Ferrari U.S. Sales In 2016: Better Than Hyundai Equus, Audi A4 Allroad, Volvo V60 CC, Acura RLX

How does one measure the sales success of a five-year-old luxury sedan from a mainstream automaker, a car which will soon be released in second-generation form under an all-new luxury banner?

Compare it with Ferrari, of course.

Through the first five months of 2016, Hyundai USA sold 904 copies of their Equus sedan, a 9% year-over-year decrease for the cut-price Mercedes-Benz S-Class alternative.

Just how rare does that make the Equus? According to The Wall Street Journal, Ferrari sold 960 cars in America during the same period.

We shouldn't pick on the Equus, sales of which are on track to fall to a six-year low in calendar year 2016. It was an experiement for Hyundai USA, one which ended with a new luxury brand: Genesis. 

Note, however, that Hyundai's new luxury brand didn't take the name of Hyundai's most highfalutin luxury sedan, the Equus. Rather, the new Genesis brand represents a continuation of Hyundai's lower-rung and far more common Genesis sedan. 

But the Equus is far from the only nameplate roundly outsold by a small fleet of Italian supercars with prices stretching from $200,000 northward. 

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GM's attempt at a two-seat Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac, the cancelled ELR, and GM's attempt at an Aussie-based Ford Taurus Police Interceptor rival, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV, combined for 702 units in the first five months of 2016. 

There are others. The transitioning Audi A4 Allroad. The largely ignored Volvo V60 Cross Country. The always ignored Acura RLX. The Hyundai Equus's Kia K900 platform-mate. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' own Alfa Romeo 4C, which finds one buyer for every 3.5 Ferrari sales. The Nissan GT-R, which sells at a rate similar to the 4C.

GCBC has a list, of course. Click the second-from-left column header – May 2016 YTD – to sort vehicles, auto brands, and automakers by year-to-date U.S. sales in this complete sales list. After sorting Ferrari is ten sales back of the discontinued Honda CR-Z. Unfortunately, Ferrari does not break down sales by model. 

But we'll take the FF, thanks.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook.

Watch Alex On Autos Video Reviews: 2016 Mazda CX-9, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2016 Kia Soul EV, 2017 Hyundai Elantra

Over the past few days our favourite video car reviewer and fellow TTAC contributor, Alex Dykes, published a raft of new vehicle video reviews, including a look at the (eagerly?) anticipated, second-generation, 2016 Mazda CX-9.

Mazda allowed the first CX-9 to linger for far too long. Since 2007, when it was first launched, only 223,000 CX-9s have been sold in America. Ford will sell at least that many Explorers in 2016 alone. But Mazda's new CX-9 is more stylish, more efficient, and far more modern.

Still, don't expect the CX-9 to top the sales leaderboard. Globally, Mazda only has capacity for 50,000 CX-9s per year, of which 80% will come to North America.

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Watch Alex On Autos 2017 Acura NSX Video Review
U.S. Vehicle Sales By Model - April 2016 YTD

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In addition to the CX-9, recent Alex On Autos video reviews include the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS, the 2016 Kia Soul (including the electric Soul), and the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

Alex Dykes' video reviews, regardless of the subject, are the most detailed and thorough on YouTube. Here's the next 100 minutes of your life.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. Alex On Autos is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Auto News For Tuesday, December 15, 2015 - Hyundai's 2016 Global Auto Forecast Isn't Great

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Tuesday, December 15, 2015.

FUTURE
"How can General Motors' truck brand not be in the fastest-growing segment in the industry, an SUV segment?" That's a line from GM's GMC boss, Duncan Aldred, who wants GMC to be a player in the subcompact crossover arena. Is the 2010 GMC Granite Concept, pictured above, a hint?

REVIEW
The increasingly more popular Toyota RAV4 is nothing of not unexciting. So can Toyota do to the RAV4 what it's done to the Camry: introduce a hint of sportiness via an SE model?

TTAC
U.S. sales of the Scion FR-S tumbled to an all-time low in November 2015 while sales of the Mazda MX-5 Miata increased for a sixth consecutive month; as the MX-5 outsold the FR-S for a fifth consecutive month.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
2015 is a boom year for the U.S. auto industry, but globally, Hyundai boss Chung Mong-koo is not particularly excited for 2016.

