2015 Hyundai Sonata Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Sitting at the top of the midsized sedan heap again this year, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata has scored Number One in sedan rankings, as compiled by US News and World Reports. Oddly enough, the affordable price has dropped slightly, making it easier to pile on some extras. What makes it such a favorite? Here are ten reasons to buy and a few that might hold you back.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy a 2015 Hyundai Sonata - The Pros

1: Sophisticated Package

Completely redesigned for this model year, the sedan looks better than ever. Hyundai's Kinetic design and attention to detail has turned this sedan into one of the most beautiful sedans among a sea of look-alikes. The Sonata has an upscale interior that offers a sophisticated look and top quality materials.

2: Class-Leading Space

There's more room in the cabin, too. The Sonata ranks highest in both interior space and passenger space. The trunk is bigger than most rivals by about a cubic foot.

3: Ride Quality

Sound insulation has shut out road noise, making this one of the quietest cabins you can buy. The Sonata's stiffer suspension helps even out the bumps in the road, giving a luxury feel to this ride. Handling is poised and refined with good steering response.

4: Performance

Before talking about fuel economy, it is important to note performance. After all, many cars sacrifice good gas mileage on the altar of reasonable horsepower. The Sonata is the exception. It's base engine delivers 185 horsepower, which ably propels this mid-sized sedan. The Eco turbo cranks out a peppy 177 horsepower. The turbo Sport is much speedier with over 240 horses under the hood. It also delivers 260 lb-ft of torque for rapid acceleration.

5: Fuel Economy

The 25 mpg city economy is good compared to many others, but it is the 37 mpg highway economy that really hits a home-run. You can plug the numbers in a fuel calculator and see that this saves you $2K over five years. If you opt for the Sonata Eco, you can up your fuel economy to a money-saving 28/38. Even the turbo Sport gets 32 mpg on the highway.

6: Simplicity

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata offers modern simplicity, complete with push button start and a hands-free Proximity Key. With the hands-free trunk feature, a Sonata exclusive, you just walk up to rear bumper and, sensing the presence of your key, the car will pop the trunk. The electronic handbrake is so new that many shoppers may not know that such a thing exists. It eliminates the tricky emergency brake and replaces it with a simple push button.

7: Dash Tech

The Sonata offers a choice of two dash tablets. The regular 5-inch model works with your smartphone and Bluetooth. The larger 8.4-inch model comes with navigation. If you are an audiophile, Sonata has you covered with the available 10-speaker Infinity stereo. You can even program your lighting and certain locking features on your second screen, an LCD trip computer.

8: Basic Safety

The Sonata has basic safety down pat. It easily earned top marks from both the federal government and the insurance industry's IIHS.

9: Crash Avoidance

The sedan offers most crash avoidance features that are available on other cars in this price range. These systems watch your blind zone, warning you of any approaching cars that you may not see. Lane Change Assist, which is not available on many rivals, takes this a step further, reacting if you put on your blinker and the lane isn't clear. The lane-keeping feature lets you know if the Sonata strays over the line.

10: Durability

Hyundai has secured the admiration of Kelley Blue Book, JD Power and other leading automotive reviewers for the brand's durability. The Sonata is one of the big reasons for this. Even the paint job is remarkable. Hyundai uses a special rotation technology that ensures a very long-lasting coat. This protects the chassis from rust and other deterioration. Of course, having the longest warranty in the business is another reassurance that this car can go the distance.

Reasons you may not want to buy a 2015 Hyundai Sonata - The Cons

1: Not for Race Car Aficionados

While the basic Sonata offers great handling, it will not be powerful or sporty enough for true driving aficionados. If you want something sporty, you will have to pay more for the Sonata Sport 2T. This moves your price range higher, and it may make you look elsewhere.

2: Dash Tech

While it may work just fine for daily use, Hyundai's more advanced dash tech has been criticized for being unresponsive, and some reviewers have noted that apps don't work or have disappeared to be replaced by subscription SiriusXM.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

Hyundai's emphasis on being "above class" really shows in the Sonata's cabin. The detailing and materials make it truly superior to the quality and design of other direct competitors. If you want better, you really must move up a class.

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata also offers more passenger space than competitors such as the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima. The interior space doesn't translate into a bigger exterior, and the Sonata enjoys a tighter turning circle than its rivals.

The 2015 Hyundai Impala matches or bests most competitors on fuel economy. Only the Altima can claim better, but it offers a significantly smaller cabin and a smaller trunk.

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata offers so much to recommend it that it is truly unusual. The only real drawback may be the less-than-perfect dash tech, but most competitors won't do much better. For the money, you get a high quality product with lots of class-leading features and many must-have standards.