The 2017 Hyundai Sonata is available in three engine options. The base is a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that generates 185 hp along with 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine is available with the SE, Sport, and Limited trim and provides great performance. The Eco trim comes with a much more efficient 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine that generates around 177hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. This turbocharged engine much better city mileage and thus economical for everyday use. All the engines in the 2017 Hyundai Sonata are highly refined although there is a sensation of throttling when you take it on slow speeds.
For all of those who like to go harder on the asphalt, the Sport 2.0T and the Limited 2.0T seem like a decent option. They are equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine that generates 245 hp and a torque of 260 lb-ft. The engine is coupled with the 6-speed automatic transmission (SHIFTRONIC). Even with these differences, the Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and Drive Mode Select options are standard among all the variants, which gives it an advantage over its competitors.
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Models
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Hyundai Sonata
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Mazda 6 sport
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Honda Accord LX
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Toyota Camry LE
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MSRP
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$21,600
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$22,995
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$23,155
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$23,070
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Engine
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2.4L GDI 4-Cylinder
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2.5L DOHC 16-Valve I4
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2.4L 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC I4
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2.5L I-4 DOHC SMPI
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Transmission
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6-speed automatic
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6-speed automatic
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CVT automatic
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6-speed automatic
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Horsepower
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185 hp @ 6000 rpm
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184 hp @ 5700 rpm
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185 hp @ 6400 rpm
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178 hp @ 6000 rpm
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Torque
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178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
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185 lb-ft @ 3250 rpm
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181 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm
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170 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
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All the vehicles in this comparison have a similar power output of around 185 hp with the base model and thus provides similar overall performance. The 2017 Toyota Camry is the only one that is slightly on the lower side of hp rating. The Honda Accord gets a CVT transmission, while all the other sedans are equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
2017 Hyundai Sonata Acceleration
Since we've already discussed the engine of Sonata, we already know that this car wouldn't let you down when it comes to performance. Accelerating from 0-60 mph in about 7.2 seconds, this car is quite quick in this segment. The same was the quarter-mile results when the car raced to 0.25 mile in 15.3 seconds.
With these results, you can be sure that you will feel a surge of adrenaline whenever you'll stomp the gas paddle. This adrenaline kick in more when we get into the Sport trim, whose 245 hp turbocharged engine is much quicker than the base model. The Eco mode is on a conservative end as the fuel supply is milted to provide better mileage.
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Models
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Hyundai Sonata
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Mazda 6 sport
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Honda Accord LX
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Toyota Camry LE
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0-60 MPH
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7.2
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7.6 sec
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7.3 sec
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7.0 sec
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Quarter mile
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15.3
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16.1 sec
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15.8 sec
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15.4 sec
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Engine
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2.4L
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2.5L
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2.4L
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2.5L
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Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
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6.1
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6.1
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5.9
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6.5
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When it comes to its contenders, there are Mazda 6 sport, Honda Accord LX, and Toyota Camry LE, which Hyundai Sonata outdid in the Quarter-mile race. With an 0-60 mph acceleration of 7.1, the Camry did put a challenge up for Sonata but lagged behind when it took 0.1 seconds more than Sonata. However, what was remarkable is that Sonata weighs 5 lbs more than the Camry and is $1120 cheaper but still was able to outdo it.
2017 Hyundai Sonata Ride and Handling
The engine in the new Hyundai Sonata is highly refined. Not only does this give a massive boost of confidence to maneuver down a highway, but it also gives a very smooth, quiet, and subtle feel to it. Adaptive cruise control is a feature that could be used on the highway.
The smoothness and refinement of the engine in the Sonata are no doubt the best in class when compared to its rivals. The suspension is so precisely tuned that it won't even let you sense any distress in your ride. The steering gives very fine feedback and you can easily wrap around a curved road. The low ground clearance does restrict your ride to even road conditions.
2017 Hyundai Sonata Breaking
The 2017 Hyundai Sonata provides a decent enough braking performance in this segment. The brakes are not very squishy or too hardened. Drivers can undoubtedly make an ordinary or crisis stop without an excessive amount of stress. The sedan took a distance of 125 feet to stop from 60-0 mph. They likewise handle going downhill well. All of this could be credited to the 12.0 inches rear and 11.2 inches front disk brakes.
The 2017 Hyundai Sonata gets the biggest brakes in this comparison, with 12-inch at the front along with 11.2-inc at the rear. But even after that, it is not the best performing in this segment.
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Model
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Hyundai Sonata
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Mazda 6 sport
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Honda Accord LX
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Toyota Camry LE
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Brake Front (in.)
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12.0
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11.7
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11.1
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11.7
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Brake Rear (in.)
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11.2
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10.9
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11.1
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11.0
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Curb Weight (lbs.)
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3250
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3250
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3239
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3245
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60-0 MPH (ft.)
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125
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126
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117
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129
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The Honda Accord did outperform this time as it is 21 pounds lighter. The Accord takes around 117 feet from 60-0 mph. The Toyota Camry again sits lower on this chart with a braking distance of 129 feet. The Mazda 6 has the smallest rear brake discs, yet performs similar as the Hyundai Sonata.
