Overhaulin'

New 2009 Hyundai Sonata model already?

I just saw the new redesigned 2009 Hyundai Sonata and got an invitation to test drive one the end of February. I can't wait to write my review. They are making some big claims but the last time they did that, they fell short again. The look is more refined and the interior materials are said to be "higher quality," but I'll wait and see when I see it. One of the reasons the resale value is so poor on Hyundais is because every 2 or 3 years they change the look and body style of their cars, and we all know nobody wants to drive around in an old model when they can have a new one. Right? I feel bad for those who want to buy a new 2008 model and think they are getting a good deal. What do you think? Have you seen it? klj- If you really are a "biochemistry student" then you must be failing all of your classes. How do you spend 10+ hours per day here writing responses to Hyundai questions if you have to study for Biochem? Give us all a break- There are more Hyundai sales people here than there are questions, and they come out of the closet everyday. Some even proclaim their title proudly! aj2003- Written like a true Hyundai sales representitive. lol. Its bad enough that Hyundai already has such poor resale value, now add it a new model in just 3 years time and you have dealers that will be stuck with 2007 AND 2008 leftovers that will need to be sold at a very STEEP discount. Can you spell 'depreciation' for me? Bobby- you sound so patriotic! "American made." LOL Why don't you explain how all corporate profits go straight back into the pockets of Koreans in Korea? Oh, BTW, Hyundai is not class leading in any single catagory, according to Car and Driver. Their last test of the Sonata placed it dead last in a midsize comparison test and their Tuscon just came in 8th place out of 9! But don't take their word for it- test drive one yourself. "Think about it." klj0412- I almost forgot. Hyundai isn't selling cars because they are building cars that nobody wants, not because of their sales people. All their potential buyers have bought already or tried to sell their Hyundai and found out how much they lost. Again, there is NOT ONE Hyundai that is better than all other cars. Not one. Think about that. GM on the other hand has one hit after another- Enclave, Malibu, Acadia, Sky, Corvette, ZR1, Z06, CTS, CTS-V, Hybrid Tahoe, Hybrid Escalade, Hybrid Yukon winning award after award and selling better than expected. And soon, the Traverse, the Camaro, the CTS coupe and a whole line of new Cadillacs will be there. Chrysler and Ford are in a major turn around phase that will follow in the foot steps of GM. Need I say more? Put your resignation in today at Hyundai and join up in a GM dealer. There will be plenty of work to do!

Public Comments

1. Alot of questions in this question. I'll try to answer each point separately. Nothing to say about the 2009 Sonata that can't be found on http://www.hyundaiusa.com Again you start with the false statements that bear no truth, Hyundai doesn't put out an all-new cars any more frequently then any other brand. The industry standard is 4 years and sometimes manufacturers are doing refresh/slight modifications after 2 years lately. Those buying a 2008 Sonata are still getting the same great car they would have gotten in 2007/2006/2005, this is true of those that bought a 2007 Honda Accord. Now, when the 2009 Sonata arrives at dealers this will drive down the price of the 2008 models slightly. Lots of people love to drive around in an older model, its much more economical and often just as good. My 2000 Nissan Quest is much better in quality then the 2003+ model Quests. I'm sure the new Sonata will be a huge hit just like the outgoing model was. Mid-size sedans and Suv's continue to be the sales leaders for the majority of companies and that is true with the class leading Sonata and Santa Fe models by Hyundai.
2. Its not a redesign; its a mid-cycle refresh. An extensive mid-cycle refresh. I've seen the photos from the Chicago auto show and from the pictures the interior looks top notch. Not sure about the mix of wood and aluminum trim, however. The exterior on the other hand was better off the way it was in my opinion. From the photos the larger headlights look too big now and the grille looks as though it is not wide enough. The old design it seemed to me was very well thought out in terms of proportions. The headlights and the taillights measured the same height at the narrowest and tallest points and the grille looked more proportioned on the front of the car. When I see one in person I guess I will see for sure and maybe I'll think of trading my 2006 for a new one. Hyundai has not done mid-cycle updates on the last 2 generations of Sonata. Camry and Accord changes tail lights and whatever else as part of their mid-cycle update every two years. BMW did a midcycle update with the 7 series and they changed for the better the entire rear end and Audi usually makes mechanical upgrades. What really angered me was when Hyundai released the 2007 Sonata with TPMS when the 2006 did not have it (which is what I bought). In terms of powertrains I agree that Hyundai has fallen short. Hyundai no longer has the great price advantage on their Japanese competitors so they should have tried to stay ahead of the game. Back in 2005 when the new Sonata was launched it had more hp than the V6 of the Camry and equaled that of the Accord (though Honda later pushed output to 242 on the 3.0 V6). The Genesis will have the 3.3 V6 and that will be generating more than 260hp. Why didn't they put this configuration in the Sonata? Also, they put the 5 speed gearbox with the I4 and V6. Why didn't they put a 6-speed with the V6? That would have allowed the car to return better fuel economy as well. Given the investment they must have had to put into this extensive refresh I think the 2009 design will go on for a couple years at least. Some people looking to buy a Sonata will no doubt hold off until the 09 arrives. Others will be tempted by the heavy discounts that the dealers will be offering to clear old inventory. In the end some people care that they will be getting the new model and others don't. If I buy a 2009 Sonata I would have gotten 3 trouble free years from the my car and hopefully I'll get the same and more from the next one. Note to Sunomo: I am not a Hyundai salesman. Look at my Yahoo! ID: it says klj041284; thats my initials and birth date. I am 23 years old and I am a Biochemistry student. In any event Hyundai salespeople are not as knowledgeable as I am about the cars they sell. One time I went to the dealer for service and while I was waiting I was looking at the Veracruz. A salesman came over and I asked him if any were available with the Saddle Leather/Black interior. The guy did not know what the hell I was talking about! I bet if you were to ask Hyundai sales people about the 09 Sonata many of them will not even know that it has been refreshed. And Hyundai execs wonder why the cars aren't selling. Real puzzler.
3. I work for Hyundai. There is no major change scheduled for the 2009 Sonata PERIOD But the comment above is correct, There will be a mid-season refresh. With the lauch of the Genesis, the Sonata must follow in design eye appeal.
4. Combined with Sonata's continued leadership in safety - it remains the only mid-size sedan under $20,000 with standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - the 2009 American-made Sonata is the smartest choice in the competitive mid-size sedan segment. More details and pictures and videos,here: http://news.taume.com/World-Business/Auto/2009-Hyundai-Sonata-4417
5. Wow, such angst about a very mild freshening up of a car. I work at a Hyundai dealer (don't hate me) and we received our first 09 Sonata Saturday and it is not a complete redo, by no means. The front end is slightly different, wheels are a different design and the instrument cluster is nicer. Same engine, same size, same car. A really nice car, but just a car. As for resale value...many cars suffer from low resale value and mostly it's from the rental car fleets dumping low mileage 1 year old cars at the auction. Want proof...go price a "program" Dodge minivan or a Chrysler Sebring convertible at the local dealer. When the factory owns the rental car company, you know they are pouring those cars thru the auctions and it kills the value of the vehicle you bought new last year. I think the biggest problem we have is that we don't keep our cars long enough and we finance them for 6 years now, so of course we are upside-down when we want to trade our 2 year old car in. Lets go back to 36 months and start buying cars we can afford!!!
6. Yup I just saw it on yahoo. I think its ok looking. I dont know why they need an update already. But after my experience with my Veracruz which I traded in for a much much better CUV I definitely would never buy a Hyundai again!!!!!! Very bad resale!!! I got pennies on the dollar for what I paid for it.