Earlier this year, my wife wanted to “look” at new cars, to see how the new ones were better than her “old” car. We went to a local dealership, and by the end of the night, we had traded in my wife’s car for a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. After being a Ford owner for a long period of time, it was strange to me to be the owner of an import. But I think with this car, I am a convert.
The Hyundai Sonata we bought is a four cylinder, four door sedan, and is fully loaded with XM radio, Bluetooth, power everything, and many other extras. The driver seat is comfortable, and I can actually adjust the seat up and down, forward and back to compensate for my height, which most imports seem to ignore. I can actually drive this car long distances and still be comfortable.
Most imports are known for having good gas mileage, and this one is no exception. I still have the power to pass cars on the interstate, accelerate to speed, all the while getting between 30 and 45 miles per gallon. On a recent trip, my wife and I drove for three hours, at around 75 miles per hour. I was amazed when I checked the miles per gallon feature that is built into the odometer and we had gotten roughly 42 miles per gallon over that period of time, which is unheard of for any family car that I know.
This car comfortably accommodates myself, my wife, and our 16 month old. The car has plenty of trunk space for my daughter’s stroller, and plenty of room in the backseat for her diaper bag and toys. During our recent move, the car was able to carry all of our delicate and expensive items, and allowed for enough room to not damage anything. This car has enough room for about anything you need to move.
The only thing that was better than all of that is the price. Because of the time period in which we bought it, we were able to get a really good deal on this car. Not considering our trade-in, we got this car for $17,600. Most full size family cars are usually around $5,000 more, and you usually don’t get it fully loaded for that price.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has completely changed my view of imported cars. This car not only accommodates my family, but is inexpensive to maintain, and is affordable. The next time I look for a car, I will think twice before passing an import.