DRIVEN: 2016 Hyundai Sonata

For the first 20 years of Hyundai's existence, their slogan could have easily been "Dull but sensible." From the late 1980s, when Hyundai entered the U.S. market, until the late 2000s their products were practical and functional, but certainly not desirable. But in 2010, Hyundai unveiled a radical look with a new Sonata midsize sedan and Tucson compact crossover. These two vehicles ushered in the "Fluidic Sculpture" design language, signaling a major shift as Hyundai began to shed its bland image over the next few years.

Now, in 2017, Hyundai has solidified itself as a main player in the affordable family car segment as it has continued to roll out more capable and attractive vehicles. "Fluidic Sculpture" has given way to a more sophisticated and straight-edged look, but the newest Sonata appears to be relying on these good looks to cover up some deeper flaws. Over the summer, I spent a week with a 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE, and while not as radical as its predecessor, the 2016 model is quite handsome. However, a few minor issues hurt the cabin and loose steering and unresponsive brakes let it down on the road.


Up front, the trapezoidal grille with thin horizontal chrome bars lends the Sonata a stately appearance and the shiny coating adds a dash of luxury. Chrome also graces the lower fascia, where a thin bar creates a sort of "eyebrow" for the fog light housing. While this "eyebrow" looks sharp, the base model doesn't actually feature fog lights in the housings, resulting in lots of empty, cheap-looking space. Above this design flourish sit the attractive headlights, the orientation of which echoes that of the previous generation: extending backwards and slightly widening when bending around onto the front fender. However, the 2016 Sonata does away with its predecessor's swooping design language, instead featuring a more squared-off outline. While conservative, the heavy use of straight lines creates a dignified, mature front fascia.

The attractive but safe styling continues on the sides of the Sonata, with a sharp character line traveling from the front wheel arch to the gas cap and another straight crease running parallel along the bottom of the doors. The five-spoke hubcaps are a pretty standard affair, as is the daylight opening, which simply follows the outline of the roof. One of the most unique elements of the previous generation returns: the chrome window trim starts at the headlight, instead of the base of the A-pillar, before wrapping its way around the side windows. By connecting the headlights to the daylight opening and extending the line created by the flowing LED strip in the headlight, this element subtly creates a cohesive profile design.

The Sonata features a short rear deck, making this midsize sedan seem more like a fastback. While a fastback design makes some cars, like the Audi A7, sleeker others end up looking stunted, like the BMW 5 Series GT. The Hyundai is somewhere in between--when viewed from the side, the roofline smoothly flows into the taillights, but when viewed from a rear three-quarters view it appears stubby. The rear deck also featured a small lip spoiler, which, along with the chrome-tipped trapezoidal exhaust pipes, adds a sporty flavor to the rear design. The taillights continue the trend from the front end of expressive, sharp, and straight lines. Overall, the rear end is attractive, although it would have been nice to see more chrome, to match the more luxurious and stately front end.

If all you did inside the Sonata was sit and look around, you would be quite happy. The seats, both front and back, are comfortable, although the off-white color makes dirt and stains easily visible. Legroom is plentiful for the front and rear seats, while headroom is spacious up front and slightly constricting for taller occupants in the back. The front dashboard design, while not particularly exciting, is still pleasant to look at--the combination of black, silver, and light tan works together well. The center console is well-organized and features a 7-inch infotainment screen--adequate for the segment. The piano black trim looks luxurious and isn't overused, which means fewer smudges. The gauge cluster behind the simple steering wheel also features a clean, ordered layout. The small screen in between the two gauges displays a useful graphic showing which doors are open.

However, once you begin to play with the knobs and interact with touch points, the Sonata begins to falter. The silver woven trim doesn't stand out when viewed from afar, but up close the bumpy texture looks and feels cheap. The dashboard would have fared better had it featured the smooth silver trim from the center console. The central control center is also flawed. The hazard button doesn't light up when the hazards are turned on, making it harder to know if you have accidentally left them flashing. The tuning and volume knobs for the radio were a bit finicky, making it easy to accidentally flip past the radio station you wanted or have trouble adjusting to the right volume. Finding the right station might not be a huge issue when cruising around your hometown, since you could preset your favorite stations, but when traveling somewhere new, as I was, it can get quite frustrating--particularly when searching through the myriad of channels offered by Sirius XM satellite radio. The ceiling of the cabin was covered in inexpensive fabric, which created an unattractive bump around the main cabin light.

