Hyundai is saying goodbye to the six-cylinder Sonata. For 2011, Korea's stylish family hauler receives a new 2.0-liter direct-injected turbocharged I-4 that generates better-than-V-6 numbers -- 274 horsepower at 6000 rpm, 269 pound-feet of torque at 1750, and 22/34 mpg city/highway estimated fuel economy. For context, the 2010 Sonata's 3.3-liter V-6 put out 249 horsepower at 6000, 229 pound-feet at 4500, and 19/29 mpg, while the 2011 Toyota Camry's stout 3.5-liter six delivers 269 horsepower at 6200, 248 pound-feet at 4700, and 19/28 mpg. Just as notable is the 2.0T's overall weight savings compared to the aforementioned six-cylinder cars -- both the 2010 Sonata V-6 and 2011 Camry SE V-6 weigh around 3500 pounds, meaning the 2011 Sonata 2.0T tips the scales with as much as 150 fewer pounds.
Being free of that unnecessary weight helps the Sonata 2.0T produce not only its frugal fuel-econ figures (not even the 2950-pound, 2.0-liter Honda Civic Si sedan, at 21/29 mpg, can match them) but also brisk acceleration times. With 17.4 psi of maximum boost coming from a Mitsubishi twin-scroll turbocharger, the Sonata's new 2.0-liter feels V-6-quick, and should have no problem bettering Hyundai's 0-to-60 estimate of 6.5 seconds (it'll need to, as the Camry SE V-6 blazes to 60 in just 6.1).
The Sonata's mill utilizes the same aluminum block as the Genesis Coupe's 2.0-liter turbo, but boasts reinforced pistons and connecting rods, a new cylinder head (for the direct injection), a slightly higher compression ratio (9.5:1 vs. 9.4:1), a twin-scroll rather than single-scroll turbo, and, most notable, a compact balance shaft module that vastly improves engine NVH, especially with the pedal to the metal. Whereas the Genesis's 2.0T can be buzzy and unrefined at WOT, the Sonata's is euphonious and polished. And if you're worried about the reliability of a turbo, consider this: Hyundai subjected the 2.0T to 300 continuous hours of WOT testing, followed by double and triple bogeys (20 hours each of additional WOT above redline).