WATCH
Is there any chance that you'll want to take the Mercedes-Benz Metris commercial van, allow Mercedes-Benz to fill it with seats, and buy it instead of a Honda Odyssey? Consumer Reports is a fan of the space, but seems to think this is more of a hotel shuttle vehicle, less of a family ferry.

Auto News For Thursday, December 10, 2015 - Hyundai's Genesis Brand Introduces G90

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Thursday, December 10, 2015.

FUTURE
Hyundai's new Genesis brand – not the Genesis sedan or coupe, not the Genesis band, but the new Genesis brand – now has a flagship. The G90 was revealed yesterday in Seoul. Here's the automaker's new website, which clearly states at the bottom the parentage: "Hyundai Motor."

AUTOFOCUS
There are reasons to believe these vehicles would sell, but from the BMW Z4 and Buick Regal to the Ford C-Max and Ford Flex, these are 25 of the most ignored vehicles in Canada.

TTAC
Ford's F-Series outsold the two full-size GM pickup trucks in the U.S. in November, the first such occasion since March of this year. Sales of the midsize-leadng Toyota Tacoma are booming, too, so Toyota is planning to build more of them.

REVIEW
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, according to Automobile magazine, "merits cross-shopping even against the feature-rich Korean entries in the class," as a value proposition.

WATCH
The Toronto cab driver who wished to confront an Uber driver was obviously not behaving as he would on his best days. But you've got to hand it to him: strong fingers, man.

Auto News For Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - Tesla Has 1,656 Job Openings

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Tuesday, December 8, 2015.

EMPLOYMENT
Need a new gig? Want to work in Palo Alto, or one of the many other attractive destinations around the globe? Tesla currently has 1,656 job openings, from radar engineers to service managers. 

FUTURE
The Hyundai Ioniq will take on the all-conquering Toyota Prius with a bevy of powertrains: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric. The teaser image is rather Volt-like.

DISTANT FUTURE
Could another Honda S2000 be in the works, and could it be a more direct rival for the Mazda MX-5 Miata? AutoCar has details.

REVIEW
While the Nissan Frontier quickly becomes an also-ran in North America's small/midsize pickup truck market, CAR Magazine is reviewing the new, 2016 Nissan NP300 Navara, and they're saying nice things about it.

WATCH
Earlier today, GCBC highlighted the Alex On Autos video review of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. Surprisingly flexible but not quite as rugged as that Tacoma is this 2016 Audi S7, again reviewed by Alex Dykes, the most thorough and detailed video reviewer on YouTube.

Auto News For Friday, November 20, 2015 - Subaru XV Crosstrek Is Now The Subaru Crosstrek

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Friday, November 20, 2015.

SUBARU
Once upon a time, Subaru decided to really shake things up by referring to the flop that was the B9 Tribeca as simply the Tribeca, sans B9. Fast forward to model year 2016, and the success that is the XV Crosstrek is losing its XV preface.

VW
Outside of the costs already incurred by Volkswagen and the damage done to the brand’s reputation, at least one of the recalls the brand will soon begin won’t be nearly as costly as you likely expected. “The technical fixes for the 1.6-liter diesel engines require installing a 10-euro ($10.74) sensor inside the air filter and a software update,” Reuters says.

SUPERCAR LIVING
You’ve often dreamed of one day owning a proper supercar. But would you really want to live with one on a daily basis? CAR Magazine is going to spend six months with a McLaren 650S Spider. “No-one would dream of running a 458 Speciale as an everyday car, but with its greater refinement, flawless ergonomics and versatile Proactive suspension, the 650S promises to be a supercar you can use like a supermini.” 

RECALL
Hyundai is recalling 304,900 copies of the 2011 and 2012 Sonata because, "the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the stop lamp switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.”

Toyota is recalling 30,812 copies of the 2013-2015 Avalon and the 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and Lexus ES300h because, "the Pre-Collision System may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.” 

WATCH
We’ve been waiting, and it’s finally here. 52 minutes of Chris Harris, Tiff Needell, and Marino Franchitti hustling the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1 around the circuit at Portimao is how you’re going to spend the next 52 minutes of your day.


WATCH MORE 
It’s been more than two years since we spent two weeks with the third-generation Acura MDX. Now it’s time for an Alex On Autos video review of the 2016 MDX.

