Faults:

Nothing. The car is generally very well engineered, quiet and smooth. Performance is good as is road holding. Fuel consumption is a bit heavy. It's just the customer service is so bad.

General Comments:

To cut a very long story short, Hyundai replaced the first car due to corrosion and an engine compartment that looked 10 years old where the car was stored for a long time in a corrosive atmosphere. I'm annoyed Hyundai expected a private buyer to take delivery in the first place. In the UK we still get screwed for the new price even if the car has been around for a while. Not like in the USA where rebates are available. You could say it was good service to replace the car, but it took a lot of effort to get them to do so.

Also, the brochure did not mention whether the radio would play MP3 files, but did state it was RDS. I was shown an MP3/ RDS radio in the 2.4L demonstrator. I even emailed Hyundai UK to check. When my higher spec 3.3L arrived, the radio was not RDS and would not play MP3. Anyway, like I said, the car was replaced, but the radio was still to the poor spec. The original car I ordered was with a light Grey interior. The replacement was black interior, cheap black plastic on which you can see white marks from your skin, and gloomy. The brochure still stated that the car model would be gray. I moaned, of course, and got a rebate.

So basically, you cannot believe the brochure and the dealers haven't a clue what they are selling. So the buyer is taking a risk with a substantial amount of money. Incidentally, I'd love to know why the Americans pay nearly a half what we are ripped-off.

I have since found that the very latest Sonata is fitted with an MP3/RDS radio and is available as a spare part. I did not dream up the following and have emailed Hyundai UK to check (who couldn't care a damn about my comments). The price for the replacement radio (it's a bespoke design) is a staggering 2726.02 GBP, that's over 5000 USD.

I think this is a disgusting way to treat a customer. I have purchased 3 brand new Hyundai cars to date, but will never buy another. You don't know in the UK what you are going to end up with.

Another joke is that they advertise the Grandeur, but cannot supply a demonstrator. Yep, Hyundai's cusomer service in the UK is appalling.

I'm thinking of an Audi next time.

Faults:

Water pump went at at 56000 miles. that's it!

General Comments:

The most comfortable car we have ever driven. Engine is power-full and silent both in town and on the motorway. Having bought our Sonata used we only lost £200 in depreciation during the year in which we owned it. Sonata was cheaper and 'much' more reliable than our noisy Astra Automatic. Air Con. is fantastic even in the hottest of summers. New baby forced us to get an estate car. So we passed on the Sonata to Friends who are delighted with it.