Most of the sedans in this test priced out around $26,000; the Hyundai Sonata costs less than $19,000. This fact alone should tell you that Hyundai is after a different sort of buyer — the buyer who wants to put a cap on spending without giving up a V6 engine or basic comfort and safety features. This is much of the same territory that Hyundai's value-packed Elantra attempts to cover among economy sedans, but as we found in this test, the Sonata doesn't have quite the same success at it in the family sedan segment.

Since the Sonata was the least expensive car in the test, it immediately earned a perfect score of 100 in the price category, which counts for 20 percent of the final score. Although it posted solid scores on editors' subjective 23-point evaluations, it struggled in all other categories. It came standard with just three of the 12 features we consider most important in a family sedan; and three others were available as options. Getting a high-line LX model in place of our midgrade GLS tester wouldn't have helped much, either, as it would have gained only a few additional points for its power driver seat on our list. Meanwhile, the Sonata's performance in instrumented testing was mediocre, and it wasn't a car editors were eager to put in their own driveways or recommend to a friend.

Doesn't sound very promising, does it? Well, in the days of big horsepower and near-luxury interiors in family sedans, the Hyundai Sonata is indeed outmatched. But it does have a few advantages, namely a refined engine, a soft ride, well-designed storage areas in the cabin and Hyundai's generous warranty coverage. Together these won't be enough to dissuade you from buying a Honda Accord, or any of the other cars that finished in the top half, but they may take some of the sting out of settling for a less expensive car.

Like the Malibu, the Sonata makes do with a bland interior populated with anonymous-looking gauges and controls. "It seems like a much older vehicle than it really is," one editor said. Generous use of fabric inserts on the door panels and felt liners in storage areas at least give it a cozy atmosphere. Materials quality is somewhat below average. Grain patterns clash in several areas, and soft-touch surfaces are hard to come by — even the upper dash is hard plastic. Compared to the other imports, the controls have a slightly brittle, flimsy feel. On the plus side, the headliner feels sturdy, and the smattering of fake wood is reasonably attractive. Build quality wasn't too bad, either, as a handful of misaligned interior panels were the only blemishes on an otherwise solidly constructed car.

Up front, the Sonata's flat driver seat offers passable comfort for short trips but lacks the cushioning and support found in the top finishers in this test — and would likely be less comfortable on long trips. Seat controls are all manual in the GLS model, but two-way tilt for the seat bottom ensures adequate thigh support.

In back, the quarters are a bit tight for adults. Limited legroom and foot room are the main problems, as our tallest editor said he had enough headroom. The cushioning is surprisingly soft and Camry-like back there, and the bench is deep enough and high enough to support passengers' thighs. Adjustable head restraints are provided in the outboard positions.

The Sonata protects its front occupants with standard seat-mounted side airbags, but full-length head curtain airbags are not available. The Hyundai earned four out of five stars in all government front- and side-impact crash tests, along with an "Acceptable" rating (the second highest on a scale of four) in IIHS frontal offset crash testing.

The controls were a mixed batch. No one complained about the manual climate controls, but the stereo head unit presented us with a collection of small buttons, while offering neither a two-way seek button nor a tuning knob. Everything else was simple enough, though a few editors noted the inconvenient placement of the power switch for the cruise control on the left side of the dash.

Despite its low-buck status, the Hyundai Sonata offers plenty of compartments for family members to stow their personal effects. The list includes a two-tier center console container; a large, fully lined glovebox; a handy rubber-lined well under the center stack; a change drawer with a neat gradual release mechanism; and a nifty ticket holder on the driver sun visor. Rear passengers aren't left out, as the fold-down armrest offers a spacious home for itinerant action figures. Unfortunately, the cupholder situation isn't as good, as the two in front max out with regular-size drinks. Trunk capacity isn't impressive, either, but the lid is held up by external gas struts and the cargo hold includes a power point and a nicely finished trunk mat.

The Hyundai offers a mostly tepid driving experience. Its 2.7-liter V6 is rated for 170 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and it was about as fast as the Passat in instrumented acceleration testing. Out on public roads, though, the Sonata felt slower, as its engine had little to work with until it had revved to about 3,500 rpm. After that point, the lethargy ceased and the Hyundai offered ample highway passing power. The engine was quiet at cruise, and drivers preferred it to the slightly faster Sebring's due to its greater refinement.

Our test vehicle came with a four-speed automatic transmission (your only choice for 2004) with an automanual mode. The transmission shifted smoothly but was slow on the draw with downshifts. This hesitation was particularly noticeable when a quick burst of speed was needed to catch an opening in traffic.

Ride quality is soft and perfectly acceptable for commuting. Ruts and metal plates tended to upset the chassis a little more than in most of the other cars. When we took a short detour on a two-lane road, the suspension gave up plenty of body roll as the car rounded turns, and the light steering offered little precision or feedback from the road. This is definitely not a car you'll wish to drive aggressively, though it did feel more confident and responsive than the Verona. Brake feel wasn't bad, and stopping distances were decent in everyday driving. In instrumented testing, the Sonata's shortest stop from 60 mph was 132 feet, which is acceptable but ultimately below average in this field.

There's no denying that cars are expensive these days, and if you have to put a $20,000 limit on your next new car purchase, there are certainly worse choices than the Sonata, which covers all the basics. If you can spend a bit more, though, check out some of the higher finishers in this test. You'll be glad you did.

Second Opinions:

Photo Editor Scott Jacobs says:
I think that the Sonata is the culmination of efforts by Hyundai to beat the bad rap some of the Korean car manufacturers left here on American shores in recent memory. The ill-fated efforts of contemporaries like Daewoo and Hyundai's previous shaky track record soured consumers on Korean cars with suspect construction and questionable reliability.

To wipe that history slate clean, our Sonata carried an impressively comprehensive and lengthy warranty, which is an important selling point that overshadows every other aspect of this vehicle. Shoppers who make the most of their vehicles should definitely stand up and take notice. No other manufacturer comes close to matching it. It says to me that Hyundai is serious about its cars, its customers and its place in the American market.

I found the styling and driving characteristics to be middle-of-the-road. The Sonata is packed with plenty of plastic, OK aesthetics and a numb driving experience overall. It does just about everything well, but falls short of impressive. But when I took its very low price point into consideration, I really started to gain a new perspective and liked what the Sonata had to offer.

Every shopper has to weigh the pros and cons of their options. Though the family sedan circus is a crowded affair dominated by some heavy hitters in the center ring, people on a tight budget should really look to the Sonata for its immense value.

Road Test Coordinator Kelly Stennick says:
Korean cars are certainly taking leaps and bounds toward a finish line called respect, but they aren't exactly into the home stretch. Hyundai's current lineup is working on its image problem, but improvement is still necessary in regards to design — both inside and out. The Hyundai Sonata looks like a car that was penned 10 years ago. Nice, but not exactly stirring drivers' imaginations. If it was a domestic car, it'd be a Buick.

Its technology seems equally out-of-date, an example being the annoying chime that signals that a door is ajar. All of the necessary features are present, but none of them are tuned to impress. The stereo reminded me of an old aftermarket setup. The steering seemed light, and while I felt safe cruising around town, it certainly wouldn't be the first car I'd choose for a challenging drive. The engine also seemed loud and slow to deliver power, and the noticeable road noise became an irritant.

Does the mere fact that it's Korean make a difference to me? Would I feel differently about the Sonata if I was blindfolded before climbing inside? Maybe. But as I can tell German interiors from Asian ergonomics, I believe that running a hand over the dash, old-fashioned controls and economical materials would give the Hyundai away.