Auto News For Thursday, November 19, 2015 - Five Important Los Angeles Auto Show Production Debuts

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Thursday, November 19, 2015.

HYUNDAI
The new Elantra, Canada's second-best-selling car in each of the last four years, isn't a revolutionary leap forward like the last car was. But it is significantly altered, perhaps more than appearances suggest. This sixth-generation Elantra joins a fleet of recently updated or completely reengineered compacts from Honda, Chevrolet, and Nissan with a new 2.0L four-cylinder (147 horsepower) and an optional 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder. The car will be roomier, quieter, and more Sonata-like inside. Before dipping in 2014 – and rising again in 2015 – U.S. Elantra volume had improved in six consecutive years.

NISSAN
The Nissan Sentra was already on a roll before Nissan revealed this restyled car at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday. Among U.S. passenger cars, the Sentra's market share increased from 1.43% in 2012 to 1.66% in 2013, 2.31% in 2014, and 2.57% through the first ten months of 2015, nearly doubling over that period of time. Yes, cars aren't as interesting to buyers right now as SUVs and crossovers are – Nissan's Rogue sees to that – but the Sentra is bucking the trend.

BUICK
Sure, you're not going to buy a new Buick LaCrosse. We're not going to buy a new Buick LaCrosse. But enough LaCrosses will be sold in order for you to rent one; in order for you to be sorely tempted by the terrific pre-owned deals on LaCrosses. U.S. LaCrosse sales plunged 44% between 2005 and 2014. Canadian Allure/LaCrosse volume dropped from 14,408 in 2005 to only 1557 units last year, an 89% plunge. Regardless, the new car looks absolutely delicious, if a little too-Impala-copycat above the rear wheels. (They're related.) But it's 300 pounds lighter than the previous LaCrosse, fills the wheelarches like GM products never used to be able to, and the interior is positively upmarket.

MAZDA
The first-generation Mazda CX-9 joined the 5 in, sort of, replacing the Mazda MPV. The CX-9, to be frank, flopped. It's great to drive, but that's not enough in a segment where people don't really care so much about whether a car is great to drive. The new CX-9 will be more efficient, Mazda says. It's also more handsome. But the biggest factor that could cause Mazda USA to sell more than 1700/month as they do now is the overall newness of the vehicle. The first CX-9 is a Ford-related vehicle from 2007.

FIAT
We covered the Mazda MX-5 Miata's twin from Fiat, the 124 Spider, in yesterday's news. We're not fans. However, opinion is rather divided. In a poll at Autoblog with nearly 10,000 respondents, four in ten prefer the look of the Fiat.

CONCEPTS
Why shoot yourself in the foot? This is the way of the automotive world, but it continues to amaze us, as automakers set themselves up to disappoint potential customers. The Tokyo Motor Show's Impreza 5-Door Hatch concept is a spectacularly surfaced vehicle that won't look like the next-generation Impreza. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru showed a similar Impreza concept, only in sedan guise. Subaru insists this is very much the production car, only with detail changes. But once the crazy headlights, stunning wing mirrors, and massive wheels are removed, the car will look very, very different. Details matter. And without the stunning details, the production Impreza will not be half this exciting. Subaru isn't the only offender. You really think a production Scion C-HR will look like this?

Auto News For June 18, 2015 - Donckerwolke To Design Hyundais And Kias

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Thursday, June 18, 2015.

FUTURE
The Mercedes-Benz GLK was nothing if not distinctive. Its replacement, the GLC, looks more like a downsized ML (soon to be called the GLE) or perhaps an upsized GLA. Forget the V6, the GLC will be fitted with a 2.0L turbo four, but with more power than the 2.0L turbo in the GLA. U.S. sales of the GLK increased in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

INSIDE THE AUTO DESIGN BUSINESS
Luc Donckerwolke made his name on the Lamborghini Murcielago. Now he’ll be designing Hyundais and Kias, and eventually he’ll take over from Peter Schreyer, the man who’s attracted so much attention for Kia design that they use him in commercials.

TTAC
Honda is discontinuing the Accord Plug-In Hybrid. You won’t notice, of course, since you never actually laid eyes on an Accord Plug-In Hybrid in the wild.

