2001 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 in 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.

Interior Features

Given its 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.

Safety equipment includes side-impact airbags for the front passengers, and Hyundai's Passenger Presence Detection system, which automatically disables the front passenger airbags if a child is poorly positioned or too small in stature (under 66 pounds) for safe deployment. That's a feature usually reserved for expensive luxury sedans. Seatbelt pretensioners are also standard.

We have 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. And the cupholders in the center console are too shallow to hold anything larger then a small cup of coffee.