Used 2002 Hyundai Sonata Consumer Reviews
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Changed Attitude
When my wife & I had our first baby, we went car shopping to replace my old sports car. I looked at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Taurus, Acura & Lexus. We were floored at the average prices on the sticker. My father in law recommended Hyundai, I always thought Hyundai's product was not as good as the other makes, but was I wrong, we've had this car for almost 2 years, & I can definitely say that Hyundai has improved it's product by leaps & bounds. I am a very satisfied Hyundai Sonata owner & I didn't get sticker shock either!!!
'02 Hyundai Sonata LX
The car is an outstanding value. With the single exception of horsepower, much more bang for the buck than Chrysler Sebring or Mercury Sable. Very comfortable and roomy interior. Unmatched warranty. Only irritation has been three incidents where "Check Engine" light came on due to an overly sensitive O2 sensor. Minor fixes, all under warranty, corrected them, but could have done without the inconvenience. Perhaps the recall on the oxygen sensor will finally take care of this. Otherwise delighted with the car.
- GLS SedanMSRP: $9,490866 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: $3,988942 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $6001,104 mi away
Great Ride!
I love this car. it's sleek,and looks futuristic. It warms easily in the winter and cools fast in the summer. For a first time buyer, this is the way to go!
Love the car.
All I can say is its a great car and would tell anybody to buy one..Love the car.
I'll never have ANYTHING ELSE!
I bought my 2002 Sonata Lx in Sept. of 2002, we have put almost 70K on the car in less then 2 and a half years, we just go everywhere in it! We drive 100 miles a day to work round trip, and love the ride home at the end of each day. And with the 2006 comming to the dealer, You can bet I'll be the first in line to "move up" to the sleek new body.
Awesome Vehicle
Purchased 10/2001 after 09/11. What an awesome automobile. Quality in design, workmanship, and overall a great accomplishment for the car. Should win any and all awards for ingenuity and originality. A success in concept to reality. I am most proud every day of my purchase and ownership of this automobile. Hyundai, be proud!
assessment
this car is excellent compared to it's price
Great buy, nice looking
Bought my Sonota to replace a 1994 Sentra. Great buy for the money. Have 1600 miles on it. Only problem is with the paint on the roof and the dealership will fix it w/my 3000 mile service. The problem occurred b/c of condensation from the plastic cover that's on it for transport. Everyone thinks it's a Jag. Sharp looking and surprisingly fast. Switched from a 5 speed to auto with this car and was worried I would lose power.
quality/reliability
We've got 26,000 mostly-city miles on our Sonata. The ONLY things we've replaced/fixed are battery and one light bulb. 4 cyl. with 5-speed is lively performer. Quality so far is BETTER than our Camry.
Nicest car I ever owned!
Because they are chronically in short supply, I had a hard time getting my Sonata but I'm so glad I perservered! After 7 months and 7,000 miles I have not had a hint of a problem and I absolutely love the car! Loaded with extras, very comfortable, responsive, very smooth and quiet riding...sometimes when I am stopped it idles so quietly I think it has stalled! For what you get for the money, it is way ahead of the competition. Hyundai has a real winner here!
Best kept Secret
This midsize sedan is highly underrated due to the earlier history of Hyundai automobiles. I've owned 2 Chevrolets, 2 Plymouths, 1 Rambler, 1 Dodge, 1 Mustang, 2 Pontiacs, 3 Buicks, 1 VW, and 3 Oldsmobiles. My company cars have included 4 Chevrolets, 2 Fords, and an Oldsmobile. My Hyundai Sonata LX V6 is as good or better than any of the new cars mentioned above, and at a fraction of the price. Sonata has been a well kept secret, but the cat is out of the bag. Like the ad says, "Drive it and you'll buy it!"
Great Car
I bought this car off the showroom floor and it has been the most reliable car that I have owned. I have owned a Chevrolet, an Oldsmobile, a Ford, and a Mitsubushi. The only I have done on my Sonata is oil changes, a new set of brakes and two sets of tires. I have 125,000 miles now on my car and I plan on buying a new Sonata in the near future. The only issues I have had is a "phantom" stereo. The CD player died at 100,000 and I cannot turn the radio off. There has been little paint peeling on the roof.