REVIEW
Like your big LX platform cars but don’t care for crazily-powered Hellcat Chargers and Challengers? Keep it a bit sane, then, in the Chrysler 300 V6 AWD. Car & Driver says it, “doesn’t make you feel like you settled for the cheap seats.”

WATCH
Times have changed, and you can actually buy an Audi S3 in North America. We’ve even reviewed it. But you still can’t buy an Audi S1.

Auto News For Monday, June 15, 2015 - The Volkswagen Group Dissection

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Monday, June 15, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
We won’t know the full impact of how this will alter – or not alter – the way the Volkswagen Group develops its cars. But rather than one large group, VW is about to be separated into four holding companies. According to Reuters, one of these will include Porsche, Bugatti, and Bentley. Another includes Audi, Lamborghini, and the Ducato motorcycle brand. VW’s own Volkswagen brand joins Skoda and Seat. The remaining holding company will include the MAN, Scania, and VW Commercial vehicles, Reuters says.

TTAC
Is Kia about to catch its Hyundai corporate partner in the U.S. sales race? May was perhaps nothing more than an anomaly, but Kia averaged only 46 fewer sales per day last month than Hyundai.

REVIEW
We linked to one Mercedes-Benz Metris review last week. But because this is a whole new kind of vehicle for Mercedes-Benz in North America, it’s important that we have a well-rounded viewpoint. Here’s Automobile Magazine’s take. Just don’t assume that because it’s a Mercedes-Benz that the Metris will be the, well, Mercedes-Benz of minivans.

AUTOFOCUS
More than one-third of the new vehicles sold in Canada so far this year have been SUVs and crossovers. These are the top brands in the SUV/CUV sales war.

WATCH
Finally, the future is here. In-car infotainment, even at its best, hasn’t been great when developed by the automakers themselves. But Consumer Reports takes a look at Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto, and it just looks so much more… normal.

Auto News For Friday, May 29, 2015 - Massive Recalls Underway

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Friday, May 29, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO BUSINESS
May auto sales may be the strongest they've been in a year, but they might not look that way because the auto selling month was a day shorter this year than last.

TTAC
U.S. sales of midsize cars are down 4% through the first four months of 2015. The overall new vehicle market is moving in the opposite direction.

REVIEW
Although we take offense at Automobile magazine's opening to their second paragraph, "Boring sales stats aside," this review of the new 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid is worth reading.

WATCH
Jalopnik boss Travis Okulski isn't yet supposed to tell us what it's like to drive the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. But he's allowed to drive it and show us what it's like to drive. So former Jalopnik EIC Matt Hardigree suggested this morning that you watch this video of Okulski driving the Mazda with the auto-captioning system on. Just press the little cc in the bottom right. "Did you get that mail I was a brilliant song perennial."

RECALL

Ford is recalling 361,523 Ranger pickup trucks (model year 2004-2006) because, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrustion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

Mitsubishi is recalling 82,784 Lancers and Lancer Evolutions (2004-2006) and Lancer Sportbacks (2004) because, likewise, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrustion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

Moving on, Ford is recalling 1,019,081 Mustangs (2005-2014) and GTs (2005-2006) because, you guessed it, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture."

BMW is recalling 420,661 copies of the 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 325xi Sportswagons, 325i Sportswagons (2002-2005); 330Ci, 325Ci, M3 convertibles, 325i coupes, 330i coupes, and M3 coupes (2002-2006); M5, 540i, 525i, 530i, and 540i/525i Sportswagons (2002-2003), and X5s (3.0i and 4.4i) from model years 2003-2004 because, "the affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture." 

You get the idea. The same problem is causing a recall of 4,066,732 Dodge Ram 2500s (2005-2009), Dodge Ram 1500s and Durangos (2004-2008), Dodge Ram 3500s (2006-2009), Dodge Ram 4500s and 5500s (2008-2010), Chrysler Aspens (2007-2008), Chrysler 300s (2005-2010), Dodge Chargers and Magnums (2005-2010), Dodge Dakotas (2005-2011), and Mitsubishi Raiders (2006-2010). Another FCA US LLC recall affected 438,156 Ram 1500s, 2500s, and 3500s from model year 2003 in order to, "address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag."

Oh, Takata.

