Sonata Named No. 1 Affordable Family Sedan

[Hyundai NEWS]

Consumer Reports—one of the most trusted resources for automotive research—has named the Hyundai Sonata as America’s best Affordable Family Sedan in this year’s “Top Picks 2012” ratings.
According to CR, the Sonata “provides a roomy, well-equipped cabin, supple ride, nimble handling, and a thrifty 27 mpg overall.” And that fuel-economy mark was achieved in Consumer Reports’ rigorous real-world testing; no other non-hybrid in the Sonata’s class scored higher. Further, even with its “swoopy, coupelike styling, the Sonata still provides decent rear-seat room and rear visibility, unlike many other cars today.”
While the Sonata was lauded for its affordability, it’s still loaded with customer-satisfying content, too. Among the long list of standard equipment, even on the entry model, are features like Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics system, a six-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 sound system with USB port, integrated Bluetooth functionality, and steering-wheel-mounted audio, phone and cruise controls.
This achievement for Hyundai’s made-in-America mid-size sedan is just the latest in a long string of prizes the Sonata has won in just the first two months of 2012. Other recent recognitions include:

• Best Buy Award—Consumer Guide
• Best Bet—The Car Book
• Greener Choice—American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
• Best Family Sedan—MotorWeek
• Lowest Total Cost of Ownership Award—Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com

The Sonata also is as popular with shoppers as it is with the critics. In 2011, Hyundai sold more than 225,000 Sonatas—an all-time annual sales record—with more than 200,000 of them going to retail customers. As a result, the Sonata was one of the top five choices for retail sales in the entire industry last year.
With an MSRP that start under $20,000, Consumer Reports’ Affordable Family Sedan of the Year—the 2012 Hyundai Sonata—is on sale now.