2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo Top Speed

2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo Top Speed

Seoul, South Korea— Among midsize family cars, the optional engine is normally a large-displacement V6. But the popularity of that option is waning—the vast majority of midsize sedans are sold with the base four cylinders, which is the way we tested them last year.

With its new Sonata, Hyundai has ditched the V6 option altogether. In its place, the automaker will soon offer a turbocharged four-cylinder that rivals V6 horsepower but returns better fuel economy. Let's see how it runs.

The Specs

The Sonata Turbo's 2.0-liter engine is a version of the turbo engine first seen in the Genesis Coupe. Modified for front-wheel-drive duty, the DOHC engine delivers 274 hp at 6000 rpm. That's 137 hp per liter, a notable milestone even among turbocharged engines.

The motor, which runs on regular gas, is packed with subtle but interesting design features. As with most modern turbo motors, the fuel squirts directly into the combustion chamber, and both the intake and exhaust cams feature variable control. The turbo wastegate is electrically driven and computer controlled. During cold starts, the computer holds the wastegate open, bypassing the turbo to speed catalytic converter light off and reduce emissions. A crankshaft-driven balance shaft reduces vibration.

The twin-scroll turbo takes better advantage of exhaust flow into the turbine, so it comes on earlier and builds boost more rapidly. Maximum turbo boost is set at 17.4 psi. With 269 lb-ft of torque available between 1800 and 4500 rpm, the 2.0T Sonata doesn't lack for low-end grunt.

The six-speed automatic transmission has a short first gear for snappy off-the-line punch and offers better efficiency than the five-speed it replaces. An unusually compact torque converter helps shorten the transmission's length by 1.6 inches, and it's 26 pounds lighter as well.

Hyundai engineers predict EPA fuel-efficiency ratings of 22 city, 34 on the highway, and 26 overall. That's 50 percent better than the outgoing V6, and better than the V6-powered competition.

When it arrives this fall, the Sonata 2.0 Turbo will complete the Sonata lineup, complementing a 40-mpg hybrid and the value-priced GLS Sonata, which offers a 2.4-liter I-4 engine as standard equipment.

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The Drive

Befitting a sedan with somewhat sporting intentions, the turbo Sonata can be shifted manually, by either the console-mounted shifter or via a pair of wheel-placed paddles. The gearbox shifts fine on its own, but we found it quite entertaining to time the shifts ourselves.

The motor suffers little turbo lag and pulls cleanly across the rev band. And it displayed none of the part-throttle surging that plagues some turbo motors. With class-leading power-to-weight ratio, the Sonata Turbo should clear 60 mph in under 7 seconds. On Hyundai's oval, it easily cleared 130 mph and was still pulling.

For the turbo model, Hyundai engineers stiffened the suspension. On slalom and handling courses, the Sonata Turbo 2.0 reminded us of the Mazda 6, one of the more nimble cars in the midsize segment. Pushed, the Sonata gives up traction in the rear first, but reluctantly. We found the tires supplied a progressive, predictable sense of traction, giving audible warning before any sliding began. The only downside is that the ride quality is on the stiff side for a family sedan.

Steering is via electrically controlled rack and pinion, with enough assist to allow for easy low-speed maneuvering and reasonable control at the limit. Torque steer, sometimes seen in front-wheel-drive cars when lots of power is available, was minimal. Hard cornering showed that the seats are not really designed for aggressive driving—more for easy entry and exit—but they are comfortable enough and readily adjustable, and front legroom should be sufficient for all but the tallest occupants.

The Sonata has good-size disc brakes on all four corners, plus four-channel, four-wheel ABS, with electronic brake distribution for straight stops regardless of cargo loading. During hard stops, we found the pedal to be reassuring and progressive. Strong stopping power comes on early, before the ABS kicks in, and without much front-end dive.

The Bottom Line

The Sonata joins a segment packed with roomy four-door sedans, each well-endowed with legroom, trunk space and pleasant interior designs. With the 2.0-liter turbo engine, the Sonata stands out as a more spirited car, not to mention a more efficient choice. It's a strong contender, and if Hyundai meets the estimated sub-$30,000 price, the 2.0T will be a solid option for enthusiasts. Other manufacturers, like Buick with the Regal, are already ditching V6s for high-powered turbo Fours, and we expect the trend to continue.

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo Top Speed

Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/a5948/2011-sonata-turbo-2-test-drive/

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