Auto News For Thursday, May 28, 2015 - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Reducing Its Warranty

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Thursday, May 28, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO BUSINESS
Following GM’s move from a couple months ago, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will reduce its 5-year/100,000 U.S. powertrain warranty of in favour of a 5-year/60,000 mile warranty. The change applies to Chryslers, Jeeps, Dodges, and Rams. Fiat’s powertrain warranty stretches only to four years or 50,000 miles.

TTAC
Can Hyundai USA really sell 50,000 copies of the Santa Cruz per year if, in fact, they bother to build it? The case for and against.

REVIEW
It’s comically low to be considered anything but a car. But the Mazda CX-3, a Nissan Juke fighter that’s joining the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, and Jeep Renegade in challenging the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore and Subaru XV Crosstrek and the front-wheel-drive-only Kia Soul, will be labelled as an SUV or crossover by both observers and buyers. That’s essential if the CX-3 is going to be successful. Here’s CarAdvice’s thorough Aussie video review  and here’s the text version.

RECALL
GM is recalling 126 Chevrolet Impalas (model year 2014) because, “the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.”

GM is also recalling 40 Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons (model year 2015) because, “the affected vehicles have a front driver air bag inflator that may be misaligned to the air bag module backplate.”

WATCH
CarBuyer.co.uk’s video reviews tread the middle ground between the typical brief-with-beauty-shots of many publications and Alex Dykes’ long but wonderfully detailed reviews. Here’s CarBuyer’s look at the 2015 Volvo XC90.

Auto News For Thursday, May 21, 2015 - Ford Recalls 8963 2015 Ford F150s

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews, and videos for Thursday, May 21, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO RACING BUSINESS
Lewis Hamilton will be driving for Mercedes-Benz until at least 2018 and he’ll be paid handsomely for doing so. Forbes says that with bonuses, Lewis, the two-time F1 champion, will earn $45 million per year.

INSIDE THE PERFORMANCE CAR BUSINESS
SE, EX, GLS - all the typical trim line names are so dull. How about ZHP? The 2016 BMW 435i ZHP isn’t the first ZHP BMW, but it’s the first 4-Series with the performance package. According to Car & Driver, it includes an extra 35 horsepower, a Track Handling package, an M Performance limited-slip diff, an M Performance package, and more. And it makes a better noise. 

TTAC
Hyundai USA’s SUV/CUV lineup is small and accomplishes rather not a lot. But in a slowing car market, Hyundai has maintained passenger car health and set an April sales record last month. 

RECALL
Ford Motor Company is recalling 8963 2015 Ford F150s due the possibility of the steering upper intermediate shaft being improperly riveted.

REVIEW
Acceleration times are getting crazy. Now, in evo testing, the six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne GTS accelerates to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds. 

WATCH
Chris Harris, like humans the world over, appreciates the idea of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This video of the latest model is evidence of that fact.

2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review - Less Style, Less Power, More Of Everything Else

In the corners of our brain where the abstract controls the synapses, trains run on time only if we allow a car to charm us, to woo and seduce and enchant.

I find the sound of a Jaguar F-Type V8 S appealing and the wind-in-my-hair romanticism of a Mazda MX-5 captivating and I'm fascinated by the roofline of Mercedes-Benz's CLS Shooting Brake.

THE GOOD • Improved ride quality • Feels more, not less powerful • Interior feels Genesis-like • Turbo 2.0L is a cheap upgrade • Always a great value

THE BAD • Styling has far less impact • Over-assisted brake pedal • Very comfort-oriented • 2.4L getz buzzy • Hard centre armrest

There are other corners of our brain, however, that look a lot like spreadsheets. And on those spreadsheets, there are no columns for charm or seduction or fascination.

Increasingly, midsize cars perform very poorly in the corners of my brain first mentioned, and exceedingly well in the latter.

Hyundai's 2015 Sonata is one such car.

I've operated under the impression that there was a certain subjective appeal to the outgoing car, a vehicle which was, at the very least, good enough on spreadsheets to allow some consumers to buy the car almost on the merits of its unique exterior design alone. 

