Economical Sonata places Hyundai on Comeback Trail

DETROIT - It didn't take long for Hyundai's gamble in the American market in 1986 to begin paying off, But the immediate good fortune the South Korean auto maker won by offering a cheap alternative to established economy nameplates quickly soured.

Its first model, the Excel, had serious quality problems, giving Hyundai a reputation no company wants. But the company has persevered, introducing new products and weathering the Asian financial crisis.

Remaining a less-expensive alternative to Toyota, Honda and other imports, Hyundai is seeing a sales surge; retail sales were up 54 percent in January from a year earlier. For the first time in years, dealers are begging for more cars while the company considers expanding its dealer network.

To raise consumer confidence in the much improved quality of its product, the company introduced an innovative new warranty, the Hyundai Advantage, with coverage that rates among the industry's best.

New products, like this year's midsize Sonata and compact Elantra, have arrived, with more to follow, including the stylish, compact Santa Fe sport utility.

The sonata sedan, redesigned for the 1999 model, shows just how far Hyundai has come. It breaks ranks with its Asian counterparts by establishing a styling statement of its own. Hyundai's California Design Center, which styled the Sonata has long turned out eye-catching concept cars. Some of that style is now seen in production vehicles.

The rear styling of the Sonata is especially distinctive. The trunk lid is squared off with a sharply creased edge, as on many other modern cars, but the profile of the back end is shaped like a tombstone.

The front features a wide, elliptical grille. The overall look of the forest green GLS test car war elegant and sophisticated.

As is the Toyota Camry, the new Sonata is classified as a five-passenger midsize. It shared the same basic dimensions with its Japanese competitors and the previous Sonata, though it is a couple of inches wider than the earlier version for increased interior room. Likewise, the New Sonata has a tad more headroom than the one it replaces.

The attractive interior, which was beige and taupe leather in my test car, us loaded with storage nooks, crannies, bins and pockets. My single complaint with the interior was the cheap-looking fake wood.

Two new engines, new transmissions and new double-wishbone suspension were developed for the Sonata. The base engine is a 2.4-liter, dual-cam four-cylinder, one of the most powerful four-cylinders in its class at 149 horsepower and 156 foot-pounds of torque.

But the V6 engine in the GLS, though competitive, cannot claim any bragging rights. That 2.5-liter dual-cam engine is rated at 170 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque; the Accord and Camry have 3-liter V6's that produce nearly 200 horsepower.

The ride and handling of the test V6-powered GLS equaled those of the Japanese competitors in the class, which are generally unremarkable. The Sonata's new, more-rigid body lends itself to reasonably responsive handling while delivering a smooth, quiet, comfortable ride. Acceleration form the V6 engine was acceptable though, by no means, neck-jerking.

The Sonata's list of safety equipment, however is impressive. All passengers, including the center rear occupants, have three-point safety belts with pretensioners that tighten in collisions, Dual front and front-side air bags are standard; some competitors do not yet offer side air bags or offer them only as options.