Nice family sedan with safety
It's stylish and roomy. Also it has lots of safety features. I'm just satisfied with these. No more espectation on this car.
The Love of My Life
Next to the family of course! I love this car, I went from a Ford Explorer (piece of @$%^^)to this wonderful auto. I have had it for 2 years and I can't say enough good things about it. I pretend its a jaguar but 1/2 the price. The ride is smooth, love the moon roof. Tons of value for this class of cars. Its a keeper for sure.
LUV MY CAR
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS CAR AT FIRST SIGHT BUT I MUST ADMIT THAT I WAS RELUCTANT TO BUY A HYUNDAI. THE COMPANY AFTER ALL DID NOT HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION. BUT AFTER I DROVE IT I KNEW IT WAS GOING HOME WITH ME. AFTER ALL THE WARRENTY WAS GOING TO COVER IT SHOULD ANYTHING GO WRONG. I HAVE NOT REGRETED MY DECISION ONCE. I LOVE DRIVING MY CAR AND EVERYTIME I PARK IT MY HUSBAND TAKES OFF IN IT. THE POWER IS INCREDIBLE AND THE INTERIOR I COMFORTABLE AND BEAUTIFUL. WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST CAR WE HAVE EVER OWNED.
11k++ miles and still good
I've had my SF for the past 7 months, and it's still drives so well. No problems at all. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, where it's hilly and snowy during winter, and we tested it out. We have the GLS FWD with ABS and Traction Control, and these two were enough to get us out of the snowy roads in our apartment complex. The horses are just enough for the FWD. This is one of the best decisions I made in my life.
Excellent car!!!
Excellent car, greater value
I couldn't ask for more!
We love our Sonata. We've owned it now for about a year and a half and have had no real problems with it. It's more comfortable on long trips than any of the cars we've rented in the past(Pontiac, Toyota, Oldsmobile...) Great looking exterior, excellent warranty, very affordable when compared to other similar models of other makes.
Great Car
Battery replaced under warrenty in the first year, no other problems. everything has been trouble free. I shopped Toyota Camery, Nissan Altima, Mitsu Gallant. I believe this represents the best value for the money. I get many compliments and questions about my satisfaction. I am waiting for the new body style before committing to another new car. I bought because of the warrenty and styling. Very happy with the car as a Real Estate Salesman that often carries rear seat passengers.
amazing
this car is fun strong and good looking
Great for the Price
I bought the car because of the price and my wifes Elantra. I commute everyday and in 43000 miles, all that I have done is change the oil. Great car for the price!!
Sonata GLS
It smells. I thought the their was a fire around the area. The salesperson told me its the car they spray it with a special fluid. I smelled it during the whole test drive. When I parked the car I wanted to test drive another one because I thought perhaps it was just this car in particular. I was so dissappointed and went to another dealership and the same thing happen. I fell so in love with this car after test driving a nissan altima that I bought the Sonata GLS. He told me that the car will stop smelling after 150 miles has been used. Is this true? Have anyone else experienced this?
best car we ever had
nothing has gone wrong with this auto since we bought it.
Great Buy
I was a bit hesitant to buy a Hyundai after years of hearing of their shoddy quality, but the warranty soothed my fears. Went looking at Accords and Camry's, and was talked into taking the Sonata for a test drive. I liked it much better than the other two, and the styling has them beat hands down. You absolutely cannot beat the value of this car. Same features in a Honda or Toyota will run you $5k more. Very pleased with this purchase.
Pleased with the Sonata
We have loved our Sonata. The service we recieve from our Hyundai dealership is second to none. The car has been reliable and very fuel efficient. It is a comfortable ride and a great family vehicle with a great amount of trunk space as well as cabin space. It does not have a strong engine with a quick response but the shift-tronic is a wonderful added benefit for quick response.
