FOR the past 10 years, the Hyundai Sonata has been play- ing a hard fought game of catch-up with well-known import sedans like the Honda Accord, Mazda 626, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Altima. The Sonata’s best feature has always been its price — it continues to offer similar features to its Japanese com- petivors for a lower price. Yet the Sonata is nowhere near as popular as its rivals, and many buyers in this popular segment aren't even aware that the Sonata exists. Admittedly, the com- pact/mid-sized family car segment is crowded, includ- ing some new domestic cars, such as the Dodge Stratus and Ford Contour. But after 10 years, the Sonata is still struggling to be recognized. Part of the problem may have been the Sonata’s con- servative styling. Since its introduction in 1988, and its redesign in 1994, the Sonata has been a near-clone of popular Japanese cars. While the 1996 medel was a well-pro- portioned automobile, there was nothing distinctive about it. For 1997, all that’s changed. Though the basic platform and powertrains are the same, the front and rear body panels have undergone a metamorpho- sis. Phote submitted THE 1997 Hyundai Sonata features new front and rear styling and reductions in noise and vibration. Base models continue to offer a 2.0- lit7e four-cylinder engine while upleve! GLS Sonatas have a 3.0-litre V6. A prominent, central ellipsoid grille with bright vertical bars dominates the nose section. It's flanked by unusual curved head- lamps with separate high and low beams inte- grated into one unit. The hood has a distine- tive V-shaped “character line” which blends into the bumper on cither side of the grille. The new nose is vagaely “Jaguar-ish,” and has a more upscale look. But “Though the basic platform and powertrains are the same, the front and rear body panels have undergone a metamorphosis.” more importantly, the Sonata wan't be confused with any other car. At the rear, Hyundai's stylists chose to imitate a popular styling theme started by Jaguar and Mercedes- Benz in the inid- 1980s: the inside edge of the tail light fol- lows the diagonal bor- der of the trunklid, and the exterior edge of the ail light wraps around and up and over the rear tender (much MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS If you wish to sell your vehicle directly to Mercedes Benz or if you would fike a current evaluation of your vehicle, please contact the Sales Manager at your convenience, orth Vancouver Suzuki Lae . 1695 Marine Dr., N. Van. . + broad on 24 mo, lesen, $1250 DLP, $200 secczity depoel, $790 felgh & PDL, plus tabs, OLA. ne EAHBNE MII Re a ES oz ——_—$_$_—<—__—- - “Alys you have to dois drive one a: like the Mercedes-Benz C230), Styling isn’t the only thing that’s changed for 1997, Hyundai has gone to considerable lengths to reduce the amount of noise and vibration trom the pow- ertrain, a common com- plaint about Sonatas with the tase four-cylinder engine. Technical improve- ments include new liquid- filled engine mounts, a liq- uid-filled transmission mourt, sound-deadeners in the firewall, and thicker sound deadeners in the Noor. Subtle acrodynamic refinements, such as redesigned mirrors and See more page 43 “Family Owned & Operated for Over 50 Years! Torque: 168 ft Tires: P205/60R-15 radials Curb weight: '1,393 kg (3,070 Ibs. . Wheelbase: 2 760 mm (106.2 in.) Length: 4. 700 1 mm (185.0 in.) Width: 1 770 mm (69,7 in.) Height: q 405 mm (55.3 in.) Trunk capacity: 377 lies Ms. 3 cu, ft. Fuel consumption: Ci: Huy 89 1/100 km (22 mp. g.) Warranty: Basic — three years 60, O00 km; Pow five years/100,000 kr CERTIFIED 450292 21 iSide tan kn 2) LPB, 3 )$.