Sonata is packed with features, making it an excellent value. It's easy to operate its well-designed controls and everything is exactly where you expect it to be. The interior is nicely finished and has a general feeling of quality. Front and rear accommodations are comfortable, making this good transportation for four or five. Sonata cruises smoothly down the highway, even at elevated speeds, and does everything you ask of it with responsive steering and responsive performance from the available V6 and automatic.

Hyundai has come a long way in the past few years and now sells more cars in the U.S. than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Mercury, or Saturn. The Sonata has been part of this success. Hyundai sold more than 62,000 Sonatas here in 2001. Another part of it is the piece of mind Hyundai offers through one of the best warranties in the industry.

The interior gets some minor upgrades for 2003. Hyundai gave the Sonata a major facelift for 2002, and it presents an elegant shape with a bold waterfall grille and headlight treatment.