By Tim Plouff

Hyundai sold 107,000 mid-size Sonata sedans here last year, a mere fraction of the sales levels attained by the Honda Accord (386,700) and the class-leading Toyota Camry (427,000) in 2004.

But each of these Asian-based competitors started small, too, chipping away at the established class veterans, cars with names such as Cutlass, Regal and Taurus. Constant improvements, quality construction and strong resale values all helped Toyota and Honda conquer these former stalwarts of the industry and create the solid reputation that each brand enjoys today.

Strangely, neither the Accord nor the Camry was honored with J.D. Power’s Highest Initial Quality Award for a mid-size car last year. That title belongs to Hyundai for the stellar service record of the Sonata sedan.

With a handsome new Sonata now in production right here in Montgomery, Ala., Hyundai is poised to follow the same successful business plan used by Honda and Toyota. This 2006 Sonata is going to make people stand up and pay attention to Hyundai.

The 2006 Sonata breaks no new ground nor does it establish any engineering breakthroughs. It is, however, a fine family sedan that oozes Honda-like value and Toyota-like quality while undercutting each of these tough rivals by thousands of dollars in price.

The Sonata comes with more standard safety gear than any rival (six airbags, traction control and electronic stability control for starters), more interior room than either Accord or Camry plus more standard amenities than either of these sales leaders. Are you paying attention now?

My sample Sonata was a top-of-the-line LX V-6. Arriving with everything except a power sunroof (check the Just the Facts sidebar for a complete list of features), the LX lists for only $22,900, which also includes destination charges. A comparable Camry V-6 with leather seating starts at $25,900. An Accord V-6 so equipped is $1,300 more. Even if you subtract $900 for the sunroof in the Camry and Accord, the Sonata is still significantly less money than these sedans while offering the styling, over-the-road grace and build quality that easily places the Hyundai on a par with the class veterans.

Add Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and this new Sonata should readily help Hyundai reach its aggressive sales goals here in the U.S. So far in 2005, Hyundai sales are up 10 percent. Two more new models, a larger mid-size Santa Fe sport utility and a new minivan to be shared with Kia, are yet to come this year.

Assembled at that brand new plant in Alabama, the 2006 Sonata could be mistaken as a clone of the existing Accord or Camry’s conservative yet tasteful styling themes. Viewers should be forgiven for assuming the Sonata is the latest Accord, or, as some visitors asked: “Is this the new Avalon?”

The Sonata’s body is tightly stretched around the attractive alloy wheels, creating a taut shape that masks the sedan’s size. Front and rear fascias compliment the overall design and reinforce familiar cues culled from other current sedans. With such popular templates to follow, it only makes sense to massage the concept and emulate the satisfying shapes now in existence. Why reinvent the wheel?

Hyundai didn’t scrimp on the details though. The LX rides on 17-inch wheels with Michelin radials. You get prominent dual exhausts with chrome tips like the Germans use. You get the more expensive struts for supporting the hood and the trunk lid (best in class trunk, too) instead of cheap prop-rods and hoop hinges.

No details were spared on the inside either. A clear, concise dash layout greets you. A nice collection of upscale plastic grains, complimenting fabrics and soft leathers suggest that the Lexus badge might have been misplaced or you missed it.

The ignition switch is on the dash, where it belongs. The stereo system is mounted high in the dash, right where you can see it and easily reach it. The auto-climate system is lower in the center panel, convenient to reach and constantly reporting exterior and interior temperatures on a clearly read LED panel.

The power window switches are perfectly placed for eyes-free operation. The leather clad console lid slides back and forth to find your resting elbow while the console cubbies swallow your drinks, keys, sunglasses and other paraphernalia.

The seats are all-day comfortable up front, hold real adults in the back, and the cabin is hushed as you whisk down the road. This sedan is nicely finished and reminds you yet again that Hyundai has come a long way, baby.

In the past, you could wow customers with eye-catching styling and well-stocked interiors while cutting corners in the engine room or in the chassis department. You might garner some decent sales numbers for a while but repeat business would be hard to come by.

Hyundai didn’t take this approach. Power is up significantly. Base model sedans come with a 2.4-liter aluminum four that spins out 162 hp; 24 more ponies than last year’s four-cylinder engine. The all-aluminum V-6 grows to 3.3 liters from 2.7 liters while adding continuous variable valve timing and variable intake timing to boost output to 235 horsepower, a gain of 65 horses.

Vigorous application of the go-pedal revealed enthusiastic responses from the engine room. The new five-speed automatic snaps off crisp full-throttle shifts and never stumbled when the driver hesitated or indecisively used both pedals. The new V-6 is smooth all the way to redline with just a hint of a snarl emanating from the dual exhausts. Mid-range punch is commendable, too, and the traction control is darn handy for those rapid starts from the traffic light. The Sonata owner won’t have to worry about getting waxed by too many other family sedans.

Fuel economy was a stellar 24 to 29 miles per gallon in a car that wasn’t even fully broken in yet. Arriving with only 300 plus miles on the clock, the Sonata’s real world performance indicates that a responsible driver should have no problem exceeding the EPA mileage estimates of 20-mpg city/30-mpg highway in the V-6 model.

The fully independent suspension is oriented towards ride compliance with minimal body sway. Damping rates effectively deliver on this promise, letting the Sonata step over rough pavement with little impact and blissfully gliding along smoother roads. The accurate steering gear sends the right messages to the helm, too. Ride dynamics could best be described as Camry-esque while the sedan’s handling has more than a hint of the responsiveness necessary to chase down pesky Accords.

Day after day of this exposure left me thinking, “Wow, this is a Hyundai?”

Hyundai’s ever increasing quality scores, beating Toyota and Honda in several recent surveys, illustrates the turn-around taking place. Fresh-looking product like the small Tucson SUV, this Sonata and the upcoming minivan suggest that Hyundai is pleased with the potential of the American market and will aggressively pursue profits here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t spend over a billion dollars for a new plant in the Southeast.

Sonata is more than a credible package. It possesses nice styling, a great interior, solid performance, a terrific warranty plan and sharp pricing; a combination of virtues that insure success in this hotly contested market.

While Toyota is busy chasing GM’s market share, should it occasionally look over its shoulder?