2013 Hyundai Sonata’s Just $978 More Than 2013 Elantra’s This Weekend If You Qualify

[xcel]

If you are shopping for a new Sonata, the “Hyundai Labor Day Sales Promotion” could be just the ticket.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Sept 2, 2012

2013 Hyundai Sonata (more expensive Limited shown) - $20,895 to start is just the sticker price. With Labor Day incentives, much less.

The fluidic sculpture derived Sonata design first made available to the public 3 years ago continues to be a standout amongst its peers. Those include its competitors that have yet to release their brand new 2013 products and those that have.

In addition, to the class leading interior and exterior design the Sonata is rated per the EPA as a large sedan with only the D-segment Accord also achieving that title. The rest of the class are standard mid-size offerings ranging from small to adequate.

Another key to the Sonata’s success is its modern direct injected 200 HP 2.4L GDI as standard equipment. No other manufacturer offers the powerful of an engine in their base lineup.

The Incentives

2013 Hyundai Sonata - From $20,895

• Low APR 0.9% for 36mos, 1.9% for 48mos, 2.9% for 60mos, 3.9% for 72 mos PLUS $1,000 Bonus Cash (9/1/2012 - 9/3/2012)
  
  
• $500 Valued Owner Coupon Offer (9/1/2012 - 9/3/2012) – “You must currently be a registered owner of a Hyundai or Kia, you can receive an additional $500 off a new 2013 Hyundai Sonata.”
  
  
• $500 Road Trip Cash (9/1/2012 - 9/3/2012) – “Eligible customers will receive an additional $500 off a new 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Customers must lease or purchase vehicle from a participating Hyundai dealer. Customer rebate paid directly by dealer.”

2013 Hyundai Elantra - From $16,695

• Low APR 1.9% for 36mos, 2.9% for 48mos, 3.9% for 60mos, 4.9% for 72 mos (9/1/2012 - 10/1/2012)

For 2013, the Sonata is not longer available with the 6-speed stick as it arrives with the 6-speed AT standard.

The Deal Details

2013 Elantra Invoice and MSRP after incentives

Pricing the base 2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS (Base) with an AT and the Preferred Package (Inv: $17,788 -- MSRP: $18,445), plus carpeted floor mats comes to $19,315 including the $775 Destination and Handling.

The Elantra’s Preferred package includes 16” alloys, fog lights (worthless), heated front seats, Bluetooth hands free phone system, steering wheel audio controls, cloth insert door trim, sliding center console armrest , illuminated vanity mirror with extensions and illuminated ignition.

2013 Sonata Invoice and MSRP after incentives

Pricing the base 2013 Hyundai Sonata GLS (Base) with its standard AT, the Popular Equipment Package (Inv: $20,761 -- MSRP: $21,720) plus carpeted floor mats comes to $22,595 USD including the $775 Destination and Handling.

The Sonata’s Popular Equipment package includes 16” alloys, fog lights (worthless), automatic headlight control, 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, heated front seats, Bluetooth hands free phone system, cloth insert door trim, and chrome interior door handles.

The steering wheel audio controls are standard and I believe the sliding center console armrest, illuminated vanity mirror with extensions and illuminated ignition are also. Chris will hopefully check in as soon as he is off work to verify.

In addition, the 2013 Sonata arrives with BlueLink standard. It is not available with the 2013 Elantra Sedan.

With no cash incentive on the 2013 Elantra with mats, the invoice plus the dealerships profit ($250 over?) on top of holdback and sales incentives they receive, your price not including TTL is ~ $18,908 USD.

If you qualify for the total $2,000 USD incentives on the 2013 Sonata with mats, the invoice plus the dealerships profit ($250 over?) on top of holdback and sales incentives they receive, your price not including TTL is ~ $19,886 USD.

While the loss of the 29/40 mpgUS city/highway to a 24/35 mpgUS city/highway rating is regrettable, the 2013 Sonata GLS including BlueLink and a power driver’s seat is much more car for just $1,000 USD more than the Elantra GLS not quite as well equipped! If you are shopping new Sonata's this weekend, pricing is as attractive as I have ever seen it.

There are also College graduate and military incentives of $400 and $500 respectively on top of the Elantra/Sonata pricing posted above for those that qualify.

[MaxxMPG]

I don't believe the Sonata has a sliding center armrest, although the Elantra does.
One addition to the 2013 Elantra and Sonata are heated seats in the GLS with the Popular Equipment Package. Along with alloys and fog lights, the heated seats are a welcome addition for people with lower back or hip pain, and for drivers in the frozen north who must venture out on frigid mornings. As Wayne noted, the Sonata with the "Pop" package also adds a six way power driver seat with power lumbar and power recline. Sadly, the passenger seat is still fixed too low for shorter passengers and lacking a height adjustment, with only manual fore-aft and manual recline.

Supplies on both Sonata and Elantra are very tight, especially the GLS without "the package". They don't last a week and they're gone. The 2.0t models spend weeks on the lot, and that skews the published numbers for the "#days supply" that are so often quoted. A Sonata GLS sells within a week, while the SE 2.0 will last about two months, and the average is "about a month's supply".

The vast majority of Elantra buyers are naming fuel economy as the #1 reason for their purchase. And what they're trading tells the story. The Elantra - if driven properly - will almost pay for itself in fuel savings. The Sonata seems to be more forgiving of a careless or clueless right foot, based on what I am reading online and overhearing in parking lot conversations, so I don't have any reservations about recommending a Sonata to someone looking to move five full size adults in comfort. The -5/-5 on the EPA figures looks significant, but the Sonata is still going to save its new owner quite a bit over what they're typically trading in.

The incentives are amazing considering that the cars sell so well without them. For anyone looking to get out of their FSP without having to sacrifice room, comfort, performance, or safety, it's a no-brainer.

Just don't drive to your local dealership believing that you will have every color and option package combination available to peruse. You might find that they have three GLS base cars left - the gray one, the silver one, and the black one.

[xcel]

Hi Chris:

Thanks for replying as I was hoping you would check in and update the Sonata details. Looking at both the media and consumer site this afternoon to try and discover the differences was frustrating as neither had the detail of a paper dealership brochure.

Wayne