Is Hyundai Building A Camry Or An ES Killer With The 2011 Sonata?

Is Hyundai Building A Camry Or An ES Killer With The 2011 Sonata?
As many of you know Hyundai officially announced the 2011 Sonata yesterday.  Immediately we thought we had a Camry killer on our hands. 

But after looking at these shots that surfaced just a bit ago, I think we really need to answer the question, did they target the Camry or the ES? 

It is pretty obvious that the entire Hyundai line is moving upscale falling somewhere in between Toyota and Lexus, hitting Toyota and many other automakers from both sides.

Think about it for a bit.  Why buy a high end Camry or Avalon when the Sonata can give you far more for the money?  Put the shoe on the other foot and ask why buy an ES when you can save thousands on a Sonata and get most of the features?

I'm not saying Hyundai is better than either brand, but there is a compelling argument here on what is premium and what is simply good enough. 

So did Hyundai target the Camry or the ES or land right in the middle of both?


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PerformanceGuyPerformanceGuy - 9/17/2009 5:14:44 PM
-5 Boost
LOL, in short, NO!


B7FANB7FAN - 9/18/2009 8:17:50 AM
-2 Boost
That 2011 Sonata is a Camry Solara and a Lexus ES wrapped in one, with a 2010 nissan maxima interior.

It will sell Hyundai is a little cheaper than the competition and what better car for a kid to buy when they get out of college wityh the warranty and all the other stuff. I think if they keep the pace they are at they may be able tto keep up with toyota and honda


NewBeginningNewBeginning - 9/18/2009 10:00:05 AM
-1 Boost
Sorry Toyota lovers and Hyundai haters.
Now Toyota started importing parts from Hyundai just like Mitsubishi using Hyundai engines,
so your loving Toyota or Lexus is partially made by Hyundai.

Reality sucks. Doesn't it?


NannerPusNannerPus - 9/18/2009 7:43:26 PM
-3 Boost
The Sonata was already an ES killer, duh.







LexuryLexury - 9/19/2009 2:01:12 PM
+2 Boost
it's a fresh look for hyundai. why are you guys nitpicking for? finding any godamn reason to hate on hyundai for trying. they get an a for effort IMO and they are capturing market share slowly one lexus-toyota customer at a time. don't be so niave. the sonata is a major improvement at least give it that. it takes a generation or two to get up to par with what they want. same goes with any car.


thetruth01thetruth01 - 9/17/2009 5:17:20 PM
+5 Boost
Hyundia vs. Lexus? Again? Really? Good lords.


golfer38golfer38 - 9/17/2009 5:19:23 PM
-1 Boost
At a first quick glance, I thought that was an ES350. Another copy, what a shocker...


Yonder7Yonder7 - 9/17/2009 5:36:44 PM
+2 Boost
This will be an interesting dogfight...


NannerPusNannerPus - 9/18/2009 7:44:04 PM
+4 Boost
It will?


MSP6MSP6 - 9/17/2009 5:54:00 PM
+3 Boost
DUMB question.

Every midsize sedan, in it's fully loaded version is a possible ES/MAXIMA/TL killer.

Question is, is the 4 cyl. base model, without NAV, sunroof, fog lights, leather and loaded with steel wheels with hubcaps is an ES killer ? no. Is the fully loaded version is one ? maybe, but same can be said of a fully loaded Camry, Accord, Mazdas6 or Altima.

Is a fully loaded Sonata a better value than a ES ? Well, if you only consider the price tag, maybe, but if you look further and take resale value into consideration, absolutely not.


r15mohdr15mohd - 9/18/2009 8:59:50 AM
+3 Boost
this is smart guy...right on point my friend!


LemonadeLemonade - 9/17/2009 6:10:26 PM
+4 Boost
NO 009.

This reincarnated Solara is aimed at your precious Audi


Agent009Agent009 - 9/18/2009 8:40:36 AM
0 Boost
LOL I am not worrying until they clone an A6!


mplsmpls - 9/17/2009 6:10:32 PM
-2 Boost
Head of design at Hyundai has no shame!


synxsynx - 9/17/2009 7:10:13 PM
-3 Boost
man, that car is ugly from the front...


onetimeonetime - 9/17/2009 7:23:56 PM
+2 Boost
Another YF Sonata Interior Version Pix:

http://file1.bobaedream.co.kr/multi_image/national/2009/09/17/67310/dsc00689_clubkoup.jpg

http://file1.bobaedream.co.kr/multi_image/national/2009/09/17/67310/dsc00691_clubkoup.jpg

YF Sonata Movie and Commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP21zS_V3qE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX9uC_Z_g3s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlcn68iiZME&feature=related

ENJOY!


tangotango - 9/17/2009 8:54:40 PM
+4 Boost
Well done, Hyundai, well done.


NISSANINFINITINISSANINFINITI - 9/18/2009 1:11:51 AM
0 Boost
I agree, GREAT job! Some people will never get over the brand HYUNDAI from back in the day when they first came out, but they should because Hyundai has made a complete full circle improvement on quality and appearence.


dlindlin - 9/17/2009 9:34:02 PM
+7 Boost
More like VW killer.


david999david999 - 9/17/2009 9:38:41 PM
+7 Boost

More crap from 009. A Hyundai exec had indicated that this vehicle is aimed at VW in Asia.


delandelan - 9/18/2009 2:36:45 PM
0 Boost
LOL, you idiot.


g2okg2ok - 9/17/2009 11:18:23 PM
+9 Boost
Agent 009 is a moron.


wins555wins555 - 9/17/2009 11:31:19 PM
+4 Boost
Obviously they targeted the Camry by putting ES features on the new Sonata.


acronisacronis - 9/18/2009 12:04:53 AM
+4 Boost
Lets say all you anti-Hyundai are right that nothing on this car is original. You may not be worried about this car but Toyota is concerned.

