2018 Hyundai Sonata Review | iDSC051

2018 Hyundai Sonata Test Drive & Review - Glendale Hyundai With a trim level for everyone the 2018 Hyundai Sonata brings it – especially in the Sport 2.0T that The Professor, Clinton Quan, picked up from our friends at Glendale Hyundai.  Check out his complete analysis along with his Top Three Things in this episode of iDriveSoCal.   ***Transcript*** Recording date – March 28, 2018 Clinton Quan: Love the ergonomics, love the design, especially in that three spoke flat bottom steering wheel, it gives it a really sporty look. The paddle shifters, the gauges, everything's right where you want it to be. So that's definitely number one for me. The features and that's what I love about the Sonata. You're getting a lot of features for the price. Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capitol of the United States - Southern California. I'm Tom Smith and joining me today for another vehicle review is our good friend, "the professor" Clinton Quan. Say hello Clinton. Clinton Quan: Hi Tom, it's great to be back for another automotive review. Tom Smith: Thanks so much for coming back. Always a pleasure to have you, my friend. So what do you have for us today. Clinton Quan: I test drove the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T. Tom Smith: So to clarify, this is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T, of course from our good friends at Glendale Hyundai. But not long ago, a couple of months ago or a month-ish ago, we did a review of another Sonata, but that was a hybrid. Clinton Quan: Yes, it was the hybrid. Tom Smith: And that was actually the 2017. Clinton Quan: Correct. Tom Smith: Because the hybrids come out a little bit after the gas powered vehicles, typically. Clinton Quan: That's correct for not only Hyundai, but for... Tom Smith: All manufacturers... Clinton Quan: I wouldn't say all, but most manufacturers. Tom Smith: Okay. Clinton Quan: So the 2018 and the 2017, it's the same generation, but the 2018 is a refresh. Tom Smith: Okay, the 2018's a refresh. So then when the 2018 hybrid comes out, is that going to be refreshed as well? Clinton Quan: Yes, it will be refreshed and it will have the same body style as the 2018 gasoline engine. Tom Smith: Got it. And now you were telling me off mics there's quite a number of trim options in the gas powered Sonatas. Clinton Quan: Correct. There are a total of seven trims. The base trim is the SE, which starts at about $22,000 and that trim has a 2.4L inline four producing 185 horsepower at 178 pound feet of torque. The next trim is the eco, which is about $23,000, and as the name implies it is the most fuel efficient Sonata and that one features a 1.6L inline four turbocharged engine and that produces 178 horsepower, however the torque goes up to 195 pound feet of torque. And then there's the mid-level SEL trim, that's about $24,000. Then there's the sport trim at $25,000. Then you have the top of the line limited trim. After that we move up to the 2.0L turbo charge engine. Tom Smith: Which is in the realm of what you drove. Clinton Quan: Yes, and those are also four cylinders, producing 245 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque. I drove the sport model. There's also the limited. The sport starts at about $28,000. And the top line trim, the limited starts at about $32,000. Tom Smith: Okay, thank you very much Professor. I'm giving Clinton a little bit of a look right now, folks, because he is literally just talking to me. That all just came off the top of his head, there's no notes in front of him.