Car & Driver review of 2011 Sonata 2.0 at 40,000 miles

MNagate · 11-02-2012, 01:01 PM

Just got my December addition of Car & Driver today and found this 4 page review. Wasn't very flattering. They did praise the performance, fuel economy and styling, but the car had many issues. Steering and suspension were the biggest gripes. The final quote of "the inability to get the car to drive straight" put a damper on the whole article for me. My question is did they address these steering issues with the 2012 model, or are the 2011 and 2012 basically the same car?

CptCorky · 11-02-2012, 01:03 PM

2012 doesn't have the pull issue as far as i'm aware.

PokerMunkee · 11-02-2012, 01:19 PM

It takes getting used to, very sensitive IMO. If you jerk the wheel one way, it wants to go the other way. Hard to explain just make sure you test drive it a lot.

dolsson · 11-02-2012, 01:43 PM

My car (2011 Sonata Turbo Limited) had the pulling issue but as per one of the TSB's it had the struts replaced and the steering reconfigured and the alignment done. This corrected the problem of the constant pull.

Is it still sensitive? Yes. If you're driving on a road with a greater slope - yes, it does kind of feel like the car is drifting - it's just a very sensitive steering system I guess.

bmw7891 · 11-02-2012, 02:40 PM

My 2011 Turbo has never had the pulling issue.

sonata20t · 11-02-2012, 02:56 PM

What other issues did they have? With the exception of the clockspring in the steering wheel going bad (replaced under warranty), my '11 2.0t has been near perfect (@ 27,000 miles now).

reus49 · 11-02-2012, 03:44 PM

Had an early model 2011 NA and never had any issues with the steering. Now I drive a 2012 SE Turbo and again - no problems!

MNagate · 11-03-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonata20t

What other issues did they have? With the exception of the clockspring in the steering wheel going bad (replaced under warranty), my '11 2.0t has been near perfect (@ 27,000 miles now).

"Cabin wreeked of fuel, PCV hose replaced. Faulty front seatbelt latch replaced. Shift knob recalled and replaced. Leaky oil pan gasket."

performance numbers:

new 40,000 miles
0-60 6.1 6.1

1/4 mile 14.5 14.6
0-100 14.5 14.9

PokerMunkee · 11-03-2012, 01:46 PM

Nice to see them finally get a 6.1 0-60. Their last test for a 2012 was over 7 seconds.

Definitely bad press for the car. I think Hyundai needs to step it up, personally. Fix the road noise, cheap leather, cheap interior controls, and make it handle better. Probably will be my last one for a while, unless they fix it. I know this is a $30k car, but common man!

sonata20t · 11-03-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNagate

"Cabin wreeked of fuel, PCV hose replaced. Faulty front seatbelt latch replaced. Shift knob recalled and replaced. Leaky oil pan gasket."

performance numbers:

new 40,000 miles
0-60 6.1 6.1

1/4 mile 14.5 14.6
0-100 14.5 14.9

They're complaining about the shift knob? Mine was replaced under warranty when I took my car in for an oil change. It wasn't safety related, it had to do with discoloration IIRC since there are no actual buttons on the shift knob.

The other stuff does seem legit though to complain about.

11-02-2012, 01:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
MNagate Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: minneapolis, MN Drives: 2012 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T Posts: 24	Car & Driver review of 2011 Sonata 2.0 at 40,000 miles Just got my December addition of Car & Driver today and found this 4 page review. Wasn't very flattering. They did praise the performance, fuel economy and styling, but the car had many issues. Steering and suspension were the biggest gripes. The final quote of "the inability to get the car to drive straight" put a damper on the whole article for me. My question is did they address these steering issues with the 2012 model, or are the 2011 and 2012 basically the same car?

11-02-2012, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
PokerMunkee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Woodland Park, CO 2012 Sonata Limited 2.0T Posts: 465	It takes getting used to, very sensitive IMO. If you jerk the wheel one way, it wants to go the other way. Hard to explain just make sure you test drive it a lot. __________________ 2012 Radiant Silver Sonata Limited 2.0T Built 8/31/11 Mods: Spoiler, Mud Guards, Clear Bra, V1 Hardwire 27% Tint, XS 6000K HIDs, PrecisionLED 6000K everywhere

11-02-2012, 01:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
dolsson Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 344	My car (2011 Sonata Turbo Limited) had the pulling issue but as per one of the TSB's it had the struts replaced and the steering reconfigured and the alignment done. This corrected the problem of the constant pull. Is it still sensitive? Yes. If you're driving on a road with a greater slope - yes, it does kind of feel like the car is drifting - it's just a very sensitive steering system I guess. __________________ 2011 Sonata Turbo Limited Harbour Grey Luxon Solid Steel Strut Bar Forge BOV Saikou Michi PCV CC K&N Drop In

11-02-2012, 02:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
sonata20t Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Garner, North Carolina 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T, 2013 Hyundai Elantra Limited Posts: 66	What other issues did they have? With the exception of the clockspring in the steering wheel going bad (replaced under warranty), my '11 2.0t has been near perfect (@ 27,000 miles now). __________________ "I'm going to count to three, there will not be a four."

11-03-2012, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
PokerMunkee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Woodland Park, CO 2012 Sonata Limited 2.0T Posts: 465	Nice to see them finally get a 6.1 0-60. Their last test for a 2012 was over 7 seconds. Definitely bad press for the car. I think Hyundai needs to step it up, personally. Fix the road noise, cheap leather, cheap interior controls, and make it handle better. Probably will be my last one for a while, unless they fix it. I know this is a $30k car, but common man! __________________ 2012 Radiant Silver Sonata Limited 2.0T Built 8/31/11 Mods: Spoiler, Mud Guards, Clear Bra, V1 Hardwire 27% Tint, XS 6000K HIDs, PrecisionLED 6000K everywhere

11-02-2012, 01:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
CptCorky Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Washington 2012 Sonata Posts: 32	2012 doesn't have the pull issue as far as i'm aware.

11-02-2012, 02:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
bmw7891 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pearl River, LA 2011 Sparkling Ruby Sonata SE 2.0T: Nameless Performance intake w/K&N filter; Megan Racing downpipe Posts: 202	My 2011 Turbo has never had the pulling issue.

11-02-2012, 03:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
reus49 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Miramar, Florida USA Sonata 2012 SE TURBO 2008 Santa Fe Limited Posts: 660	Had an early model 2011 NA and never had any issues with the steering. Now I drive a 2012 SE Turbo and again - no problems!

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