2015 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED Base Price * (CDN): $25,817 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $34,817 Engine: 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 185 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Curb Weight: 3466 pounds Drive Type: front-wheel-drive Length: 191.1 inches Width: 73.4 inches Height: 58.1 inches Wheelbase: 110.4 inches Passenger Volume: 3004 litres Cargo Volume: 462 litres EPA City: 25 mpg EPA Highway: 37 mpg NRCAN OEE City: 9.8 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 6.7 L/100km Observed: 30.9 mpg Observed: 7.6 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. MPG fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency. L/100km ratings from the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency's new 5-cycle testing for MY2015 vehicles.

On sale in early 2010, the sixth-gen Sonata didn't look at all like any of its rivals, with swept-back headlights, a long chrome beltline, and a coupe-like roofline. 

It was a revolutionary departure for Hyundai, especially given the stodginess of its predecessor.

Many of the same themes have been carried forward for 2015, but the revolution has ended. Hyundai clearly feels as though they've made it, as though they've established a place for the Sonata in America's competitive midsize sector and no longer need to market the most eye-catching car in the class.

You've probably seen the car live by now and rendered your verdict; you can look at the images if not. 

Personally, I'm let down, as it feels to me as though the seventh-generation Sonata looks like it could have been the car that arrived before the sixth-generation Sonata, before Hyundai decided to make the Sonata less stodgy; less upright; less formal. 

Instead, so-called progress has resulted in a car that simply doesn't appear like the next new thing. 

Its wheelwells are too big for its wheels, which on this specific car are terribly Buick circa 1996. There's a vast amount of acreage between the top of the rear wheel and the C-pillar. Visually, the car rides too high. LEDs have been too liberally scattered across the front end.

Inside, however, a return to a more conventional layout – more horizontal, less vertical – has caused the 2015 Sonata to seem quite a bit more Genesis-like. Regardless of equipment levels, and despite the fact that the current Elantra is no poor car, the outgoing Sonata always felt more or less like an Elantra Plus, particularly inside. Meanwhile, the current Accord comes across as much more than one single step upmarket from the Civic. With improved material quality and a more modern design, the Sonata is now class-competitive inside.

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Any Of These Images For A Larger Slideshow View

In terms of the simplicity of its controls and its overall intuitiveness, I'd argue that the 2015 Sonata is class-leading. There's no getting-to-know-you process with the latest Hyundai/Kia infotainment units, and in this case, there's no difficulty reaching across to the most distant buttons, either, as the whole centre panel is canted nicely toward the driver.

Unfortunately, the softness of the exterior design has been matched by a softening of the Sonata's suspension. On the plus side, this pays dividends in ride quality, which is excellent. 

Compared with the previous Sonata, the most notable improvement in ride quality is out back. But the Sonata lacks the edge of the Mazda 6, the firmness of the Honda Accord, and the European undertones of the Ford Fusion, which quite artfully balances ride quality with a degree of athleticism. The Sonata's three drive modes present slight differences, with Eco definitely being eco-minded in its throttle mapping and shift strategy, and Sport clearly generating more steering weight, but none of the modes seriously alters the intentions of the car.

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• Historical Monthly & Yearly Hyundai Sonata Sales Figures
• 2014 Mazda 6 GT Driven Review
• 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI Highline Driven Review
• 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Driven Review

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Not for a minute am I suggesting that this emphasis on total comfort isn't what buyers want, only that Hyundai's successful drive to improve the Sonata's suspension calibration could have been executed with more of a blend.

Then again, we spent our week with a Sonata Limited, a very well-equipped car, but one that was fitted with conservative Kumho P215/55R/17s. Riding on the Sport's 235/45R18s, with its slightly different steering setup (rack-mounted, rather than column-mounted electric power assist) and altered suspension, the Sport 2.0T could produce rather different on-road character traits.

Limited trim Sonatas start at $34,817 (freight included), and bring to the Sonata's equipment portfolio adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, premium Infinity audio, cooled leather seating, and a host of other doodads. The aforementioned turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder adds 60 horsepower to the base Sonata's 185; torque is upgraded from 178 lb-ft to 260.

