When it comes to the mid-size family saloon segment, nameplates such as the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord are the default choices, and breaking through isn't that easy.
Yet, there are lots of highly competent alternatives, such as the Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Mazda6 or the Chevy Malibu, and you can't go wrong with any of them.
Hyundai's contender in this segment is the Sonata. The question is whether it qualifies as a credible rival to the rest of the competition. According to Kelley Blue Book's review, it most definitely can.
For starters, it's competitively priced and comes with a long warranty and plenty of room, for both passengers as well as luggage. Speaking of luggage, the 2018 Sonata even has a hands-free trunk release on all but the base-spec version.
Inside, all the controls are within reach and there are plenty of soft-touch materials in key areas of the cabin, which means in places you tend to touch more often.
On the road, the Sonata rides comfortably, soaking in bumps about as well as any of its rivals. In the handling department, it may not be perfect, but on the other hand KBB had no real complaints about it. As for its engine lineup, regardless of which one you choose (the 2.4, 2.0 turbo or 1.6 turbo), they all come with Eco, Comfort and Sport drive modes.
