2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport TESTDRIVENOW.COM VIDEO REVIEW

2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport VIDEO REVIEW

My first evaluation of the all new Hyundai Sonata came courtesy of a range topping, fully-loaded 2.0T Sport and I came away very impressed with the car’s maturation. So now it’s time to see how forgoing the turbo and fancy amenities play in this bread and butter 2015 Sonata Sport.

This Sport 2.0T Ultimate is as high as you can go in the Sonata lineup and it’s quite the car, but it stickers for over $34,000. This here is the step up from the base Sonata SE also called the Sport but you’ll notice there’s no alphanumeric badge following it. It’s the volume model and comes fitted with a revised 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, trading in some power in order to hold the line on gas mileage; now making 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque – still working through a 6-speed automatic and returning 24mpg city/35mpg highway despite its increase in passenger volume and thus weight. The Sonata is classified as a large car and comes with a sizeable 16 cubic-foot trunk and greater rear seat room.

As is often typical in the car world, the Sport moniker usually means something other than what you’re thinking and that’s as true here as it’s ever been. Sport models do receive a more athletic appearance via a specific front grille, bumper, rocker panels and chrome molding but this car wants nothing to do with sporty driving. Instead, it offers the plushest ride in the segment and a luxury-level quietness which together foster a comfy, sleepy cabin perfect for napping kids in the backseat on long trips. The engine provides just the right amount of power but no more to keep the Sonata from feeling overburdened, though you’ll definitely want to step up to the turbo if you have even a modicum of raciness in you. There are selectable driving modes including ECO and Sport but this is the kind of car that has been perfectly mainstreamed – both in its new, more refined appearance and in its completely inoffensive drivability. Some will call it mature others dull – just don’t let the word Sport fool you.

Gray cloth seats greet passengers in a cabin free of distraction. Higher quality materials match this Sonata’s added refinement while the 5” color touchscreen which anchors the center stack houses the backup cam and music functions. Bluetooth for phone and audio is standard and Hyundai provides easy-to-access plug-in points. There are heated front seats and a power driver’s seat along with auto headlights. And for you music lovers, this 6-speaker audio system is one of the best standard setups I’ve heard.

Though there’s no hard disk navigation system in this model without opting for the tech package it does come standard with s complimentary trial of Blue Link which provides driving directions and other telematics based features.

The base Connected Care package with emergency assistance comes free for 1 year while the Guidance package powered by Google adds navi functionality. Each is priced at $99 annually.

The only option on my tester is carpeted floor mats, leading to an as-tested MSRP of $24,110. That’s about $10,000 less than the loaded Sport 2.0T giving Sonata shoppers a wide range in both price and personality from which to choose.

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