1993 Hyundai Sonata 3.0i 4AT FWD (146 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After several updates for the second generation of the Sonata, the Korean automaker replaced the model for the 1994 model year, and changes were significant from the ground up.

Designed on an entirely new platform that featured a five-link rear independent suspension and a smoother overall shape, the third generation of the Sonata was closer to its main rivals in the mid-size sedan segment. Hyundai tried to keep up with the competition, so it adjusted what it could, and when it got stuck, it asked for help from its long-time partner Mitsubishi, especially for the engines. Furthermore, the Korean brand improved the vehicle’s standard features, making the car more appealing for families. While it wasn’t a real threat to the Honda Accord or the Toyota Camry, it started to get noticed on the market thanks to the smart pricing policy.

At the front, the wedged shapes of the previous generation were replaced by smoother lines. The headlights had rounded corners and flanked a tiny grille that sported the automaker’s chromed H-logo. Furthermore, the wrapped-around plastic bumper didn’t have the Hyundai name embedded in it and had an additional lower air intake that improved cooling and could integrate the available fog lamps.

From its profile, the 1994 Hyundai Sonata boasted more rounded shapes and showed a taller greenhouse. Its predecessor was criticized for the headroom it offered for the front occupants, and the Korean car manufacturer had to change the recipe. Standard equipment was rich for the GLS top trim level, featuring heated power mirrors, alloy wheels, and body-colored door handles. At the back, the third generation of the Sonata sported wide taillights that were visually connected via a red trim over the trunk’s lid.

Hyundai learned from its mistakes in the previous generation of the Sonata and made the 1994 model year with a much roomier cabin. There were more rounded shapes on the dashboard and on the center stack, which housed the HVAC controls and the stereo. Between the front bucket seats on the center console, the automaker placed an armrest and the gear stick or the gear selector, depending on the options. In the back, the bench seat was adequate for three occupants, and the top trim level, the GLS, featured a split-folding system to increase the trunk space.

The Korean automaker understood that customers wouldn’t buy a low-powered vehicle in the mid-size segment. As a result, it offered the 1994 Sonata with a choice of two gasoline engines. One was an in-house-developed two-liter four-banger, while the other choice was a 3.0-liter V6 powerplant carried over from Mitsubishi. The base version sent its power to the front wheels via a five-speed manual, while the latter was mated with a four-speed automatic gearbox.