Auto Word by Mark Maynard

The Hyundai Sonata is a well-done package of space, accommodations and comfort, but a little too stealth to get the recognition it deserves.

Recently in the parking lot at work, a colleague gave the car a look and said: "Nice looking. What is it?"

When I answered "a Hyundai," the response was: "Really!"

That evening, a neighbor saw the Sonata Limited V-6 in my driveway and asked: "Is that the new Azera?"

Azera is the step-up model from Sonata, so I considered that a positive comment on the styling.

This is the fourth generation of Sonata sedan and it was freshened inside and out for 2009. Hyundai calls Sonata midsize, but the EPA ranks it as full size. It competes with such cars as the Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

The 2010 model is sold in two models, with V-6 and four-cylinder engines and a five-speed Shiftronic automatic for both.

I tested a Limited V-6 and SE four cylinder. For the money and drivability, I preferred the SE, which with options cost $23,225 versus the V-6 at $28,620. Transaction prices for the V-6 can be up to $1,400 less than the as-tested price, according to Edmunds.com.

It is a roomy car with generous front headroom, legroom and good thigh support to the seats. Sightlines are clear over the hood and over the shoulder. Driver controls are logically placed and easy to decipher. Lighted gauges are an asset in all levels of daylight. The 35.8-foot turning circle is excellent and so is trunk space at 16.3 cubic feet.

The front doors open wide and seat hip height is comfortable for graceful in and out. Interior styling is tasteful and refined with precisely aligned panels and trim pieces. Storage areas abound and the cup holders are deep and secure. The speedometer and gauge array is handsome with metallic trim and very readable.

The gray leather in the test model was bland in appearance and aroma but seemed durable. And gear engagement was notchy as the lever was moved through the staggered gates of the floor-shift console.

The back seat is raised slightly and features a fold-down center armrest with cup holders and a height-adjustable center head restraint — a feature not all sedans offer. There's enough legroom for some people to kick back and cross their legs.

The cabin is well soundproofed, but tire noise is noticeable on sections of concrete interstate.

Standard safety features include six air bags, electronic stability control with traction control, ABS and electronic brake-force distribution.

The powertrain combination of 249-horsepower V-6 and Shiftronic automatic is efficient with fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city and 29 highway using 87 octane.

Performance can be slow to respond as the driver-adaptive electronics catch up to an urgent press of the throttle. The transmission can be shifted manually, but it's not a true sporting effort.

The suspension on the Limited V-6 makes it feel like a cushy sport sedan. It was a mix of compliant softness that bottoms with a jolt from firm shock absorbers.

The four-cylinder SE test car was much smoother in the corners with less tire squeal on fast approaches. It felt better sorted for shift points and acceleration. The 175-horsepower engine is a good balance of power and thrift. Its fuel economy with the five-speed automatic beats the manual by 1 mpg in the city: 22 mpg city and 32 highway from the five-speed automatic transmission, which beats the manual by 1 mpg around town.

The Sonata has all the right stuff, but it's still one evolution away from being a dynamic, driver's car. The warranties are what really turn heads.

The Hyundai Advantage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage with 24-hour roadside assistance — with an allowance for trip-interruption expenses. Powertrain coverage is for 10 years/100,000 miles.

SPECS BOX

2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited V-6

Body style: midsize, five-passenger, front-wheel-drive sedan

Engine: aluminum, DOHC 3.3-liter V-6 with continuously variable valve timing

Horsepower: 249 at 6,000 rpm

Torque: 229 foot-pounds at 4,500 rpm

Transmission: five-speed Shiftronic automatic

EPA fuel economy estimates: 19 mpg city, 29 highway; 87 octane recommended

DIMENSIONS

Trunk space: 16.3 cubic feet

Front head/leg/shoulder room: 40.1/43.7/57.4 inches

Length/wheelbase: 188.9/107.4 inches

Curb weight: 3,494 pounds (3,327 four-cylinder)

FEATURES

Standard equipment includes: remote entry, leather-trimmed seats, dual automatic temperature control, Infinity audio system (with satellite radio, CD changer and digital input jacks), steering wheel audio controls, cruise control, heated front seats, power-adjusted driver seat with lumbar, 17-inch alloy wheels, power sunroof, fog lights, power windows-locks-mirrors

Safety features include: six air bags, electronic stability control with traction control, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution

PRICING

Base: $27,270, including $720 freight charge; price as tested, $28,620 Options on test car: navigation system with touch-screen display and voice-recognition, $1,250; carpeted floor mats, $100

Where assembled: Alabama

Warranty: five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage with five-years/unlimited mileage roadside assistance; 10 years/100,000 miles limited powertrain; five years/unlimited mileage roadside assistance; seven years/unlimited mileage corrosion coverage.

Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at Mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com.

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