X

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE (photos)

Love it or hate it, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata's aggressively sculptured body will get people talking, but there's more to this car than just good looks...

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
34047572_OVR.JPG
1 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Sculpted body

Love it or hate it, the 2011 Sonata's aggressively sculptured body will get people talking. Some praised the sedan for its sexy curves, whereas others chided it for being too derivative.
34047572_FT.JPG
2 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

In-your-face grill

The Sonata's forward-sweeping curves terminate (or begin, depending on how you look at it) at its gigantic chrome grill and swept headlamps.
34047572_SD.JPG
3 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Coupe-like proportions

The Sonata's high door sills and steeply raked front and rear glass remind us of the coupe-like silhouette of the Volkswagen CC and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class--what interesting company this Korean sedan keeps!
34047572_SS02.JPG
4 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

SE trim level

Our Sonata is of the SE trim, which includes larger 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, bits of leather interior trim, and a slightly more powerful engine.
34047572_SS03.JPG
5 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Dual exhausts

The SE model also gets dual chrome exhaust tips to further differentiate it from the other trim levels.
34047572_SS04.JPG
6 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Trunk

The Sonata's trunk is a cavernous 16.4 cubic feet.
34047572_SS01.JPG
7 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

2.4-liter GDI engine

Under the Sonata's sculpted hood breathes a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. This gasoline, direct-injected engine makes 198 horsepower in the Sonata GLS and Limited.

However, for the SE model, max power has been boosted to 200-horsepower. That's two more ponies!
34047572_SS16.JPG
8 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

6-speed automatic transmission

Oddly, although the base GLS model comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, the sports-themed SE model is equipped with a single-option six-speed automatic.
34047572_INT.JPG
9 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Cabin comforts

The Sonata's interior isn't just "nice for a Hyundai," it's nice, period. There are a few bits made of hard, hollow plastic, but most of the areas that drivers and passengers would regularly feel (steering wheel, dashboard, shifter, door pulls) are pleasing to the touch and to the eye.

While the Limited trim features leather trim, the SE model only features leather on the steering wheel, shifter, and the front seat bolsters. The seats' center panels are still cloth.
34047572_SS05.JPG
10 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Center stack with nav

The Sonata is available with a touch-screen navigation system. The system features graphic lane guidance, text-to-speech directions, and a fairly robust voice recognition system.
34047572_SS10.JPG
11 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Map screen

Data is stored on 8GB of flash memory, so the maps aren't as sexy as those on the best hard-drive-based systems, but they work. There also isn't a 3D view available, just this top-down view. Fortunately, the interface is quite snappy and easy to use.
34047572_SS09.JPG
12 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Address entry

Users are able to search for points of interest by name, address, or category.
34047572_SS11.JPG
13 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Data services

Through its XM satellite radio uplink, the Sonata receives traffic flow and incident data, which it uses to automatically suggest alternate routes when it sees traffic along your chosen path. Stocks, sports scores, and weather updates are also accessed through this connection.
34047572_SS06.JPG
14 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Steering wheel controls and voice command

The Sonata's steering wheel is where the voice controls reside. Voice commands are available for the navigation, audio playback, and hands-free calling systems. Onscreen prompts guide the user toward the right commands, reducing confusion. We like that.
34047572_SS07.JPG
15 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Instrument cluster

A trio of monochromatic LCD displays reside within and between the Sonata's pair of analog gauges. Here, users can keep tabs on their fuel economy, fuel levels, coolant temperature, and a plethora of other info settings.
34047572_SS08.JPG
16 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Audio inputs

All Sonatas are equipped with standard USB and auxiliary audio inputs. When connected to an optional Hyundai 30-pin dock cable (which utilizes both of these inputs) the audio system becomes iPhone/iPod compatible, as well.
34047572_SS13.JPG
17 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

iPod connectivity

When connected to an iPhone or iPod, the system allows users to browse their devices by artist, album, genre, and other categories. The system was also recognized our Android OS phone when mounted as a USB device and let us browse the folder structure for songs.
34047572_SS12.JPG
18 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

XM satellite radio

In addition to supplying traffic and auxiliary data, the XM satellite radio connection also acts as a radio.
34047572_SS14.JPG
19 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Dimension audio system

At the GLS and SE trim level, the best stereo you can get is this Dimension audio system. It features seven speakers and 360 watts of amplification. With its Variable EQ settings, it sounds great for most types of music.

However, the Limited trim level is available with an eight-speaker Infinity-branded system with 400 watts of power. We assume it sounds even better, but were unable to test it.
34047572_SS15.JPG
20 of 20 Josh P. Miller/CNET

Bluetooth connectivity

When paired with a Bluetooth phone, the Sonata is able to make hands-free calls. Addresses are automatically imported on pairing; and if the phone supports A2DP, Bluetooth audio appears as an audio source.

Bluetooth is standard on all Sonata models.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos