HYUNDAI Sonata 1998-2001 Photos, engines & full specs

By 1998, Hyundai already started to understand how to build its cars and what customers want from a specific segment, and the Sonata was mostly a good answer.

It only took Hyundai 13 years between the first and the fourth Sonata generation, and that included a facelift for the third generation. The Korean carmaker worked double or triple shifts to catch-up with the big-guys in the automotive industry. In 1998, they were still behind, but they were closing the gaps in many areas. Their cars were no longer lemons, and despite using some inexpensive materials, the results were far better than before.

The only downside for the fourth Sonata generation was the design. Hyundai still didn't know how to merge the panels and lines and glass areas to create a beautiful vehicle. On the other hand, its cars didn't top the ugliness charts either. The Sonata was rather bland, with lines and lights that looked like they were melted. A wide chromed slat stood proud between the reversing lights with the name Sonata on it. It was a statement that showed the car's name on the road; maybe not the most pleasant one.

Apart from some low-quality plastics spread here and there, the Sonata was fit for families, fleet owners and middle management. The velour upholstery was standard, while the full-options version spoiled its users with leather seats, (plastic) wood-trims, sunroof, automatic transmission, and a high-quality sound system.

Under the hood, Hyundai installed two engine choices, both with gasoline. While the standard version featured a 2.0-liter, the upper trim level featured a 2.5-liter V-6, designed in-house. Both versions were paired to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.