A while back, in the heyday of GMs rein, circa 1970s thru much of the '80s, GM was the top selling maker of cars in the U.S. and Toyota was just beginning to come into its own as a brand. GM sold millions of cars in the U.S. while Toyota sold 100k per year. Fast forward to the future and Toyota is now on top.

The pendulum continues to swing and no one brand can expect to stay on top forever. There was a time when Toyota produced really good looking and gotta have designs but now they're playing it safe. Too safe.

This car is going to be a strong seller for Hyundai.


kablaamkablaam - 9/18/2009 1:43:07 AM
-4 Boost
Either the bloggers here are Wayy too young or have a memory lapse, but there was a time when ALL Japanese vehicles were seen as cheap, disposable, econo-box death-traps.

How quickly the tides turn.

I think Hyundai is doing a GREAT job with their new designs and in incorporating new-technologies in an affordable package. Being a consumer, whether a Hyundai fan or not, is a great thing as they are spurring innovation and cheaper prices through competition.

There was a time I wouldn't be caught dead in a Nissan or Toyota, albeit a while ago, times have changed and now I would be honored to have a Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota or Nissan added to my fleet. Hyundai's time will come and IMO they will achieve such a perception and following MUCH faster than your Japanese counterparts.

Now if they can only build a car better and cheaper than my M5. haha j/k you BMW haters, we all know that's impossible. :-p


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 9/18/2009 3:18:27 AM
-1 Boost
neither


acronisacronis - 9/18/2009 5:15:49 AM
+4 Boost
Badgewhore your ranting claims that Hyundai builds "junk" is invalidated by authorities such as Consumers Reports, Edmunds, J.D. Powers, Motortrend.com, Cars.com and other leading automotive authorities.

In addition, Hyundai has received several prestigious awards and recognitions. Hyundai's automotive group is also the 4th largest in the world.

Your post would've played much better had you just come right out and stated your intense dislike for Hyundai rather than spew and twist your perception of reality as truth.


_43LE_43LE - 9/18/2009 10:48:37 AM
+5 Boost
Since Shempy did not make a big enough fool of himself yesterday, he wanted to try even harder today. Looks like it's working.


_43LE_43LE - 9/18/2009 1:12:23 PM
+3 Boost
Shempy, you hurt me so bad! My self esteem has never been so low. But, you're absolutely correct! Invisible and I are joined at the hips, literally....

But seriously, it's funny when things gets backed into a corner, the kinds of things they resort to saying is interesting...It's so pathetic when someone tries to use the "gay comment" or joke. It's so old-school, like anyone even really cares anymore! What are we? in high school still? Well, maybe he is.

I have to say, he's still an interesting case study after all these years.


_43LE_43LE - 9/19/2009 12:36:19 AM
+2 Boost
It's funny how you think I would be offended or get angry by that comment. Yup, old school Shempy.


lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 9/20/2009 8:19:14 PM
+1 Boost
I beg to differ, shemply. i have seen many gay people get offended when people negatively refer to them as "gay."


SHOWTIMESHOWTIME - 9/18/2009 9:13:58 AM
+2 Boost
Love the interior. Exterior is nice except the headlights seem too stretched out and the grill is ugly.


onetimeonetime - 9/18/2009 9:54:41 AM
+4 Boost
I have seen the new YF Sonata in person today at one of the Hyundai dealers here in Seoul. It is a totally different car from the previous NF Sonata. It looks way more upscale than the Camry or Accord. No joke. It is a stud. In my opinion, it can compete with the ES.


richard112360richard112360 - 9/18/2009 11:45:30 AM
-3 Boost
A styling disaster in my honest opinion. It looks like they copied the third and fourth generation Ford Taurus.

Third generation Ford Taurus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:96-97_Ford_Taurus_.jpg

Fourth generation Ford Taurus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2000-2003_Ford_Taurus_SES.jpg


delandelan - 9/18/2009 2:35:27 PM
0 Boost
Yeah, much like the Veracruz was supposed to annihilate the RX. Whomp whomp whomp!


g2okg2ok - 9/19/2009 11:59:28 AM
+3 Boost
This is great car and Hyundai has done a great job. One could say Hyundai is to Toyota what Samsung is to Sony, but even decades ago when Toyota and Honda entered the US market and were considered junk, they really were not; whereas Hyundai had a lot of problems.

They also had proper dealers. The dealers really are bringing the image down and it needs to be addressed.

Japanese-German companies are known around the world for excellence. A lot of Americans would not buy from the former Axis powers, since the memory of post-war horrors were still fresh. These companies overcame a lot more obstacles in the market than Hyundai, but I hope this car does well.


LuxuryFanLuxuryFan - 9/20/2009 8:05:17 PM
+1 Boost
While I like most aspects of this vehicle, unfortunately it will be sold through the Hyundai dealership network.

Lexus can't hurry fast enough back to the ES drawing boards.
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