2 Litre Sonata CDX Auto. (UK Spec).
Well, what can I tell you?.......I thought long and hard before buying my Sonata, but what a good choice it was! Only things to go wrong in three years of ownership was a sensor broke down inthe engine, (easy fix warranty), and a sidelght bulb blew, 5 minute job to put right I love driving this car, and occasionally, when I am in hurry up mode, I use the "tiptronic" gear change, I have to say that this isn't very often, as I mostly prefer to drive at a more relaxed pace and let the auto do it's stuff, which it does with super smooth aplomb! So far I have 42000 on the clock, which is low mileage for the year. Great car, highly recommend!
glad i bought the car
bought the car in january for 17,330 delivered. gls model...only options i didnt get were leather and abs traction control.ruby red...love the car getting 25 mpg hyundai should make the abs/traction control a standard feature, not an option. you gotta see how many people come up to me and ask me, " Soooo, you bought a Hyundai Sonata...how do you like it?" It reminds me of " I'm not going first....you go first. Seems some people just won't take the chance. i did a lot of research on a ton of cars. For the buck I felt it was the best bang.
Sonata
I only have 1000 miles but I love it. I have the V6 and power moon roof options.The car handles great and I get a lot of compliments on the looks.
2002 Sonata
Great car ! I have enjoyed the ride, style and everything. Could improve the interior light range of flexibility.
Great car
I have never owned a better vehicle
A Great Car
103,000 mi as of 6/05. Has been extremely reliable. Looks great inside and outside. Recently had failure in power steering hose. $400.00 incl. labor for a hose? Air bag warning lite on, $1600.00 for an air bag sensor? They have to rip and send out seat because sensor is under upholstery...needs to be sent out to upholsterer. Engineering is said to be brilliant; I have a hunch from now on is where the money will really go out because of the "brilliant" engineering of a 10 foot long power steering hose, etc. P.S. When my 11 year old daughter moved the front seat forward the warning light went off. I wonder???
2002 Sonata GLS w/moonroof
Took it on trip from SD to Palm Springs fully loaded w/ 4 adults& it performed excellent up&down winding grades & cruised effortlessly on the freeway. I purchased 10yr/100,000 BtoB warranty, but later cancelled it because I felt I was overcharged ($1400). I've seen posts where the going price is about $700. Suggested improvements: Being of average American male height 5'11", I have difficulty finding an absolute comfortable steering wheel position & the driver's seat feels way too high to me.
Michael owner
This auto is out standing and the dealer we dealt with was the best we have ever used. Our exp. was so good that we whent back and bought a second auto and we buy 2-3 autos every 2yr. we are one happy camper!!!
Best car owned
I have over 140,000 miles on my car and so far I've only replaced minor parts due to wear and tear. Its very reliable and easy to repair for the do-it-themselves type. Parts are cheap and durable. I expect to at least drive another 100,000 before considering another car.
Great Car!
We decided to drive this car on a lark. As soon as we got in the car, we fell in love with it. It was so responsive that it seem to just take off with barely a touch on the accelerator. It was a dream to drive, particularly on the highway. A roomy, comfortable, quiet ride is very important to us and this car certainly fit the bill. It also has a nice solid feel on the road. We were just amazed that we could get so much car for such a reasonable price.
My Sonata
My husband and I bought our Sonata wanting to trade up from our Cavalier since we were expecting a baby. We haven't had too many problems but it seems when we do, they are VERY expensive to fix and never covered under the warranty. We've been steadily replacing rotors since we bought the things (which can only be bought at the dealership, go figure). I love the exterior!! No major failures as of yet but lots of recalls. The interior has had a lot of little probs. The arm rest on the driver's door ripped with just my husband's elbow resting on it. The silver chips off the inner door handles and leaves razor-sharp edges. WATCH OUT!! We had to sand them. Overall, it's a good car.
Best car for the money
I've had my Sonota for only six months and I seem to like it better every day. I drive 92 miles to work and it has been a very comfortable road car, very quiet, and good ride.
The Hyundai Sonata, driving is believing
The Hyundai Sonata, driving is believing. I've had it for 1 week- I have the slate grey, which in MA is hard to find in GLS or LX. It's very stylish - I added Sunroof and wind deflector. Car rides nice, quiet and smooth. I didn't get the ABS, didn't feel I needed them. Was driving a 99 Corolla- what a difference. I got the car for a good price- about $2500-3000 less than the CAmry, Accord and Altima. If you're looking for luxury but can't afford it- the Sonata is for you- drive it, and find out fore yourself
Not so satisfied customer
I've had two problems already with my Sonata. The first was the engine seized upon acceleration as I was leaving work. They claimed it was due to engine cylinders breaking up - they found some parts in the oil pan. Now I have a problem with the computer it seems. The engine won't cruise with or without cruise control - the RPMs go up and down, acceleration is shotty on automatic (little better when I use the shift-tronic).
