2004 Hyundai Sonata a Smart Buy
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December 30, 2003 -- Fountain Valley, CA -- Car buyers looking for the "smart buy" in a midsize sedan can now look past the higher-priced midsize sedans to find world class value, safety, performance and luxury in Hyundai's refined 2004 Sonata. From its distinctive and elegant look to its advanced safety features, state-of-the-art powertrains and luxurious interior, the Hyundai Sonata offers discerning buyers a high-quality, long-lasting vehicle that offers driving enjoyment and pride of ownership -- without straining their budget.
"The 2004 Hyundai Sonata is a world-class midsize automobile with all the great features you would expect, but at thousands of dollars less than the competition," said Robert Cosmai, acting president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "The 2004 Sonata is luxurious, refined and, of course it is protected by the Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty."
The Sonata's exterior styling presents an elegant and sophisticated look with a bold waterfall grille design and high-tech headlight treatment.
The Sonata is quiet, comfortable and user friendly. Take the hood and trunk details for example. Gas-charged struts are used for both the hood and trunk lid and the trunk features a link-type hinge that allows the decklid to open over-center to provide a large trunk opening.
Loaded with Standard Features
There are three Sonata trim levels for 2004; Sonata, Sonata GLS and Sonata LX and each 2004 model Sonata is loaded with standard features. Every Sonata is equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, power outside mirrors, digital quartz clock, AM/FM/CD stereo, fog lamps, keyless entry and alarm system, center console with storage box and dual cupholders, map pockets in the doors, cargo area lamp, 12-volt DC auxiliary power outlet and electronic remote releases for the trunk and fuel door.
All Sonatas are also fitted with a split 60/40 folding rear seat, cut-pile carpeting and illuminated ignition keyhole. Sonata GLS and LX model features include the 2.7-liter V6 engine, premium AM/FM/CD stereo with cassette, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with P205/60-16 tires, headed outside rearview mirrors, console with double storage boxes, twin overhead map lamps and a folding rear center armrest with beverage holder and storage box, and chrome insert bodyside moldings and bumpers.
Sonata options include automatic transmission, ABS, ABS with traction control, and a power moonroof.
In addition to the extensive list of standard equipment found on the Sonata and Sonata GLS, the LX model includes a leather interior package, a power driver's seat, fully automatic temperature control and the available HomeLink remote system and electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror.
2.7-Liter V6 Engine
Sonata GLS and LX models are fitted with Hyundai's sophisticated 2.7-liter Delta V6 engine as standard equipment; it's optional on the base Sonata. This is the same powertrain used in the Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and sporty Tiburon coupe. Exceptionally quiet, smooth and refined, the Hyundai Delta engine is an all-aluminum 2.7-liter V6 DOHC powerplant that develops 170 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
At its heart is an advanced engine management system, which integrates fuel and ignition controls, providing maximum performance and fuel economy while reducing emissions. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) monitors major systems affecting performance, emissions and smoothness.
With its 10.0:1 compression ratio, the Delta V6 delivers excellent torque output over a wide rpm range. Acceleration is smooth and responsive in all types of driving conditions.
The base Sonata is equipped with Hyundai's proven 2.4-liter, DOHC Sirius II four-cylinder engine rated at 138 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 147 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
With an aluminum DOHC cylinder head and four valves per cylinder, the Sirius II engine offers smooth performance and refined operating characteristics. Advanced features include dual balance shafts, hydraulic valve-lash adjusters, a toothed-belt camshaft drive, aluminum oil pan and a serpentine accessory belt.
Multi-Link Rear Suspension
Sonata's sophisticated multi-link independent rear suspension provides excellent ride and handling characteristics and lots of trunk room too. The trunk offers a 14.1 cubic foot capacity.
Advanced Suspension Design
The Hyundai Sonata features a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Together they provide a balance between the smooth ride of a luxury car and the handling performance of a sport sedan.
The double-wishbone suspension consists of upper and lower A-arms. The upper A-arm is rotated to minimize camber changes, assuring that the front wheels remain upright and in full contact with the road surface.
The lower wishbone A-arm is anchored by a front subframe with a square-tube design. This design improves lateral rigidity and reduces the amount of vibration and road noise reaching the passenger compartment.
