Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Sport

There was once a radio commercial in which two very confused individuals cracked their heads to identify a certain car. One of them believed it was a Mercedes while the other insisted that it had to be a Jag. A third voice interrupts to end the guesswork and reveal the true identity of the car. That was how people came to know the Hyundai Sonata - a car which packed the visual selling points of desirable continental marques in a package that cost notably less than a Japanese runabout.

Oh, but how the time have changed. Like its sister company Kia, Hyundai no longer suffers from an identity crisis. It now revels in an image it has carved for itself, one that was kickstarted by launching the current-gen Sonata several years ago. As the car's cutting-edge design wowed the world, those who drove it were left a little wanting. It still felt very Hyundai behind the wheel, which was disappointing given its new, great looks.

Now, Hyundai are at it again. The 2.0 variant gets a new 'Nu' engine, the very same unit used in the smaller Elantra. Output is similar to the outgoing Theta engine but the new powerplant is lighter, making the new car less front-heavy which consequently reduces the likelihood of understeer. From the driver's seat, the new engine feels and sounds more refined too. It may not win you many drag battles but the two-litre unit does the job well as a day-to-day workhorse.

One of the Sonata's weakest areas was its steering. In its latest from, it is clear that the Hyundai engineers have tackled the issue, tweaking the electric steering to offer more feedback and sharper response round the bends.It is far from perfect, because feedback is not as sharp as required on fast and tight corners, but it is still a good try nonetheless. It is another step forward.

The Sonata shines on the inside as much as it does outside. The dashboard has been tidied up for a cleaner look and to make room for more cubbyholes. The cabin is made up of a curious mix of cheap plastics and high-grade materials but everything feels well put together in the end. Legroom is abundant especially in the rear while ride comfort is commendable. This is a car the passengers can easily doze off in on long hausls as long as the driver does not go beyond the speed limit often, which is when wind noise begins to intrude into the cabin.

Back when this Sonata line first popped up, many of us believed that Hyundai had finally found its groove. The truth was, Hyundai were merely on its way. There were still creases to iron out and gaps to fill. This updated Sonata represent a step closer - it's further proof that Hyundai can make a car that looks good and drives well too. No wonder the Japs are scurrying.

Hyundai Veloster 1.6L Premium

The Veloster is all about the hip and trendy market and Hyundai is very sure this coupe's aggeressive design will punch a hole through that segment.

On looks alone, the Veloster certainly is different. On its own, it looks petite and compact but park another coupe or hatchback next to it and you suddenly realise it knows how to hide its sizeable proportions. The fact is, the Veloster is tallish and it can seat four adults comfortably.

Malaysians are a practical lot. We want something sporty but we also want doors at the back because somewhere deep in our cerebral cortex a car must be able to ferry five people even though there's no family in sight. Perhaps we are not alone in that, and that is why Hyundai decided to add a third door to a coupe. Thus, the Veloster was conceived.

Having that extra door makes the rear seats can fit in at the back. The only problem is the head is right  under the rear windscreen and, if it is not tinted, getting one's brain to melt under the hot sun is quite a possibility. Anyway, the Veloster takes in four, including the driver, because the rear holds two separate seats, not the usual three-person bench.

The boot is 320-litres big and has a flat floor, so here again Hyundai plays the practical card rather well. Fold down the 60/40 rear seat and this can be a really hot delivery machine.

The rest of the cabin is interesting too. The dashboard uses similar design architecture found in other new Hyundai cars, namely the Elantra and the Sonata. To cater to the desire for premium touches, you get a 7-inch touchscreen display unit on the dashboard, a steering wheel littered with buttons, a full auto air-con,Bluetooth hands-free and a Supervision instrument cluster which has a design explained by Hyundai as "dual-cylindered like the twin pipes of a motorbike exhaust". However,why anyone would want a pair of exhaust-like objects pointing directly at the face remains a mystery.

Anyway ,the 6-speed automatic gearbox is the one also used in Hyundai's other madels. That said, the automatic variant of the Veloster is not as zippy as the manual version but it is still quite fulfilling when you know how to squeeze more torque  from the engine. On the zig-zagging bits of trunk  road in the innards of Negeri Sembilan we were very impressed with its surefootedness but we would really applaud enthusiastically if the local Hyundai importer were to be a touch more adventurous and bring in the turbo engine. With the currently available 1.6L, the chassis is somewhat of an overkill.Bring in the turbo and we are pretty sure the petrol junkies will start singing the praises of kimchi.

Things we do not like? There are a few actually, like the lack of power once it hits the open road, and the iffy sound insulation. We think Hyundai can do better in both instances.