1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Visibility
- Antilock brakes (optional)
- Acceleration (V6)
- Passenger and cargo room
Cons
- Acceleration (4-cylinder automatic)
- Road noise
- Fuel economy
- Wind noise
Vehicle Highlights
Early in 1989, Hyundai introduced a larger front-drive 4-door sedan called the Sonata. Dimensionally, it ranks as a large compact. The standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine was built under Mitsubishi licensing, but with Hyundai's multipoint fuel injection. A 3.0-liter V6 arrived for 1990, hooked to an electronically controlled automatic transmission with Normal and Power shift modes. Sonatas came in standard and plusher GLS trim. All Sonatas were equipped with motorized front shoulder belts to meet the federal passive-restraint equipment.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 38 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Hyundai Sonata:
Interiors were redesigned this year. New items included seats, console, instrument-panel fascia, dual cupholders, and a fade-out light.
1992 Hyundai Sonata:
A Mitsubishi-built 2.0-liter, 16-valve four replaced the 2.4-liter for 1992, and antilock braking became available on the GLS with V6 power. Styling changes included a fresh grille, revised taillights, and slight sheetmetal alterations.
1993 Hyundai Sonata:
Except for a body-color front air intake and new wheel covers, this year's Sonata changed little.
1994 Hyundai Sonata:
No change at all hit the 1994 models, as the Sonata was awaiting redesign as an early '95 model.
Our road test for the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Acceleration is fairly impressive with the 2.4-liter four and a 5-speed, but only adequate with automatic. Picking a V6 doesn't make a lot of difference, but does offer quieter running. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, introduced for 1992, feels no more peppy than the old 2.4. In city/highway driving, we averaged 20.5 mpg with a 4-cylinder automatic Sonata and a decidedly thirsty 16.6 mpg with the V6. Though relatively quiet mechanically, Sonatas suffer noticeable wind noise on the highway, along with excessive road noise. Handling and roadholding are very capable for this class, but hardly agile. Steering feels light and responsive. The well-controlled, comfortably pliant ride is another "plus," though you get a bit of floatiness at times. Simulated panic stops from 60 mph were marred by sudden, early rear-wheel lockup as well as long stopping distances. Four adults have plenty of room in the tall interior. Head and leg space are generous. Entry/exit is easy, due to fairly wide doors. A bumper-height opening makes the sizable trunk easy to load.
Value for the Money
Not the most refined or exciting car on the block, and noisier than many, Sonata is still a sensible, well-designed family sedan. What this sedan lacks in refinement and assembly quality compared to a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, it manages to make up for in price and value.
Not the most refined or exciting car on the block, and noisier than many, Sonata is still a sensible, well-designed family sedan. What this sedan lacks in refinement and assembly quality compared to a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, it manages to make up for in price and value.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 38 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Hyundai Sonata includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Hyundai Sonata .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Automatic transmission:
Harsh shifts into second or fourth gears on cars with automatic transmissions is probably due to a missing or defective air-exhaust plug. (1990-94)
Blower motor:
If the blower motor is noisy or jams and blows the fuse, or if the inside of the windshield fogs up, there may be a water leak at the plenum. (1990-94)
Engine misfire:
Stalling at idle, no air conditioning, and a "check engine" light could be caused by a bad ground. Splicing a ground wire into the original one leading to the computer might solve the problem. (1990-94)
Manual transmission:
Gear clashes or grinding when shifting from second to third gear is corrected by installing beefier synchronizers. (1992-94)
Water leak:
Water on the floor from what appears to be a leaking heater core is really a leaking heater valve. (1990-94)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $505 |
| Alternator | $340 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $840 |
| Brakes | $205 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $360 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $700 |
| Exhaust System | $260 |
| Radiator | $325 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $485 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $210 |
Our price chart for this generation Hyundai Sonata details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1994 | |||
| Sonata | $1,100-1,500 | $700-900 | $100-200 |
| 1993 | |||
| Sonata | $1,000-1,400 | $600-800 | $400-600 |
| 1992 | |||
| Sonata | $1,000-1,300 | $600-800 | $100 |
| 1991 | |||
| Sonata | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 1990 | |||
| Sonata | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Hyundai Sonata include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 104.3 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 184.3 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 68.9 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 55.4 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2813 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 14.0 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 17.2 | |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.5 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.9 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.4 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 37.3 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Two engines were available in 1990 Sonatas: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, rated at 116 horsepower; and a new 3.0-liter V6 that made 142 horsepower. Both a 5-speed manual and 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission were available, but V6 Sonatas came only with automatic. For 1992, a smaller (2.0-liter) 4-cylinder engine with dual-overhead cams, yielding 128 horsepower replaced the prior single-cam four. The new engine had dual balance shafts for smoothness, multipoint fuel injection, distributorless ignition, and a hydraulic cam-belt tension adjuster.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| Turbocharged dohc I4 | 2.0 / 122 | 128 | 121 | 5-speed manual: 20/27 4-speed automatic: 21/27 |
5-speed manual: 25.7 4-speed automatic: 20.5 |
| ohc I4 | 2.4 / 143 | 116 | 142 | 5-speed manual: 21/28 4-speed automatic: 21/26 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
| ohc V6 | 3.0 / 181 | 142 | 158 | 4-speed automatic: 18/24 | 4-speed automatic: 16.6 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Canada
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Hyundai Sonata include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1990-1994 Hyundai Sonata directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1990:
Safety catch on secondary hood-latch striker could bind, allowing hood to fly open while car is moving if primary latch is released or hood is not completely closed.
1990:
Spring-clamp on coolant bypass hose of 2.4-liter engine may contact and possibly damage the fuel-supply hose, which could result in fuel leakage into engine compartment and possible fire.
1990-94:
Motorized shoulder belt can travel slowly or chatter in its track; may eventually become inoperative, increasing risk of injury in sudden stop or accident.
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