First Drive: 2014 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

For those looking for a mid-size sedan that combine the duo relationship between style and performance , the 2014 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T might be the car you’ve been looking for.  Noticed that I said “might”?  Surely, there is no lack in eye candy as former Audi designer, Peter Schuyler ensured  the Sonata would warm the hearts of any style-conscious consumer.  And at 274 horsepower, that’s a pretty decent number to satisfy most automotive jockeys out there.  All within the base price of $34,199, that’s not bad at all for a top trim level.  But enough with the brochure talk and let’s get down to the details of the beauty and the beast within the loaded 2014 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T.

In favor of better fuel economy with similar performance metrics as a V6 engine, the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T is powered by a turbo-charged V4.  The Sonata 2.0T produces 274 horsepower and 269 ft.lbs between the range of 1650 to 4500 rpm.  In real world experience, it doesn’t take long to realize that the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T is no ordinary machine.  Simply put, there is no shortage of power when it comes to acceleration and I would even say that it’s too much!  What Hyundai needs to really work on, is making all this available power more manageable to the driver.  But before we go on about pits, let’s first focus on what’s good about the Sonata 2.0T.

Just like any member of the Kia or Hyundai family, the Sonata 2.0T does not disappoint in both interior and exterior.  In this loaded trim model, buyers will enjoy modern and refreshed styling with upgraded 18 inch wheels, chrome door handles, front fog lamps and project beam HID headlights.  There isn’t much happening in the front fascia with the traditional front grille, but the complex contours of the headlights and underlying fog-light installation helps bring a mature and tranquil impression.  Walk around to the side, and you’ll notice the razor edge running through the door handle  and an additional lower side skirt.  Roll around the back reveals a one piece faux spoiler with chrome accents and a solid rear tail lights wrapping around the rear corner of the chassis.

In terms of the interior, it almost takes a trained eye to spot the difference in quality between a mid-grade Sonata 2.0T and a higher end luxury vehicle.  Buyers will enjoy bold styling in the high grade solid leather panels used throughout the interior.

Center console appoint one of the best infotainment systems in the industry with its massive 7″ screen and homogeneous set of buttons for climate and audio control.  Complemented by the interior culture is the well mannered instrument panel cluster that employs good contrast of black and moonlight color scheme.

The looks and feel of the Sonata 2.0T is great.  Leather seats are comfortable with a plethora of room in both the front and rear seating area and the steering wheel is a good size and smooth feel with a simple and consistent set of buttons for audio, voice and cruise control.  The interior cabin space of the Sonata 2.0T is the high selling point that even rivals some of its competitors outside its league.

Finally, we get to the topic foreshadowed in our introduction.  How well does the Sonata 2.0T really drive?  Well, a four cylinder engine armed with a turbo booster can produce the same performance metrics as a naturally aspirated engine while reducing fuel economy.   Unfortunately with the Sonata 2.0T, you don’t get big horsepower from a turbo booster without compromise, and that is severe turbo lag and non-linear response. Hundredth of milliseconds in real world equates to years in automotive time.  Stomp on the gas, and the Sonata 2.0T takes centuries before power finally kicks in.

Suspension setup on the Sonata 2.0T is setup great for ride comfort, but shows no capability of handling the power that it produces.  Sharp cornering quickly reveals excessive body roll and the steering feels too light and wonky with not enough centering force.  Due to the front wheel drive power train setup, the Sonata 2.0T is also susceptible to a large amount of torque steer.  The Sonata 2.0T is simply not setup to handle the power output of the engine.

The exponential side effect of the turbo lag has also degraded the ride quality of the 2.0T.  Because of such a non-linear zero torque crossing on the Sonata 2.0T, passengers always feel a sudden jolt of acceleration every time the driver presses and releases the accelerator pedal due to the turbo charger compressing and decompressing.

Marketing is great, but too much is not good.  This seems to be a prime example for the 2014 Sonata 2.0T.  While Hyundai has done an excellent job with presenting its beautiful exterior design, maximizing the looks and feel of the cabin space and pumping out extraordinary performance numbers on their brochures, the intrinsic substance of the Sonata 2.0T is simply not up to par, and that is the ride quality and handling.  While others have developed black magic technology to tighten up turbo lag on their power train such as the Ford eco-boost engine and torque vectoring to reduce the amount of torque steer, the Sonata 2.0T has nothing to manage its power.  There is simply no point in pumping out big horse power if the car itself can’t manage it, and this is the bottom line of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T.  Buyers should consider opting for trim models with 2.4L naturally aspirated engine with attenuated power output, or search for other options if power output is a higher priority.