Second-hand Sense: This will not be the first time we have referred to the fact that one of the main selling points of Korean cars is their levels of standard equipment, when the price of the car is compared directly against its competitors.
And if you need to be reminded of just how attractive the package can be, consider the following: a Cork Hyundai dealer has on offer a 2004 Hyundai Sonata (a large car with executive ambitions) with 16,000 miles on the clock and an array of standard equipment, including leather upholstery, alloys, metallic paint, electric windows, central locking, immobiliser, multiple airbags, climate control, CD player, traction control and lots more. And the price? €21,500. I have driven BMW and Mercedes cars that don't have half this kind of equipment, and which would sell for multiples of this price.
The Sonata is now in its fifth generation, and has a good track record. Like a lot of other bigger cars from volume car manufacturers, however, it remains largely unloved. You do not get an elegant profile with a second-hand Sonata, although one should point out that the latest model is a good deal more impressive to look at than the model that was replaced last year. There are touches of European styling, but the older Sonata struggles to create a presence. That aside, the car is big, comfortable, nice but not exciting to drive, extremely well equipped and just, well, a solid all-rounder.
The car was originally available with 2.0 and 2.4-litre engines, but the 2.0-litre has now been dropped, making the second-hand model a good option. The fact that the engines are quite big does not make it an option for everyone because of tax and running cost considerations. However, heavy depreciation means the car can be a good buy and might represent the ideal opportunity for the cost-conscious buyer to get into the 2.0-litre league for 1.6-litre prices.
Handling is good and steering is fine, but ride quality can be patchy on Irish roads. The Sonata is perhaps at its best when cruising at motorway speeds and while there is a degree of noise as one reaches those speeds, it is quiet and smooth when it settles. The 2.4 version is very silky indeed but there is a fuel penalty.
The roominess is a real bonus and front seat and rear passengers are both well catered for. Extras like leather upholstery and air conditioning really make a huge difference to driving, especially if you spend a lot of time on the road and the Sonata is one of the few big cars around on which they do not cost the earth.
The Sonata does not have a EuroNCAP crash test profile as it has not been tested, but it does have side impact protection and multiple airbags. Only a handful (in motor industry terms) have been recalled for airbag problems, so the reliability record is good.
You can see from the first paragraph what a low-mileage 2004 version will cost you, approximately. A 2002 version, also with a 2.0 litre engine and 40,000 miles on the clock, and the same level of equipment, will cost you about €14,000. That is one option I would certainly consider over smaller and lesser-equipped cars.
FOR: Good second-hand prices and excellent equipment levels.
AGAINST: Very stodgy styling on cars pre-'05. Can be heavy on petrol.