Four Seasons Introduction: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE

Something new, shiny, and exciting just rolled up to the Automobile offices. No, it isn’t a new exotic car, but the newest addendum to our Four Seasons fleet: a 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE.

Exciting? You bet. Entering the luxury sedan market to compete with the likes of Lexus may have garnered more headlines, but few automotive markets are as cutthroat as today’s midsize sedan segment. Despite facing competition like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, transforming the Sonata from a barebones, budget-priced offering into a stylish, sophisticated sedan has apparently worked wonders for Hyundai. Sonata sales are up nearly 47 percent in the first five months of 2010 alone, and we doubt that momentum will slow in the months to come.

Speaking of luxury, it’s easy enough to load up a Sonata with some pretty sophisticated content. We didn’t, however, go wild with our option choices. We desired a navigation system, but didn’t want the extra expense of leather seating and other fanciful features. Thankfully, it is possible to build such a vehicle. A mid-level Sonata SE with navigation carries a reasonable base price of $25,965, and in typical Hyundai fashion, it carries a long list of standard equipment, including 18-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, keyless entry and ignition, XM satellite radio, a USB audio input, and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.

Will we love it? Only time — 12 months, specifically — will tell, but our early encounters with the Sonata have been quite positive. And if our experiences with the Genesis prove anything, we expect the Sonata to be a reliable, competent performer over the next 365 days. Stay with Automobile Magazine for the latest updates on our latest Four Seasons car.

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