2006 Hyundai Sonata awarded ‘Best Family Sedan’ prize

2006 Hyundai Sonata awarded 'Best Family Sedan' prize

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata is the first-ever Korean-made car to win the MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Award.

On its way to the top of the Best Family Sedan category, the Sonata outpaced such prominent players as the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord vehicles.

2006 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai Sonata made it to the top thanks to a combination of comfort, quality assembly and road safety

And did so easily, because neither Camry nor Accord offer their passengers a combination of ABS, traction control / anti-skid system, as well as front, curtain and rear-side airbags as standard equipment.

In the NHTSA crash-tests, the 2006 Sonata has earned 5 stars in front impact for both driver and the passenger, 5 stars for side impact for the driver and the rear passenger and 4 stars for the rollover resistance.

The car is available only in one body style and is offered with a choice of two engines (a base 162hp four-pot and a top-notch 235hp V6 which also powers the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe crossover SUV) and three transmissions.

The four-cylinder motor may be mated with either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual, while the V6 is coming with the new five-speed Shiftronic automatic gearbox.

The list of standard equipment includes air conditioning; power outside mirrors, windows and central locking with keyless remote; AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo; leather-wrapped, tilt steering wheel and cruise control.

While the entry-level Sonata GL is available at a pretty much affordable $17,895, the price tag goes North as you choose among more upscale versions of the car.

The GLS model is selling at $19,395 and is offered with one of two special packages priced at $850 and $1350, the GLS V6 will set you back at $20,895 and the top-notch 2006 Hyundai Sonata LX starts at $22,895.

You will have to pay extra $850 to get yourselves a sun-roof, which is also a part of the $1400 Premium Package that also includes AM/FM/CD6 changer/MP3 stereo with subwoofer.

So, it’s no wonder that the Korean car outperforms its Japanese rivals.

2006 Hyundai Sonata (interior)

2006 Hyundai Sonata (interior, instrument gauges)

2006 Hyundai Sonata (interior, central tunnel)

Photos: Hyundai

See also: 2007 Chevrolet Epica to be revealed at Geneva 2006