Another annoying feature is the air conditioning vents, as the tabs used to adjust the direction of airflow prevent the vents from being fully closed causing conflict when one person gets cold but the others still want the AC. While they could simply try pointing the vent as far away from themselves, even this measure is futile, as the bulkiness of the tabs limits the angle at which the vents can be adjusted. My final quibble with the interior is one of personal preference, as I find the leather gear shift covers lumpy and unattractive.


Despite its distinguished looks, the Sonata does not drive like a luxury cruiser. The steering wheel feels very light, with a small adjustment by my hand causing the steering wheel to turn far more than was intended. This loose steering is uncommunicative, and definitely does not instill confidence in the driver. Neither do the unresponsive brakes. When I would push down on the brake pedal, there was absolutely no feedback, meaning I couldn't feel how much I was actually slowing down. While a quick check of the speedometer and my seat belt holding me in place through Newton's Third Law confirms that I am actually slowing down, it can still be disconcerting.

I also found issues with the gas pedal. Acceleration at city speeds was adequate, but pushing just a bit too hard on the throttle when at a standstill causes the Sonata to stumble slowly and then suddenly lurch forward. Furthermore, between 45 and 65 mph, the Sonata felt impossibly slow. When I would press down the throttle, the car would continue at that speed for what seemed like an eternity (probably more like 3 seconds) before finally kicking in and speeding up. This delayed acceleration was frustrating, and could prove stressful when passing on a two-way country road. Finally, the automatic gear shifter felt clunky when changing from "park" to "drive." Overall, from the driver's seat, the Sonata was a disappointment to drive.

The Sonata's handsome exterior design and pleasant interior are overshadowed by functionality issues in the cabin as well as unresponsive brakes, steering, and acceleration. Hyundai has certainly come a long way in the design department, but their midsize entry fails to provide a really gratifying driving experience.

Grade

Front: B+

Back: B+

Overall Exterior: B+

Front Seats: B-

Rear Seats: B

Overall Interior: B- 

Driving: C-

10 Worst Current Car Model Names

A little while ago, I covered my top ten favorite car model names, and now it's time to look at the worst ten of the current crop of vehicles. Note that this is only for the United States market, which excludes all of the absurd names from Japan-only cars, like the Nissan Homy Super Long. This also leaves out the European markets, but in the future I will do a top ten list that covers those vehicles. Without further ado, here are the worst ten current model names:

10. Toyota Yaris

Toyota Yaris at the 2015 NYIAS

The unusual name Yaris is derived from the singular form of "Charites," the Greek goddesses of charm and beauty. All three generations of the Yaris (sold as the Echo in the US in its first iteration) have been neither beautiful nor charming, instead being bland and forgettable. I guess Toyota thinks too highly of its designers, because the name Yaris simply doesn't fit.

9. Volkswagen Tiguan

VW Tiguan GTE Active Concept at the 2016 NYIAS

Tiguan sounds weird, but it gets even stranger once you know where the name comes from. Supposedly, Tiguan is a portmanteau of the German words for Tiger ("tiger") and iguana ("leguan"). I am not sure how tigers and iguanas are related, and what either animal has to do with a German compact crossover. This combination is odd and very contrived.

8. Buick LaCrosse

Buick LaCrosse at the 2016 NYIAS

I always assumed that the LaCrosse was named for something other than the sport, but believe it or not, it is. Why a sensible premium sedan is named for an often violent, fast-paced sport is beyond me, but what I also dislike about this name is the way GM decided to spell it out. Last I checked, lacrosse did not have a uppercase "C," so this capitalization feels totally unnecessary.

7. Mitsubishi Mirage

Mistubishi Mirage at the 2016 NYIAS

Mirage is a fun word to say since the "aaj" sound rolls off the tongue well, but the definition makes customers second-guess the hatchback's abilities. The official definition according to Merriam-Webster is "something that you hope for or want but is not possible or real." Considering that Mistubishi's fuel economy numbers have been a mirage for many Japanese customers since 2002, this is not a moniker that establishes confidence in the customer.

6. Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai Veloster at the 2014 NYIAS

According to Hyundai, Veloster is a combination of "velocity" and "roadster." The first thing that is obviously wrong with the name is that the Veloster is not a roadster, but a hatchback. The "velocity" part is also misleading--the base comes with a paltry 132 hp (adding a turbo gets the inline-4 to 201 hp), and the zero to sixty times never breach the 6.8 second mark. While the name is not in any way applicable to the hatch, my biggest issue with it is that the word simply sounds childish.

5. Maserati Ghibli

Maserati Ghibli at the 2016 NYIAS

Yes, I know the Ghibli name hearkens back to 1960's grand tourer, but still the name sounds really odd to me. The combination of i's and l's does not communicate luxury or sportiness to my ears--instead I picture a small Japanese kei car. Perhaps it is that Ghibli makes me think of the comedic dwarf character Gimli from the Lord of the Rings franchise, but this does not feel like an appropriate name for a luxury sedan.

4. Mercedes-Benz Metris

Mercedes-Benz Metris at the 2015 NYIAS

I love vans, and I welcome any new entry to the American van market, but the name Mercedes chose for their newest small van confuses me. I haven't been able to find a meaning behind it, and whenever I read or say it I think of Tetris, the famous tile-matching puzzle video game.

3. Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar F-Pace at the 2016 NYIAS

Admit it. F-Pace does not sound smooth, despite the SUV's sleek bodywork. The name does not follow Jaguar's current naming scheme, an X followed by another letter (XE, XF, XJ). By starting the name with an F, it inherently sounds like a vulgar insult. Overall, the name is not dynamic and does not conjure up images of speed or luxury.

2. Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari LaFerrari at the Ferrari Museum in Modena

Oh no! A Ferrari on a "worst of" list! What a sacrilege! The LaFerrari is certainly an automotive spectacle, both for its beauty and insane performance, but the name is completely lazy. It translates as "Ferrari TheFerrari," and the repetition does not sound as sexy as the supercar looks. It is easy to overlook such a bad name when the styling is so stunning and the performance is so dazzling, but when it comes down to it, LaFerrari is a disappointing name.

1. Bentley Bentayga

Bentley Bentayga at the 2016 NYIAS

Bentley's first foray into the SUV segment also has a repetitive name. The name supposedly comes from a mix of the company's name and Taiga, the world's largest transcontinental snow forest, while also being inspired by the Roque Bentayga, a peak in the Canary Islands. The name Taiga is intriguing and exotic, and would have worked great. However, by incorporating the "Bent," the name sounds repetitive and doesn't fit with the staid, luxurious presence of Bentleys. 

European Vans: Part 2

In my last blog, I analyzed some of the vans that I saw on my recent trip to Italy. Here, in Part 2, are the rest:

Renault/Nissan/Opel/Mercedes-Benz

A Renault Master in Sorano

A Nissan NV400 in Verona

Call it the Renault Master, call it the Opel Movano or even Nissan NV400, but by any name, this van still is a bit gawky and awkward. All three are identical and simply rebadged under different names (with a fourth, the Vauxhall in the U.K.); their most prominent feature in the front are the vertically oriented headlights, which look as if they are being pulled upwards by a string attached to the top of the unit. From the side, the headlights are reminiscent of the oversized headlights on the Chevy Spark compact car. These large headlights make the van appear unusually tall, and sometimes a bit unstable, as if a strong gust of wind could blow the top-heavy vehicle over. The headlights on the Nissan are a bit shorter, but the effect remains. The main difference between the three is in the grilles. The Renault grille has three horizontal bars painted in gray, each with four evenly spaced, rectangular holes. The color and the design have a very industrial feel, and give the van a fittingly tough appearance. The Nissan features the corporate grille, which is not nearly as handsome as the Renault, although it is better than the Opel, which has a lackluster chrome bar atop a black mesh grille. 

A 2nd generation Vivaro in Massa Marittima

(I'm not going to discuss the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the other competitor in this segment, because it is also sold in the US.) 

