ACCORD MARGINALLY QUICKER AND MORE REFINED
Going up against a high-tech Honda motor is a daunting task. Honda’s 2.4-litre i-VTEC motor is a veritable jewel, and feels as smooth and eager at 6000rpm as it does at 3500. Delivering incredible refinement, smooth progression and heartwarming top-end punch, this twin-cam motor uses a whole raft of Honda tech like variable valve-timing and lift, a camshaft phasing system called VTC (or variable timing control), and pistons and crankshafts that have been built with a level of obsession bordering on lunacy.
Though lacking the engine-development lineage of Honda, Hyundai engineers haven’t been sitting still either. The new all-aluminium four-cylinder ‘Theta’ motor is a massive step forward for Hyundai too. Also sold to DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi as part of a deal, with a few changes like different exhausts and inlets, this new motor boasts variable valve timing, a balancer shaft and 160bhp, making it the more powerful of the two. In terms of performance there’s not much to choose from between the two. The Accord which is marginally quicker, using its five-speed auto ‘box and 100kg weight advantage to good effect.
The Sonata’s performance is effortless as well and uses its extra power and torque to good effect to reach 100kph in 11.47 seconds, a whisker behind the Accord. Press on and the gap widens with the Accord two seconds quicker to 150kph. There’s always an abundance of power in both cars and you can cover ground at a rapid pace. The Sonata isn’t however as responsive as the Accord and that’s largely to do with the auto ‘box which can be a little lethargic in swapping cogs. The Honda’s transmission has more urgency and hence makes the car feel a lot livelier. Also, the Honda is the more refined of the two units at these high engine speeds, the smooth engine delivering a sporty snarl. It sounds comfortable and happy spinning at high revs, unlike the Hyundai motor that sounds strained and delivers less and less actual performance as you ascend the rev band. Where the Hyundai motor actually shines is in the bottom half of the powerband and the midrange.
Smooth and silent as the Honda is at idle, the Sonata cruises noiselessly, wafting forward on a wave of easily accessible torque. Half-throttle responses are also super, as even a dab on the throttle results in a greater than expected increase in pace. The Honda may have an additional fifth cog that comes useful when overtaking, but the Hyundai often doesn’t need that extra downshift unless you want flat-out performance. The Hyundai’s ECU has been remapped to suit Indian conditions, and clearly the engineers responsible have done a super job. While the Accord’s five-speeder is slicker in terms of gearshift quality and drivetrain refinement, it lacks the ‘Tip’ manual function of the Hyundai box, a feature that is delightful to use when pressing on.