After a year
I've had my 2002 Sonata LX for one year now and I have to say that this car is probably one of the best cars I've ever owned. I have never had a single problem. It's a joy to drive.
poor man's jaguar
We bought this car for the wife to tool around in. We use it for all family outings and shopping. It is comfortable around town, quite peppy and delivers acceptable economy [around 27 mpg].The interior is beautiful and easy to keep up. The stereo system is very good. The seats are a little too firm on long rides [8 hours or more] It has been an excellent car for the 20,000 miles we've had it with no problems.
After 6 months, I still love it.
I am very happy with this car. I believe it is one of the best values on the market. Compared to what other car companies are offering for the same price. I stack this sedan toe to toe against comparable sized sedans at a 5 to 8 thousand dollar savings.
Excellent Value
This vehicle is an excellent value for the features it provides. It is stylish and comfortable to ride in. Handling is good and the engine develops plenty of power for accelleration and Interstate cruising. I tested VW Passat and Nissan Altima. Those are very nice vehicles, but cost far more for the features the Sonata LX offers. The 10/100,000 warranty eases any concern over long term reliability of this vehicle
My first brand new Vehicle
I have owned this vehicle for 3 years and have been very pleased with most aspects of the vehicle. I love the design the ride is noce handling is good, service has been good. Gas mileage although not what expected is not bad for a car of this size. I boughtr the car for price and warranty length and so far have been happy most of the time. Areas that have been problems, Paint is not holding up, chips easily from road dirt, seating areas are not wearing well, they show signs of use easily. Not happy at all about only being able to purchase certain parts from Hyundai such as a Battery, brake pads, air filter. Would buy another Hyundai from the exp, with this vehicle Love the car.
Better than the Bug
I recently decided to leave the world of backyard mechanics behind and move up into a stylish new car. A recent 90,000 mile death of a Ford made the Hyundai warranty attractive, almost as attractive as the car itself. Just over 3,000 miles on it, loving every minute of it! I put a few complaints in below, but only because they asked.
Best in class
I drove the competitors and the Hyundai offered more for the money without compromises. I've go 7600 miles without a single problem. Fun to drive.
Better than expected
Bought car with 57K & 16mos later have 84K. Great car. Smoother ride than our Windstar. In fact wife will take the Sonata over the Windstar often. Two dealers in my area wonderful. Even matched price of local garage to keep my business. Only major problem was a missfiring cylinder. After paying $400+ to get spark plugs, engine flush etc done, went back in a week and they had to replace the oxygen sensor. Other than that, it does pull to the left and after alignment steering wheel shakes. also, water in the taillamp...$220+ to fix/replace. Those probs aside, it really has been a great car. Would totally buy another one. 1800+ miles/month got me 25mpg. City has been 22mpg.
Nothing but problems
Love the style, price, etc.But...I've had nothing but problems- only had car for 6 wks. rotors had to be replaced- warped,$400+, multiple belt problems, vibration in steering wheel, interior handles cheaply made - caused cuts on hands, brakes not covered under warranty- pulley problem was causing belts to be replaced every 2 weeks.Took back to dealership 5 times within less than 5 months for high pitched noises in front end.The pulley was chewing the belts up.Problems with engine cutting out.Carfax check prior to purchase showed car was clean.I'm reporting this under lemon law and trying to get another car, but because of amount owed will have negative equity in car. Very disappointed!
It works for me.
this has been a dependable vehicle and never had a manufacturer so interested in the car working correctly. we enjoy driving it and find it quieter than the 99 Chrysler 300M we had. Not as peppy as would like and fuel economy should be better.
Hyundai has outdone Japan
Bought this used (1 yr old) from dealer (pgm car) with 11K miles. My wife and I have put 35K on is since, and this car has not needed to see the dealer since, with the exception of 1 recall. Other than regular maintenance, this car has needed nothing, and still looks and runs like new. The car has depreciated less than $3,000 in the 3 years we've owned it, and now I'm shopping for one for my son. If you want a good, stylish, reliable and economic car, the Sonata should be your first choice.