- The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo will make 274 horsepower.
- The turbo is expected to return 22 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway.
- Expect the Sonata Turbo to be priced in the neighborhood of $27,500.
NEW YORK — Hyundai gave the family sedan class a kick in the pants on Wednesday with word that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo will churn out an estimated 274 horses when it debuts later this year. The Sonata Turbo made its official debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show and will arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year.
It had been anticipated that the Sonata Turbo would likely make in the neighborhood of 240-250 horsepower — a step up from the 198-hp rating on the 2.4-liter engine. But official confirmation of the 274-hp number helps the automaker chip away at critics who have decried the lack of a V6 engine in the 2011 Sonata. The Sonata 2.0T gets a six-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control.
Hyundai has not yet announced pricing on the Sonata Turbo, but said it is pitting it against the 2010 Volkswagen Passat and the 2010 Ford Fusion Sport. The Passat starts at $27,945, including a $750 destination charge, while the Fusion Sport starts at $27,230, including a $725 destination charge. Expect the Sonata Turbo to end up in that neighborhood.
Hyundai said the turbo model will return an estimated 22 mpg in city driving and an estimated 34 mpg on the highway. The EPA has yet to rate the Sonata Turbo.
The Korean automaker pointed out that the Sonata Turbo uses twin-scroll turbochargers, which "have traditionally been used on more expensive high-performance engines." The twin-scroll turbocharger has advantages over single-scroll turbocharging systems, including improved combustion efficiency, lower exhaust temperatures and cooler cylinder temperatures.
The 2.0T engine will be available on the SE and Limited trim levels, with the 2.0T Limited getting additional upgrades. They include a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch hyper silver alloy wheels, a dual exhaust system and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Inside Line says: The Sonata Turbo spices up the bread-and-butter family sedan. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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carnuthead says:
09:14 PM, 11/25/2010
I just bought the Sonata Limited with turbo and Navigation - what a car!!! You won't believe the smooth power this car has. The shifting, whether driving in automatic or using the paddles is very smooth and strong. This engine sounds somewhere between a 4 and six cylinder, not as noisy as their 2.4 but not quite as quiet as most 6 cylinders. I would say acceptable to most people. I owned a 2005 altima 3.5 SE, this Hyundai maybe slightly slower (in automatic) down low but at highway speeds this car is strong, the 50 to 100mph is amazing. I have not tried a hard 0 to 60 yet using the paddles, but using the paddles and keeping the revs above 4000rpms makes for exciting driving - this engine pulls hard!! Only two minor complaints, no passenger power seat, and a very weak horn. I just took a long road trip, driving between 65 and 90mph - mostly 75, I got 34 miles per gallon. A full load like this - all for 27,600 + TT&L - I'm super happy right now.
alex38 says:
10:36 PM, 10/01/2010
@ 1487:
Correction. Excuse me, I am not saying your facts are wrong. I am saying that C&D (which has has consistently placed the Honda Accord at the top of its ranks, has now ranked the 2011 Sonata HIGHER than the Accord in its last test to take 1st place.
Tides have been changing over the past few years with respect to the Japanese makers (read: not for the better) and Hyundai/Kia is now out with Tyson fists swinging.. It's a different ballgame now and Ford has also stepped up its game so good things happening at the blue oval.
alex38 says:
10:31 PM, 10/01/2010
@ 1487 says: "impressive but MT will still say Camry is better and Accord will still sit on 10BEST in 2011 at C&D. To some degree Hyundai is facing the same sort of bias that has plagued virtually every competitive domestic branded vehicle that has hit the market in the last 5 years or so. Its always "good, but not good enough to knock off our favorite competitor". MT ranked the new Sonata lower than the last one in their recent comparo. "
You couldn't be more wrong. Car and Driver placed the 2011 Sonata FIRST in a shootout among the Accord and Subaru Legacy 2.5i in its May 2010 issue. Don't believe me? Read for yourself..
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/10q1/2010_honda_accord_ex_vs._2011_hyundai_sonata_se_2010_subaru_legacy_2.5i-comparison_tests
adukes_007 says:
06:37 PM, 05/31/2010
The price stated here comes from an interview with the Hyuindai CEO who stated that the price of the turbo would start at under $25k. Prices probably havent been finalized yet. I'm sure that the car will be really affordable for what you get.
www.turbosonata.com
isend2c says:
10:39 PM, 04/28/2010
How did we find out that it would cost under $25,000? Where did that news come from? I've been shifting through websites trying to find out the cost...
bb49 says:
06:27 PM, 04/04/2010
This is great--Hyundai is showing Honda what it should be doing with its products. Even if you don't agree with the foregoing, this will be good for all of us as more competition means better performing cars for all of us. I think this is competitive if not superior to the Accord (it certainly looks better than the Accord and the turbo 4 will get better gas mileage than the Accord six). With the Veloster, at least from what has been released so far, being cheaper, faster, having a rear seat and being a non-hybrid (clearly superior to Honda's underwhelming CR-Z), I think Hyundai is moving forward while Honda apppears to be resting on its past laurels.
l2pn1 says:
11:15 PM, 04/01/2010
@bfife22
Well if it helps, FYI; Hyundai, Kia, Chrysler and Mitsubishi have a global engineering alliance. I think they combine research together but then each company manufactures its own according to their interpretation of the blue print. That is why we see some similarities between Dodge's, Mitsubishi's, Kia's and Hyundai's engine.
dover_apex876 says:
01:27 PM, 04/01/2010
Somebody quick, get the stray Jacket for Kia and Hyundai. They just went Ape Sh@! on Toyota: Wow! Now, put that engine in the "11 Genesis Coupe or I will, when I buy one this year.
iskch says:
09:50 AM, 04/01/2010
The Kia Optima looks better.
zoomzoomn says:
06:12 AM, 04/01/2010
They need to put this twin scroll turbo motor in the Genesis Coupe! That car's turbo is rated at 210hp and could benefit from the generous bump in power!!!