A New Contender

>>It wasn’t too long ago that you might have turned up your nose at the thought of buying a Hyundai Sonata, a South Korean-brand car. Like Kia and Daewoo, Hyundai did not enjoy a reputation for durable, reliable cars. No South Korean car could match the quality from Japan, Germany or the U.S.

That has changed.

Hyundai invested heavily in automation, assuring that each Sonata off the production line is a clone. Once quality was achieved, the products could be duplicated.

And achieve it Hyundai did. Its vehicles now take on any challenger for quality honors. But when the cost of the car is considered, Hyundai has an advantage. Model to model, Hyundai can sell for less than just about any other.

Here are three things you’ll find most appealing about the 2009 Sonata SE V6: It seats five in comfort, gets 29 miles per gallon at highway speed, and for $23,170, its standard equipment consists of virtually everything that is optional with other cars.

Here’s something else that might make you feel better about buying a Hyundai in these troubled financial times: The Hyundai Sonata is made in Montgomery, Ala. For your money, you’ll get a very complete car. The only option on the tester, in fact, was carpeted floor mats for $90.

Consider safety first. The Sonata has front air bags, side air bags and side curtain air bags for head protection. Electronic stability control, often an option on more expensive cars, will help get a driver out of trouble on slippery road curves. And it has four-wheel anti-lock brakes. The alloy wheels are hefty, 17-inch models—again, more often found on more expensive cars.

Among standard convenience features are remote, keyless entry, power everything, cruise control and a high-end, eight-speaker audio system that plays MP3 CDs and satellite radio if you’ve subscribed and includes steering-wheel controls.