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1999 Hyundai Sonata GLS
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| Beautiful Music for Buyers Seeking a Worry-Free, High-Value Sedan |
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 18:07:56 |
| Rating |
 90 ( -14 -15.55% ) |
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Description:
'99 Hyundai Sonata GLS:
Beautiful Music For Buyers Seeking A Worry-Free, High-Value Sedan
By Bruce Caldwell
"You've come a long way, baby" is more than an old cigarette slogan, it's an apt description of the all-new 1999 Hyundai Sonata GLS sedan. It wasn't too many years ago, that few people could pronounce Hyundai, much less name someone who drove one. Hyundai is a South Korean industrial giant, but they didn't enter the American market until 1989. Since Day One, Hyundai has placed a big emphasis on value. Perceived and actual quality control/product refinement lagged behind the value advantage. Much has been done to refine and improve Hyundai cars without straying from their position as a value leader. The new Sonata sedan is the vehicle Hyundai feels can compete head-to-head with the strong players in the hot mid-sized sedan market. After our time in a '99 Hyundai Sonata GLS sedan, we think Hyundai has a worthy competitor to segment leaders like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Other strong competitors include the Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Galant, and Dodge Intrepid.
Rather than just tell people about the improved quality and reliability of the Sonata, Hyundai put its money where its mouth is with the industry's best standard warranty. Coverage includes a 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, 10 year/100,000 mile power train warranty, 5 year/100,000 rust-through warranty, and a 5 year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program in case you have any type of problem including a flat tire. In essence, this is a car that you can drive a minimum of 5 years and 60,000 miles without worrying about repairs. Given the high cost of auto repairs, that's an impressive advantage with a car that's already priced well below its competitors.
We were favorably impressed with the apparent quality of the test Sonata. Fit, finish, and materials were all excellent. The car is smooth and quiet. It's not the quickest car on the block, but the 2.5-liter 170 hp V6 isn't a sloth, either. The 4-speed automatic transmission is very smooth. Wind and road noise were minimal. The fast-opening moonroof was large with very little wind noise. The extra thickness of the moonroof put the headliner next to our head which was one of our few complaints. Our other major complaint was an otherwise good sound system that came back on much louder than it was when the car was turned off. A few more horsepower would be nice, too.
Front seat leg room was excellent. The cloth-covered bucket seats were nicely supportive with comfortably soft upholstery. Rear seat room and comfort were above average, although our head again brushed the headliner. The interior has the look and feel of a car costing much more than the Sonata GLS's base price of $17,799. That price includes an impressive array of features and luxury options. The only option on our test car was the moonroof. The base 4-cylinder Sonata starts at $14,999, and it's also a high content car like the GLS.
Styling is crisp and handsome, with the stylish looks of a more expensive European sedan. The styling is distinct enough to differentiate Sonata from its competitors, but not at the risk of looking out of place with them. The Sonata has a lot of great safety features including side air bags and very sophisticated seat belts with belt-force limiters. Handling was smooth and competent. The '99 Hyundai Sonata GLS is a pleasurable car to drive in town and on the open road. Overall, we were very impressed with the new Sonata. It's a well-built, solidly engineered, comfortable, spacious, quiet, and stylish mid-size sedan with an outstanding warranty and a price that's hard to beat.
OVERALL RATING: A-
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