All these numbers are lower than they were just one model year ago, and lower than the kind of mind-boggling V6 numbers you'll find in, for instance, the Chrysler 200. In the 2.4L, however, torque thankfully comes on stream early, at just 4000 rpm, and the Sonata therefore doesn't feel slow. The 2.4L does become too buzzy at high rpm, and it runs out of gumption as revs rise. Thus, if you want care to acquire turbocharged 2.0L powerplant, Canadian pricing starts at a more affordable $32,817. $36,617 Ultimate 2.0Ts are Limited-like, but with the extra power. (Moving up from Sport and Sport Tech to Sport 2.0T costs just $2600 and $800, respectively.)

That's a lot of car for the money, particularly now that the Sonata feels as nicely assembled inside (with materials of similar – if not better – quality) as the segment's top sellers.

Love it or hate it, the outgoing Sonata was a car which, stylistically speaking, stood out from the midsize pack. Any hope that Hyundai would once again move the game forward on the design front has most certainly been lost.

Yet no one specific individual, save for the midsize sedan buyer himself, is the final arbiter on the success of Hyundai's exterior revamp. Is this new 2015 Sonata half as intriguing a proposition as the old model was in its first model year? Probably not, at least not in the dark recesses of my subjective mind.

But is it twice as appealing on purely objective terms? Quite possibly, with improved all-around dynamics, ride quality that'll shame most premium cars, an enhanced cabin, and observed fuel economy in mixed driving of 7.6 L/100km.

In this transition year for the Sonata, its Canadian sales tumbled 36% in the first half of 2014. More recently, Sonata sales jumped 42% in July, when it was Canada's top-selling midsize car, and volume more than doubled in August. At that rate, because Hyundai appears to be giving the people what the people's spreadsheets want, the Sonata would be back on track to achieve in excess of 2011's record-setting Canadian sales pace.

2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited Review - Give The People What The People Want

Over the course of March 2014's first week, GoodCarBadCar enjoyed access to Canada's best-selling car from the month of February 2014. Hyundai Canada had parked a top-trim 2014 Elantra in front of GCBC Towers, a car that ended 2011, 2012, and 2013 as Canada's second-best-selling car.

The Elantra is undeniably popular; not much less common than Honda's all-conquering Civic, the best-selling car in Canada in each of the last 16 years. Nevertheless, Hyundai has realized that if the current Elantra is to take on the Civic on a continual basis, and if it will be tasked with fending off newer challengers, the company couldn't allow the Elantra to grow stale by waiting until a completely all-new Elantra arrives. 

THE GOOD Still a style leader So many toys 30 city mpg in winter with fresh engine? Big back seat; big trunk Intuitive control layout

THE BAD Too much in-cabin vibration Not a huge fan of cornering Everybody's got one Doesn't feel like a big power increase The new norm: $27K compacts

The front and rear styling has been tinkered with, new alloy wheel designs have been added, LEDs make frequent appearances, and Hyundai says they went to work on reducing noise, vibration, and harshness. 

But this 2014 model looks to be virtually identical to the handsome 2013 Elantra. The exterior and interior changes aren't significant. Equipment alterations aren't life-altering 

The availability of a 173-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder engine, on the other hand, is noteworthy. 

Our tester, which at $27,199 (including destination) is the most expensive Elantra sedan, came equipped with the Elantra Limited's sunroof and rearview camera, but the Tech package increased the size of the touch screen from 4.3 inches to 7 while also adding navigation and proximity entry, removing the need to use an old-fashioned key. 

$27K is a lot to pay for a compact car, even one that looks as good as this Elantra. But there's no dearth of space for occupants or cargo and the equipment load is heavy, a combination which generates something of a midsize impression. In addition to all that, the Elantra Limited has heated front and rear seats, a power driver's seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and leather seating.

Yet toys and horsepower does not a great car make. (It doesn't?) No, it doesn't. Consumers expect a lot from compact cars from these days. If the 2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited wants to price itself like a decently-equipped midsize car, it must do more than equip itself with extra heating elements and more motor.

Inside is clearly where the Elantra excels, not just because of the standard kit - even the much less expensive GLS has a cabin full of heated seats, the sunroof, and the backup cam - but because of the attractive centre stack and its intuitive button layout. 

The big, centralized knobs for fan speed and volume are welcome in this era of touch-capacitive "buttons." Material quality doesn't stand out, neither for its high or low quality, but the seats are comfortable, the tilting/telescoping wheel helps the driver find the perfect position, and visibility is better than I remembered in the Elantra I drove a few years ago.

