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Face-Off: 2011 Ford Fusion versus 2011 Hyundai Sonata


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I'm getting sick of everyone babbling on and on about how beautiful the new sonata is. I'll give them credit for trying something new-ish and more daring than most, but its proportions are ALL wrong. I guess it's the best one can do with a FWD family sedan, but still, not gorgeous, not beautiful, actually it's quite cartoonish and oddly shapen in person. My money would go elsewhere.

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I'm getting sick of everyone babbling on and on about how beautiful the new sonata is. I'll give them credit for trying something new-ish and more daring than most, but its proportions are ALL wrong. I guess it's the best one can do with a FWD family sedan, but still, not gorgeous, not beautiful, actually it's quite cartoonish and oddly shapen in person. My money would go elsewhere.

 

I wouldn't even give them that much credit. The Volkswagen Passat CC is a fine example of a four door "coupe" done right proportionally. The Sonata is a beached whale.

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I replaced my 2008 Fusion SEL 4 cylinder lease with a 2011 Sonata SE lease. Each has merits. The Fusion is a better driver - better steering and suspension, though neither is a sports car. The electric steering in the Sonata has no feel and the suspension lacks polish. For the technology, the bluetooth works the same in either car - neither likes my samsung phone! I can't speak to my iPhone in either car, but I can at least control my music easier from the stereo controls in the Sonata vs the Fusion's aux jack. The Fusion has a fold flat front passenger seat, which the Sonata does not, and you can fold the rear seats flat from the trunk, which you can't do on the Sonata. Style is subjective. I prefer the pre-2010 Fusion style, the 2010 looks to much like a refresh. I love the style of the 2011 Sonata. I compliment the car to myself every time I walk up to it. I can see people turning their heads as I drive around. BTW, the car looks much better in person than it does in photos, and the SE trim is the only way to go. The Sonata gets better mileage - I average 28-30 mpg in mixed driving, which I could rarely achieve in the Fusion even when I coasted with the clutch in! I usually got 25-26 mpg overall in the Fusion.

 

Both nice cars, you can't go wrong with either.

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Gonna take a stab at this one:

 

Sonata wins, but the Edmunds people are hard pressed to find a quantitative advantage for the Sonata. The Fusion is praised for its driving dynamics but ultimately fails due to some nitpicky stuff that could've gone either way, had they opted to apply the microscope to the Sonata's shortcomings instead.

 

Stuff like "headliner material felt cheap" "exposed wires" "styling was not as popular with testers" "ride seemed harsh"--that kind of crap.

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Gonna take a stab at this one:

 

Sonata wins, but the Edmunds people are hard pressed to find a quantitative advantage for the Sonata. The Fusion is praised for its driving dynamics but ultimately fails due to some nitpicky stuff that could've gone either way, had they opted to apply the microscope to the Sonata's shortcomings instead.

 

Stuff like "headliner material felt cheap" "exposed wires" "styling was not as popular with testers" "ride seemed harsh"--that kind of crap.

 

 

I would side with the Fusion since it has better outward vision, doesn't have the pinched, excessively high belt line, and is more nimble and intuitive. I'm not fan of the form over function design theme as in new Sonata, LaCrosse, and Fiesta. Ditto for Escape that is more function over form. I like vehicles with great outward vision, and great headroom and leg room in back seat with lots of cargo room. The Fusion and Escape have both. I like a good looking vehicle as well as the next guy, but not at the expense of interior room, outward vision, and cargo room. IMO, the Fusion and Escape are Ford's two best vehicles. The new Taurus and Fiesta are so so with me. Same goes for the new Sonata and LaCrosse. I hate vehicles that make me feel claustrophobic. At least the new Taurus and Fiesta are not as excessive as the new LaCrosse and Sonata.

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I haven't sat in one, but (from the looks) I'd bet the Sonata would be harder to see out of. True, the Fusion has that high trunk, but the side windows appear significantly larger, and easier to see out of.

 

I bet it's like the new Buick LaCrosse. You need spotter mirrors and rear view video camera to get the big picture as driver in these form over funcion machines. I sat in a new LaCrosse other day, and after adjusting seat as best i could to myself, I felt like I was sitting under table peering up to see anything. The A pillars are so wide as to greatly restrict side to side viewing of intersections. I would imagine new Sonata is similar since it has same over the top exterior styling. It's like driving a tank peering out telescope called the front window and restricted vision back side windows and rear window. My 2002 Taurus is a frickin greenhouse compared to these new form over function new vehicles. I know DC Examiner reviewed the new Sonata and stated he liked the previous generation Sonata much better since outward vision and interior room wasn't as compromised as the new one. I agree with him.

