the Sonata business sedan to our market. Will it become a threat to the perennial class leader - Toyota Camry, which underwent another upgrade in April?
Engine and transmission
Since the Sonata is new to us, so to speak, we shall begin with it. The sedan is offered with two petrol motors - 2-liter 150 hp and 2,4-liter (188 hp). Both are paired with a six-speed automatic, for which there is no alternative.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZRK Koreans have returned Sonata to the Russian market after a long break. In the new generation the model can be ordered with adaptive cornering lights.
In the case of the Camry the choice is richer. It also has a 2-liter and 2.5-liter engines with 149 and 181 hp, respectively, and the most powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine developing a taxing 249 hp. Transmission is automatic 6-speed. You don't buy such cars without automatics.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZR
Element of Toyota is an unhurried driving. Exactly in such conditions all its best qualities are revealed. Smooth running is excellent. Noise isolation is also good.
Toyota has a bigger choice of power units, but the Camry with a V6 engine, which is not particularly economical, is bought by very few people. Therefore, for now there is parity between the rivals.
Base equipment
The Sonata has five options. Three of them are: Primary, Comfort and Style - are based on the two-liter engine. In more rich versions, Lifestyle or Business, the car is equipped with the senior engine with working volume of 2.4 litres. The package High-Tech which includes panoramic roof, 18-inch wheels, a curtain on a back window with the electric drive, a system of blind spot monitoring and memory of settings of a driver's seat is intended only for top equipped Business.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZRS The interior is cut according to all canons of a class. Wide armchairs in rich complete sets (the Business version on the photo) are covered with leather.
A buyer of Camry may choose from nine versions of equipment. With a 2-liter engine, the basic configuration Classic is available, as well as Standard and Standard Plus. With the 2.5 engine - all others: Comfort, Elegance, Elegance Plus, Exclusive and Prestige. The car with the 3.5-litre engine is only available as Luxury. Toyota is ahead in the number of possible equipment variants. So what about the prices?
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZR
The interior of Camry is traditional. The central tunnel has a place for inductive smartphone charging.
Supertest: new Kia Optima against three competitors
A buyer of the base version of the Sonata gets front and side airbags, ESP, air conditioning, an audio system, heated front seats, electric folding of mirrors and 16-inch steel wheels for RUB. The same goes for the Camry. Only the Sonata has a steering wheel covered with leather in the base. Plus a convenient option - start the engine with a button. Only the Korean also has such in an initial complete set. But the "Japanese" has wheels on cast 16-inch disks, instead of stamped as the Sonata has. The price difference is 2500 usd in favour of the Korean car.
The average complete set
The Hyundai Sonata in Comfort version (for 30000 dollars) will be interesting not only for corporate fleets, but also for private buyers who choose a car for themselves. Available options include LED daytime running lights, parking sensors, rear view camera, cruise control and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Sonata with these wheels, by the way, is noticeably more comfortable than the 18-inch ones that are provided for the older versions.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of the Hyundai Sonata rear view camera ZRU has dynamic markings.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - Rear view camera selection The Sonata's automatic selector has the keys to select drive modes, control the rear curtain and switch off the parking sensor.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZR A panoramic sunroof is available as an option for Russian Sonata buyers.
The Camry in a similarly equipped Standard Plus version is more expensive - the steering wheel here is already trimmed in leather.
Now let's step one step up. The Style version of the Sonata versus the Classic version of the Camry. Hyundai boasts navigation with 8-inch screen, front parking sensors and heated steering wheel. There is also a system of automatic opening of a boot. But the Camry has no such system, as well as the navigation. Electronic navigators are accessible only in the senior configuration Exclusive with a more powerful motor. Thus, in options the Korean will not concede to venerable Japanese. But it is in the complete set with a younger, two-liter motor. And how do the versions with more powerful engines do?
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZR All possible electric adjustments of a driver's seat of the Sonata (on the photo at the left) are already available in the middle version Style. Interior trimming in leather appears in a version Lifestyle, and three-level ventilation is a prerogative of top version Business. Toyota's seats (pictured right) are wide, but without pronounced lateral support. Electric adjustments are available with Classic equipment.
With an older engine 2.5
Toyota has a richer choice of options with the 2.5 engine. There are five versions compared to two for the Sonata. Toyota is ahead in terms of choice, but traditionally more expensive than the 'Korean'. Let's compare, for example, Hyundai Sonata Lifestyle with Toyota Camry Exclusive The Japanese car has system, which automatically switches from low to high-light depending on brightness and presence of oncoming traffic and also LED (after the restyling it has replaced xenon headlights) and heated wiper blades. The Sonata has LED headlights and heated steering wheel. In general, the 'Japanese' is richer and the difference in price, taking into account the cost of cars, is not so considerable any more.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZRKComplex Internet services Yandex.Auto, which includes navigation, streaming music, weather forecast, browser and other services, is available for Camry in Exclusive configuration.
Hyundai boasts 18-inch wheels. The same ones, with which the smoothness of your car leaves much to be desired. But there are adaptive turning head-lights, ventilation of front seats, wireless charger (in Camry, starting with Comfort kitting) and curtains on back and side windows. The Camry has 17-inch wheels, which is more of a plus. It's the optimum size to give the occupants a smooth ride. There is also standard Hi-Fi audio system and electric rear seat backrest. A rare option in this class. The audio system and climate control keys appear at the rear seats. The Sonata's occupants have never dreamed of this. So, if you want to feel "vip", planning to go with the personal driver on back seat, the choice is obvious - it is certainly Toyota Camry. Well if with all above-stated you plan still from time to time to sit behind a rudder, it is high time to look at the most powerful Camry with 3,5-liter motor V6 and equipment Lux. The Sonata has no alternative to this modification.
Loss in price
According to Toyota, on average, it loses value by 12% a year. This is a very good indicator. Besides it practically does not depend on the age of the car, so the words "as much as you bought the car, you sold it for" are far from being groundless. The Hyundai Sonata loses in the price more actively. But here we should take into account that the Korean model for some time left the Russian market. Therefore it remains to judge by the cars of the past generations. In five years of ownership the price of the car can fall by 50%, and on the average Sonata becomes cheaper by 14% per year.
Conclusion
Will the Sonata be able to compete with the Camry? Probably not. Toyota will remain the king of the mountain in the business sedan segment. The Camry has a wide choice of power units and kits. Besides the car doesn't lose the price in the secondary market. Plus the image of the unbreakable car.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the choice of ZRTwo separate exhaust pipes are a sign of the 2,4-liter engine.
Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry - the ZR choiceThe Toyota's six-speed automatic is well matched to any of the engines available for the model.
The Sonata after returning to Russia needs to make a new way. However, it has everything necessary for it: reasonable price and not bad set of options. Not worse than the market leader's. So, if money for new Camry is not enough, the Sonata is a worthy alternative.
-rear-and-front-view-camera-6.png)