A 3rd genereation Vivaro in Venice

Below the Master/Movano/NV400 is the Renault Trafic/Opel Vivaro. Most of the Trafics and Vivaros that I saw were the second generation model, which looks like an alien with its slanted front and large circular headlights that dwarfed the tiny grille. However, there is a much more attractive third generation model that I spotted a few times. While the headlights are still oddly shaped, they are aggressively angled, and connect to the large, bold grille. On the Renault, the grille is all black with horizontally oriented slats. The Opel is a bit more luxurious, with thin chrome horizontal bars. The lower front fascias are also quite different, with the more utilitarian Renault getting a large black plastic bumper, and the upscale Vivaro getting a wide lower intake and shiny black fog lamp housings. On both vans, a very strong character line extends down from the window and runs along the side panels. While not necessarily the most attractive vans, these two cargo-haulers feature a bold and interesting design. 

Vito in Grosseto

In the Mercedes lineup, the Vito slots beneath the Sprinter. The most expensive, and best-looking, passenger version is the V-Class, and it comes with LED lights and chrome-covered front and rear fascias. A cheaper passenger version, called the Vito Tourer is also offered, with basic head and taillights, and on the cheapest trims, an ugly black plastic front bumper. The cargo version, called simply the Vito, features the same plastic bumper as the Tourer, however, it looks a bit more appropriate on the Vito since it is a work vehicle. Whether or not it has the bumper, all of the Vito/V-Class vans look handsome. Every element is proportioned well, and the headlight shape, which is in line with the rest of the Mercedes family, is unique compared to other vans as well as being pleasing to the eye. Strong creases through the door handle and down the side complete the sturdy and striking appearance of the Vito.

Vito Tourer in Florence

For those who need a slightly smaller van, Renault and Mercedes teamed up for the Kangoo and Citan, respectively. Up front, the Renault has simple, round headlights and a black plastic fascia. Chrome inserts and a large silver logo finish off the basic front end. Only the lower front fascia on the Merc is coated in black plastic, lending the van a slightly more luxurious look. A substantially sized grille gives a bolder look to the Benz, but from there back it is nearly identical to its French counterpart. These two vans come in three sizes: compact, long, and extra long. While compact and long look normal, extra long ruins the proportions of the vehicle, distorting the cute appearance of this little van.

In this segment, Opel offers the Combo, which is a rebadged Fiat Dobló. For more on this vehicle, see my previous post on European vans. Nissan's offering in this segment is the NV200, which is sold in America, and is the new staple of New York's taxi fleet, replacing the Ford Crown Victoria.

Volkswagen

Crafter in Florence

At the top of VW's commercial vehicle range is the Crafter, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. However, it has a completely unique front, with tall headlights and a wide grille with three horizontal bars. Like most VWs, the Crafter has many straight lines, and looks handsome, but the way the grille juts out and the way the vertical headlights flow into the hood create a unique front fascia. 

Multivan in Florence

Beneath the Crafter is the T Series, which consists of the Transporter, Multivan, Caravelle, and California. While the  6th generation just debuted, I'm going to focus on the 5th generation models, which is what I saw on the streets of Italy. The Transporter is the most utilitarian van in the range, and is offered in both passenger and cargo versions. The black plastic bumper differentiates it from the other models. The Multivan and Caravelle are more passenger-oriented vehicles, while the California is a full-fledged camper van. All four models feature the same simple rectangular headlights and thin rectangular grille. Despite how simple the VW's front fascia is, they are quite handsome vehicles, and look especially cool with the optional two-tone red and white paint job.

Caddy in Florence

The Caddy, VW's smallest van, also recently got an update, but since it was not yet for sale, I will focus on the pre-facelifted version. While the taillights look really out of date, the headlights and grille provide the classic VW look: as if it was designed using only a ruler. While not exciting, it is predictable and decent looking. 

Dacia

While I was unable to capture a photo of it, I did see a handful of Dacia Dokkers. The Dokker looks awfully similar to their minivan offering, the Lodgy, with it's pointy headlights and wide grille. It came as a passenger and cargo van, as well as a pickup truck. Like all Dacias, it was incredibly simple, and the front fascia was masked in black plastic. However, the triangular headlights added some character the van. 

Hyundai

I saw one Hyundai H350, and it was parked in front of a Hyundai dealership. While sales appear to be slow, it is not a bad looking vehicle. Bold headlights with straight edges and LEDs stand out, and look relatively aggressive. The extremely large grille is also a plus. Although I only one, this is one of the better looking vans that I spotted in Italy. 

And one final note: I did see one American van while in Italy. It was a grey post-facelift Chevy Express, and looked really out of place among the sleek European vans. You can spot it in the background of the photo of the Mercedes Vito.