2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED Base Price * (CDN): $25,199 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $27,199 Engine: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve I-4 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 173 @ 6500 rpm Torque: 154 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm Curb Weight: 2959 pounds Drive Type: front-wheel-drive Length: 179.1 inches Width: 69.9 inches Height: 56.3 inches Wheelbase: 106.3 inches Passenger Volume: 2707 litres Cargo Volume: 419 litres Centre Console: 17 tennis balls Glove Compartment: 28 tennis balls EPA City: 24 mpg = 9.8 L/100km EPA Highway: 35 mpg = 6.7 L/100km Observed: 30.2 mpg Observed: 7.8 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. Base  price refers to MSRP of Elantra Limited. Base Elantra price is $17,549.

Best of all, space is abundant. The Civic apparently offers 29 fewer litres of passenger volume, but the gap feels more meaningful. 

In terms of space for the passengers' stuff, the next-best-selling Toyota Corolla provides 51 fewer litres of cargo capacity, a noticeable drop off, particularly as the shape of the Elantra's trunk makes cramming in big stuff a simple task. 

The Elantra rides and handles well enough, but it does fall short in one way or another of matching its top-selling rivals on the road. 

The Civic, even in its latest softer iteration, is the slightly more engaging car with the happier-to-rev engine. (The Elantra's driver selectable steering modes - comfort, normal, or sport - are more gimmicky than engaging.) 

The Corolla isolates vibration in the forward one-third of the car, whereas our Elantra test car allowed a surprising amount of the 2.0L's buzz to make its way through the throttle pedal and the overall cabin. 

The Mazda 3 is undoubtedly the stiffer-riding car, and that won't please everyone, but its steering and overall liveliness simply set it apart from the pack. 

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Any Image For A Larger View - (iPhone 4 Filtered Through Tadaa)

Volkswagen's Jetta still offers a rather Germanic feel, though not to the extent it did before the advent of this sixth-gen Jetta. 

The Chevrolet Cruze absorbs the road's imperfections in an admirable way, tricking the driver into thinking they're in a much bigger car than they actually are. 

The Elantra is not a dynamic disappointment, but it's no dynamic masterpiece. It doesn't love to be hustled, and yet, it doesn't emphasize ride comfort as a trade-off. 

Moreover, any improvement in NVH seemed lost in our car, and it's hard to blame the engine alone, as we tested the same powerplant in Kia's Forte, a car we lauded for its luxurious ambience. This specific Elantra's four-cylinder was very fresh from the factory, and the fact that its 173 ponies felt a bit lazy lends some credence to the theory that, once in its groove with more than 5000 kilometres on the odometer, it'll settle in with more smoothness.

In this segment, competition is fierce and margins are slim. No Elantra alternative is perfect. Few are as nice to look at. But the Elantra makes hay off of approaching the class leaders in every aspect, never failing in any one area. If it's not the roomiest, it's close to it. It doesn't have the most available horsepower, but it offers plenty more than many automakers do. Interior quality isn't the highest, but it's not far from it. Kia offers an even better-equipped Forte, but the Elantra is, in used car salesman language, loaded. 

In Early 2014, GCBC Instituted ISTBTP, AKA Interior Storage Tennis Ball Test Protocol.
The Hyundai Elantra's ISTBTP Results Are In The Spec Chart Above. 

And while greater fuel efficiency can be found in rival cars - and even in the Elantra family - this 2014 Elantra 2.0L consumed just 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres, equal to 30.2 miles per gallon on the U.S. scale. Our routes were almost completely citified and were completed in consistently sub-zero weather, yet we still managed to easily top the EPA's 24-mpg city rating.

Forget compacts. The Elantra now does a fair Sonata-beating impression. To be fair, it's more than an impression. For every Sonata sold in Canada last month, Hyundai sold more than four Elantras. With mileage, space, and equipment like this, that's not a surprise.

RECOMMENDED READING
Historic Monthly & Yearly Hyundai Elantra Sales Figures
2014 Hyundai Sonata SE Driven Review
2014 Toyota Corolla LE Driven Review
2014 Mazda 3 Sport GT Driven Review
2014 Kia Forte SX Driven Review
2014 Nissan Sentra SR Driven Review