In the parking lot, an unprepared person will not notice the relationship between the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia K5. Yes, they have similar silhouettes, but there are very few of them. Thus, not a single common body detail, and even motors are a little bit, but different. The Camry that appeared two years ago created a furor then, but now we have almost got used to it and against a background of Koreans it feels more classical and aged, almost like good whisky. "The Koreans are undoubtedly brighter. The Kia K5 has very interesting dashes in the headlights, a spectacular stern and it is the only one from the trio that has something similar to a diffuser under the bumper. Of course, it's not about aerodynamics, but it adds charm. The Sonata, on the other hand, is more rounded, with very interesting diode running lights up front and a single tail light.
But there's no arguing about tastes, but we can argue about acceleration dynamics. On paper the K5 is appreciably faster than its rivals. The Kia with the engine 2.5 capacity of 194 hp with direct injection accelerates in 8,6 seconds up to the first "hundred". However, our impartial measuring device did not divide ambitions of Korean engineers. The best result, which we could achieve on asphalt of Myachkovo track is 10,3 seconds. The loss to the declared data was more than 1.5 seconds. But we were surprised even more when Sonata showed exactly the same result. Yes, Hyundai has the engine of the same series Smart Stream, but with an ordinary distributed injection of 180 hp, and a relatively old 6-speed automatic gearbox against the 8-speed gearbox of Kia. Where is the promised advantage?
Camry, as Toyota cars are supposed to do, doesn't rush anywhere. It also has a 2.5 engine, which develops 181 hp. Thus, "Japanese" declare acceleration for 9,9 seconds, but in fact they show 10,5. It is the minimum deviation from the factory parameters within the limits of our test.
In the ring races, besides the engine's capabilities, the settings of the chassis and auxiliary electronics are important. We were very lucky, that all three cars are "wearing" not only tires of the same size, but even of the same manufacturer - Continental. As one could expect, the Korean brothers drive very similar. The difference is only in more strict ESP adjustment of Kia K5. When attacking kerbills and alternating loads the electronics simply takes the traction off the wheels for a while. It seems that the driver has enough time to go outside and push the car slightly. Neither Camry, nor Sonata had such problems on the same bends. But an even bigger surprise was the higher speed of the Toyota against the background of the Koreans. The Camry has a wider track and better chassis tuning as an asset. When driving quietly the Japanese is noticeably more comfortable and seems to be more wobbly. But if one needs to make a turn more abruptly, the Camry gathers. It is far from accuracy of the Mazda6, but it bypasses "Koreans" confidently. Toyota steadily "brings" to its rivals not less than half a second on a short circle within a minute.
The biggest surprise from the Camry is that it is faster in the corners than the stiffer "Koreans."
But the racing for sedans is a bygone stage. In the past, the D segment was considered a family segment and many models had loaded versions. Now it's almost a business class, and the attention to the comfort of the rear passengers is almost more than to the comfort of the driver. Camry even has electric tilt adjustment of the backrest. Range of adjustment is not great, but it raises the status. Also the central armrest has the built in touch control unit of climate, music and back curtain. The "Koreans" do not have such luxury yet, but there are keys on a back of front passenger seat for a person sitting behind to move it forward and to win a place for legs. Though without it the Kia and Hyundai have a little bit more place for knees than in the "Camry". The Toyota, on the other hand, leads in terms of headroom. It is for you to decide what is more important, but a person of 180 sm. height sits behind him/herself with a good margin in all three cars.
Hyundai Sonata.
The two-colored design of the interior is a great decoration.
Have you already thought, that "Koreans" are absolutely indistinguishable from behind? It is close to the truth, but not absolutely. The Sonata, as well as the Сamry, has side door curtains, but Kia does not have them even at extra charge. It is trifle, but it puts accents. But K5 has very effective illumination of the interior. Not simply diode strips, but beautiful luminous drawing, and there is a variety of colors to choose from. From the point of view of interior illumination, Toyota is the obvious outsider.
Kia K5. Beautiful multicolored illumination decorates the interior, but the hard visor of the dashboard spoils everything.
If a big boss decides to settle down on a front seat, Koreans have a special button, by pressing which it is possible to expose maximum relaxed seating position. And both the passenger can press this button, and the caring driver.
Toyota Camry.
The interesting design of the front panel has already managed to become outdated, and the screen seems small.
