2000 Hyundai Sonata Review (continued)
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Walkaround

With its sloping hood, pronounced grille and large greenhouse, the Sonata doesn't fit the typical mid-size sedan mold, and to our view that's a bonus. The Sonata's styling may not make you weak in the knees, but it certainly sets the car apart from the crowd. Consider the Sonata's prices, and its real appeal comes into focus.

This is a mid-size sedan with a base price that beats the subcompacts from some other manufacturers, and the least expensive Sonata is no bare-bones machine. The standard price includes air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control and alloy wheels. The GLS adds front side-impact airbags and a CD player. The complete option list adds only $2,575 to the Sonata GLS price. With sunroof, leather, ABS and premium stereo, the Sonata just barely breaks the $20,000 barrier.

Interior Features

Given the attractive price, the Sonata's cabin is surprisingly well finished. The leather upholstery gets high marks, and the dash, instrument panel and door panels are nicely trimmed and precisely fit. Each interior scheme has a different simulated wood trim. Our GLS had a gray wood tone that grew on us with time.

It's easy to get comfortable behind the Sonata's wheel. The front bucket seats are supportive but not overly constrictive, making them quite comfortable even during long trips. There is plenty of legroom in the rear seat. The tallest of our testers had no problem sitting behind the driver's seat when it was positioned for a person of equal physical stature.

Hyundai has even joined the race to add more safety equipment. Side-impact airbags for the front passengers are standard on the GLS, and Hyundai adds a feature largely reserved for expensive luxury sedans. Its Passenger Presence Detection system automatically disables the front passenger airbags if a child is poorly positioned or too small in stature (under 66 pounds) for safe deployment. Seatbelt pretensioners are also standard equipment for 2000.

There are only a few things to gripe about inside. The instruments and control labels are easy to read during daylight, but as the sun fades away and the lights come on, they get more difficult to see. The cup holders in the center console are too shallow to hold anything larger then a small cup of coffee.