38 — Friday, February 12, 1999 ~ North Shore News

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FRE OPN S

REDESIGNED for 1999, the Hyundai Sonata has moved upscale without a price increase. Improvements include a quieter, roomier interior, more safety features, and
two new available engines. Base models start at $19,495. Test drive the new Sonata at Burnaby Hyundai.

YOU’D think that a
Jess expensive alterna-
tive to the Honda
Accord, Toyota Camry
and Nissan Altima
would have a Jot of
appeal in the bread-
and-butter, family
sedan class.

But since its introduction
in 1989, the South Korean-
built Hyundai Sonata has
aever achieved the same
level of popularity as its
Japanese (but made in the
U.S.A) competitors.

General indifference to
the Sonata can be attrib-
uted, ia part, to a lack of
awareness: few people know
much about the Sonata.
With so many popular, well-
established competitors in
the marketplace, the Sonata
simply doesn’t stand out.

To increase the Sonata’s

appeal, Hyundai has moved
the 1999 Sonata upscale and
added more safety features
— without raising the price.
That last point is significant.
Though it’s a better car all-
around, the 1999 Sonata’s
price is actually lawer. The
1998 Sonata GL was
$19,995; the 1999 GL starts
at $19,495,

True to past practice, the
1999 Sonata is at least
$2,000 fess than an Accord
or Camry.

Completely redesigned

for 1999, the new Sonata is
abour the same length and
height, but is five centime-
tres wider. [ts distinctive
styling is a major departure
from the previous model.
Instead of mimicking the
wedge profile of popular
imports, the new Sonata has
a wide, low-slung look with
wrapover style headlamps
and taillamps, a wider, fine-
ly-fluted grille, and distine-
tive fender ridges above the

Price as tested: $27,095
Base price: $19,495

Type: four-door, five-passenger mid-sized

sedan
Layout: transverse
wheel-drive

Engine: 2.5-litre V6, DOHC, 24 valves
Horsepower: 162 @ 6,600 rp.m.
Torque: 167 Ibs.-tt. @ 4,000 rp.m.

9.3 Turka

front engine /front-

wheel arches.

Ir’s a classy design
alright, but it’s also more
practical. A lower trunklid
means that the driver can
now see where he or she is
going when backing up.
And the aew projector beam
headlamps provide much
improved nighttime vision.

The interior has also
been redesigned and feels
much more spacious,
although headroom and

Technical data

legroom remain about the
same — which is to say very
good. Dual airbags are now
standard on all models (they
were previously optional)
and GLS models are now
available with optional seat-
mounted side airbags.

In addition, there’s a pas-
senper-presence detector
which disables the passenger
airbag if no one, or a small
chiid, is sitting in the pas-
senger seat. Other new safe-

Curb weight: 1,409 kg (3,106 Ibs.)
Wheelbase: 2,700 mm (106.3 in.)

Length: 4,710 mm (185.4 in.)

Width: 1,818 mm (71.6 in.)

Height: 1.410 mm (55.5 in.)

Fuel consumption: City — 11.7 1/100 km (24

m.p.g.); Hwy — 7.8 1/100 km (36 m.p.g.)
Warranty: Basic — three vears/60,000 kms;
Powertrain — five vears/100,600 kms

The Saab 9-3 offers you performance in the broadest sense of the term.

For us at Saab, performance is more than simply having a powerful, free-

revving engine up front. Every detail which can sharpen your control
behind the wheel is related to performance. We've designed the Saab 9-3
to provide a close, intuitive link between driver, car and road - to
enhance your perception of all char is happening. You can drive more by
inscinct, leaving you free to concentrate even more on the traffic.

MORREY SATURN SAAB ISUZU

51 Lougheed Hwy at Willingdon, Burnaby

OR LEASE
FROM

ty features include front
seatbelt pretensioners, and
front and rear height-
adjustable head restraints.

New rotary fan and tem-
perature controls and bigger
buttons for ventilation con-
trols dominate the centre
console, and they are easier
to use, The ignition switch
is now on the dash instead
of the steering column, and
there’s a new AM/FM/CD
plaver on GLS models.

However, the interior’s
attractive design is spoiled
by simulated wood paneling
(on GLS models) that looks
like plastic, and plain-look-
ing cloth upholstery.

Also new for 1999 is a
handy centre armrest/stor-
age bin, wo covered
cupholders, a coin bex, and
a fold-down rear armrest.

GLS models add a bi-

See V6 page 39

non S415

‘399

Month

36 mos with
$6,110 Dn + taxes;
total paid $20,474

294-1831

www. morreyuutogrou P.coni