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I'm getting sick of everyone babbling on and on about how beautiful the new sonata is. I'll give them credit for trying something new-ish and more daring than most, but its proportions are ALL wrong. I guess it's the best one can do with a FWD family sedan, but still, not gorgeous, not beautiful, actually it's quite cartoonish and oddly shapen in person. My money would go elsewhere.

 

I agree, from the Solara front end, to the way too heavy crease and a few more things I can't think of right now....let's just say it's not how I would've done it.

 

 

I wouldn't even give them that much credit. The Volkswagen Passat CC is a fine example of a four door "coupe" done right proportionally. The Sonata is a beached whale.

 

Yes, I too like the CC.

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I agree, from the Solara front end, to the way too heavy crease and a few more things I can't think of right now....let's just say it's not how I would've done it.

 

The Sonata doesn't do anything for me.

 

The KIA version though? Looks much more $$$ than it is.

 

me-kia-optima-01_620.jpg

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I bet it's like the new Buick LaCrosse. You need spotter mirrors and rear view video camera to get the big picture as driver in these form over funcion machines. I sat in a new LaCrosse other day, and after adjusting seat as best i could to myself, I felt like I was sitting under table peering up to see anything. The A pillars are so wide as to greatly restrict side to side viewing of intersections. I would imagine new Sonata is similar since it has same over the top exterior styling. It's like driving a tank peering out telescope called the front window and restricted vision back side windows and rear window. My 2002 Taurus is a frickin greenhouse compared to these new form over function new vehicles. I know DC Examiner reviewed the new Sonata and stated he liked the previous generation Sonata much better since outward vision and interior room wasn't as compromised as the new one. I agree with him.

 

 

Not any worse than the "fastbacks" we drove in the '70s...

 

Wish we had backup cameras then...lol

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Gonna take a stab at this one:

 

Sonata wins, but the Edmunds people are hard pressed to find a quantitative advantage for the Sonata. The Fusion is praised for its driving dynamics but ultimately fails due to some nitpicky stuff that could've gone either way, had they opted to apply the microscope to the Sonata's shortcomings instead.

 

Stuff like "headliner material felt cheap" "exposed wires" "styling was not as popular with testers" "ride seemed harsh"--that kind of crap.

Nope they did not pick a winner....rather talked a lot about the Fusion's tech and the sport package, which the Sonata does not have.

 

I still believe that grown up men don't buy Hyundai's.

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Nope they did not pick a winner....rather talked a lot about the Fusion's tech and the sport package, which the Sonata does not have.

 

I still believe that grown up men don't buy Hyundai's.

Tsk Tsk Tsk. That is not a smart way to begin posting on a new website. I'm 57 and share driving my Accent with my wife. I'm not bragging up the Accent, even though it's solid. Sweeping statements about growing up and what men should drive is mindless. I think the interior space of the front seat of the Fusion is too small. The Sonata is just slightly better. I drove a new mailbu recently and thought the seat was too low. It did work nicely though. There is no winner or loser. It's in the opinion.

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I recently had a Elantra 2007 model (purchased summer 2007). I got rid of it after a year. I live of a limerock road in Florida, and I believe the Elantra would have shaken itself to death going over this washboard road. My wife bought a new Honda Fit at the same time, and it's still solid as a rock 75k miles later. The Elantra seemed really nice at first. Design wise had plenty of room for a little car. But the car just had cheapness written all over it. Shakes,and rattles. Molding in the wheel well falling off. Tin can style metal pieces (dents quite easily). Trunk that felt like it weighed maybe 10 ounces at that. After a year, I knew I had enough with the Hyundai, and dumped it. Never buy another again. Learned my lesson and it will be all Fords for me (with the exception of my 10 year old Dodge diesel which I plan on keeping until some of the new Super Duties are used enough to make them affordable.)

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...and the SE trim is the only way to go.

:yup:

Likewise, getting one of the two Appearance Packages (14C & 14X) is a must on non-SPORT 2010+ Fusion models. The enhanced suspension components that come with these packages make the balance between responsive handling and comfy ride just about perfect.

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Tsk Tsk Tsk. That is not a smart way to begin posting on a new website. I'm 57 and share driving my Accent with my wife. I'm not bragging up the Accent, even though it's solid. Sweeping statements about growing up and what men should drive is mindless. I think the interior space of the front seat of the Fusion is too small. The Sonata is just slightly better. I drove a new mailbu recently and thought the seat was too low. It did work nicely though. There is no winner or loser. It's in the opinion.

