The interior is where the new Sonata really shines. It's a true midsize car as rated by the EPA, and five full-size adults can travel comfortably in its generous interior. We assure you that even a person sitting in the middle of the backseat will be fairly comfortable. Very few cars of this size can match the Sonata's price, and very few cars at this price can match the Sonata's size. The ample trunk measures 13.2 cu. ft., and in the GLS a 40/60 folding split rear seat allows for longer, or more, cargo. The trunk lid opens high and a low liftover height makes access easy. Slide behind the wheel and the instruments are easy to see, controls are easy to reach, and operation of the various functions is clear and straightforward. The power-window switches, for example, employ a logical scheme of push-down to open, pull-up to close. In the base and GL versions, upholstery is cloth; leather is available as an option with the GLS. Standard equipment on every Sonata includes air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering column, full wheel cover, center console, AM/FM stereo with a cassette player and all-season radial tires. There are the usual options, including a variety of sound systems all the way up to a high-powered AM/FM stereo with cassette and CD players. Although the Sonata is solid and well-constructed, the execution of detail does not quite match that of, say, the Camry or Accord. Compared with these two, a few of the corners, seams and joints tend to not line up as neatly. Still, with the Camry and Accord we're talking about two of the toughest competitors on the market. The Sonata is no worse than many domestic products on fit-and-finish and better than quite a few of them. And our test-drive experience showed the Sonata to be free of rattles and squeaks, and nothing was loose or falling off. We think Hyundai has come a long, commendable way on quality.
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