The five-link rear suspension features a trailing link, two longitudinal links and an upper A-arm. This suspension design permits the wheels to react independently when the car encounters a rough road surface. Anti-roll bars (25.5mm front/11.5mm rear) and gas-filled shock absorbers in both front and rear further enhance Sonata handling characteristics without sacrificing ride quality.
The Quality is Designed-In
The midsize Sonata is the product of extensive research, during which Hyundai engineers benchmarked some of the world's finest automobiles, and then used state-of-the-art supercomputer analyses to design and manufacturer a world-class midsize sedan.
The quality begins with the Sonata's rigid unibody structure, which was developed with the use of sophisticated supercomputer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools. All Sonatas are built at Hyundai's $1.25 billion Asan Plant, located 30 miles southwest of Seoul, South Korea.
Transmission Choices
A smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment on the Sonata. Hyundai also offers an optional electronically controlled, 4-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control. The 4-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission represents yet another technological advancement for Hyundai and is standard equipment on all V6-equipped Sonata models.
It's an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission featuring a lock-up torque converter and overdrive. Shift quality is smooth, precise and unobtrusive and the automatic transaxle is controlled by a computer chip that uses "fuzzy logic" technology. In addition, using the Shiftronic manual override feature, the driver can manually select the gear of choice. In normal driving, the Sonata is smooth and refined. Yet it's highly competent when driven hard.
Thanks to power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, the Sonata's steering is responsive and predictable, giving the driver a sense of confidence and control.
The Sonata also is exceptionally quiet. In designing the Sonata, Hyundai engineers used advanced supercomputer simulations to achieve impressive reductions in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
Wheels & Tires
Base Sonata models are fitted with 15-inch all-season radial tires mounted on 15 x 6-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Sonata GLS and LX models are equipped with handsome 16 x 6 alloy wheels fitted with all-season P205/60HR-16 high-performance steel-belted radial tires.
Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on all Sonata models. A sophisticated four-channel anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic traction control is also available.
World-Class Safety Features
The 2004 Hyundai Sonata offers such advanced safety features as driver and passenger front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and automatic front safety belt pretensioners with load limiters. The Sonata's safety story begins with the vehicle's basic structure - a highly rigid unibody structure designed as a steel safety cell that helps protect occupants from crash forces in front, rear and side impacts.
Key structural components are reinforced with high-strength steel. Crumple zones in the front and rear absorb impact and deform in a predetermined manner, dissipating crash energy while protecting the driver and passengers. Additional side-impact protection is afforded by high-strength steel beams in the doors.
The Sonata's front supplemental restraint system employs industry-leading technology. The Sonata is equipped with dual front supplemental airbags, as well as side- impact airbags, which are mounted in the sides of the front seats. Satellite sensors for the side-impact airbags are located just outboard of the front seats.
The Sonata also offers the high-tech Hyundai Passenger Presence Detection system, which prevents the front passenger airbag from deploying if the seat is empty. The passenger presence system reduces crash damage costs by eliminating unnecessary passenger side airbag deployment.
Advanced technology also is incorporated in the Sonata's seat belts. The Sonata's seat belt pretensioners automatically remove slack from front safety belts at the onset of a collision. This limits the occupant's forward movement and it also helps position them optimally for airbag deployment.
A single, highly advanced sensor located under the center console controls the front airbags and the seat belt pretensioners.
Additional interior safety enhancements include Sonata's childproof rear door locks, adjustable rear seat headrest and a three-point safety restraint in the rear middle position. The child safety restraint system featuring LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) is also standard.
America's Best Warranty
Underscoring the Sonata's value leadership in the midsize segment is its industry-leading assurance package, the Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty. With this package, Hyundai demonstrates its confidence in the quality of its products by providing warranty coverage exceeding that found on cars costing twice or even three times as much.
The Sonata, like all 2004 Hyundai models, is backed by limited bumper-to-bumper coverage for five years or 60,000 miles.
Hyundai also provides original Sonata owners with limited powertrain coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Even if the car is sold, Hyundai still backs the Sonata's powertrain for five years or 60,000 miles.
Sonata buyers also receive 24-hour roadside assistance coverage at no extra charge for five full years (no mileage limit). The warranty includes emergency towing, lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. In addition, Hyundai backs Sonata with corrosion coverage for five years or 100,000 miles.