In terms of trunks, the Korean sedans are absolutely identical. The mat from the K5 fits into the Sonata almost perfectly. It is easy to believe in declared 510 liters of volume, but it is difficult to use it. The width of the opening is minimal. With such slope of a back window it would be more logical to build not a sedan, but a liftback, like Skoda Superb. But then the already imperfect driveability would suffer. However, no matter how to scold the Koreans, the Camry's capabilities are guaranteed to surpass. The Toyota has appreciably higher floor level, and therefore loses almost 100 liters to its rivals. Besides, because of electric adjustment of backrests it will be impossible to fold them for carrying of long meters. Certainly, we are not speaking about building materials, but sooner or later each owner of a sedan should transport purchases from a store of building materials or sports tackles, and here Japan is the outsider. But, despite of its expensiveness, there is a full-size spare part on an alloyed disk under a trunk floor. In the event of a blowout, it will be enough to install a new tire and remove the deflated one to the basement. For 18-inch tires and Russian destinations, it's the perfect solution.
Kia K5.
The digital dashboard is done well, but it's more of a toy.
Toyota Camry.
But enough of preparatory procedures. It is time to drive and to the city. That's where our rivals will spend most of their time. For out-of-town trips they are not too practical and, strangely enough, they are a bit noisy. At the speed over 100 km/h the communication between the driver and back passengers happens already on raised tones. And it is difficult to distinguish someone in particular. All three cars want to be disassembled and additionally treated with noise isolation.
Hyundai Sonata.
The keys instead of an automatic selector take some getting used to, but there is a zest in them.
Kia K5.
After the Sonata, the T-shaped selector seems simplistic.
The Kia Stinger's non-fixing selector would be better.
Hyundai Sonata vs. Kia K5 and Toyota Camry - we compared three popular business sedans. Which is better?
Toyota Camry.
But the driver in all three cars is surrounded by electric controls and boarding aids. Only in "Koreans" the seat moves backwards, and in Camry the steering wheel goes forward and upwards. It is impossible to realize it in Kia and Hyundai - the adjustment of the column is mechanical.
Toyota Camry.
But the main emotion from the saloons is abundance of electronics. Here the 2-year-old age of Toyota and basically Japanese conservatism is obviously a loser. In top complete sets, K5 and Sonata flaunt digital dashboards, huge screens of multimedia and even back view cameras, which partially replace mirrors. The picture is displayed directly on the dashboard in the right or left circle instead of a speedometer or a tachometer. The solution is unusual and perhaps even controversial, but after the Japanese classics is very interesting. Your friends and colleagues will be shocked. Digital rear-view mirrors in series production have only Audi e-tron, and here the "Koreans" have them, and the price is only a little over 2 million rubles.
Kia K5.
Toyota Camry.
Another innovation is the Sonata's automatic selector. Instead of the traditional knob there are buttons. Like once the Soviet "Chaika" GAZ-13, but at a new technological level. The keys exclude accidental switching from "Drive" to "Reverse" on the run and allow you to win some space on the central tunnel.
Toyota Camry.
Certainly, in rich complete sets all three contenders have heating of seats for all interior dwellers, and front seats are also ventilated. It is real luxury in hot weather. But the Koreans have spared on what it is on window lifter keys. Only the front doors have automatic modes, whereas in Camry you can lift or lower any window with one touch. But, with all desire, it is impossible to order a glass roof in "Toyota", but it is available in "Koreans". Moreover, all interior's occupants can observe the sky, both from the front, and from behind.
In terms of the presence of auxiliary electronics, there is almost parity between the rivals. All sedans have adaptive cruise control and lane keeping function. The latter works a little more stable in Koreans due to the fact that they came out two years later. The first restyling of Camry will for sure restore the balance. But already now you can rely on these assistants. They are able to slow down the car in a traffic jam up to a stop and reliably enough keep a safe distance.
Having added to this noticeably more modest price of Koreans, we can assume that with the big set of options and electronics, they should get the lead. If you choose the car only with a calculator - yes, but if to drive it and drive at least around a salon, and better some days on different roads, the picture can change. It is not for nothing that Toyota Camry is a segment leader for a long time, and even against a background of newer Kia and Hyundai it still keeps the status of the most comfortable car in terms of suspension. Add to it the best handling of all three competitors - and about scarcity of electronic equipment
-rear-and-front-view-camera-6.png)