Noticed that I said that "I believe", I did not say that is a fact. Also, you do know this is a Ford website, so you will find people who support the Ford brand. We want the Ford brand to win. So a little trash talk is fine, now and again.

 

Why buy the Accent when you could have had a Focus? Or actually a used Escort would have been better.

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Gonna take a stab at this one:

 

Sonata wins, but the Edmunds people are hard pressed to find a quantitative advantage for the Sonata. The Fusion is praised for its driving dynamics but ultimately fails due to some nitpicky stuff that could've gone either way, had they opted to apply the microscope to the Sonata's shortcomings instead.

 

Stuff like "headliner material felt cheap" "exposed wires" "styling was not as popular with testers" "ride seemed harsh"--that kind of crap.

 

I haven't read the article either simply because Edmunds always seems to find some obscure reason, no matter how pointless, why import cars are better.

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I haven't read the article either simply because Edmunds always seems to find some obscure reason, no matter how pointless, why import cars are better.

The article makes no such assertion to declare one of the two cars is definitively superior to the other.

Edited by aneekr
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I bet it's like the new Buick LaCrosse. You need spotter mirrors and rear view video camera to get the big picture as driver in these form over funcion machines. I sat in a new LaCrosse other day, and after adjusting seat as best i could to myself, I felt like I was sitting under table peering up to see anything. The A pillars are so wide as to greatly restrict side to side viewing of intersections. I would imagine new Sonata is similar since it has same over the top exterior styling. It's like driving a tank peering out telescope called the front window and restricted vision back side windows and rear window. My 2002 Taurus is a frickin greenhouse compared to these new form over function new vehicles. I know DC Examiner reviewed the new Sonata and stated he liked the previous generation Sonata much better since outward vision and interior room wasn't as compromised as the new one. I agree with him.

Twins separated at birth?

2008.toyota.camry%20solara.20126448-396x249.jpg

2011hyundai_sonata1.jpg

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I replaced my 2008 Fusion SEL 4 cylinder lease with a 2011 Sonata SE lease. Each has merits. The Fusion is a better driver - better steering and suspension, though neither is a sports car. The electric steering in the Sonata has no feel and the suspension lacks polish. For the technology, the bluetooth works the same in either car - neither likes my samsung phone! I can't speak to my iPhone in either car, but I can at least control my music easier from the stereo controls in the Sonata vs the Fusion's aux jack. The Fusion has a fold flat front passenger seat, which the Sonata does not, and you can fold the rear seats flat from the trunk, which you can't do on the Sonata. Style is subjective. I prefer the pre-2010 Fusion style, the 2010 looks to much like a refresh. I love the style of the 2011 Sonata. I compliment the car to myself every time I walk up to it. I can see people turning their heads as I drive around. BTW, the car looks much better in person than it does in photos, and the SE trim is the only way to go. The Sonata gets better mileage - I average 28-30 mpg in mixed driving, which I could rarely achieve in the Fusion even when I coasted with the clutch in! I usually got 25-26 mpg overall in the Fusion.

 

Both nice cars, you can't go wrong with either.

 

So you are comparing a 2008 Fusion to a 2011 Sonata? If you compare both in the same year, as in your stereo and MPG example, you get SYNC and 34MPG on the 2011 Fusion. Done and done.

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So you are comparing a 2008 Fusion to a 2011 Sonata? If you compare both in the same year, as in your stereo and MPG example, you get SYNC and 34MPG on the 2011 Fusion. Done and done.

 

The 2011 Fusion is now at dealers. The I4 version with auto gets 23mpg city and 33mpg highway. That is very competitive in this segment and puts Fusion right near the top. IMO, the Fusion is Ford's best value offering if you consider room, cargo room, and fuel mileage. Add in it's good looks and more than decent outward vision and it's easly best in segment in my view. Bill Brown Ford must have in at least 50 new 2011 Fusions already. The V6 Fusion is up to 28mpg highway for 2011. Great car. I think it's great that Ford again improved Fusion mileage across the board in a nonfreshening year.

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Funny as it may sound, the evolutions Ford has done on the CD3 Fusion is keeping it fresh enough to compete in the market and bring in good profits to Ford. One can only imagine how great the next global platform Fusion/Mondeo will be. Ecoboost, ...Hybrid... even a Euro diesel tucked into it's back pocket if needed. I'd say Ford has the future well covered.

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