Then there is the long list of standard features which the Sonata GLS carries. Hyundai has built their reputation in the past few years by giving you more than you expect, but I have to say that "they have outdone themselves with this model". Now I'm not going to bore you by listing them all, but I will point out a few which I personally found surprising on a vehicle in this price bracket. It carries a Front windshield deicer, telescopic steering, Home-link garage door opener, heated mirrors, adjustable pedal box, and of course, XM satellite radio.

All the usual appointments are there of course, but Hyundai even managed to make those seem better by not charging extra for things like the power sunroof, keyless entry systems etc.

All in all, for interior refinements per dollar spent, I doubt that any other manufacturer could compete with them.

Of course, having a pleasant cabin area is all very well and nice, but what is it like to drive?

Well, once again, the Sonata GLS surprised me. I drove the 3.3 L DOHC V6 model for a week and I found it to be quiet and refined, yet quite responsive when required. The 5 speed automatic transmission supplies smooth, and almost unnoticeable gear changes. The suspension offers a well balanced blend of comfortable ride and road holding capabilities. Indeed, the vehicle handled the tight twisting roads around where I live with relative ease.

To me, the Sonata GLS drives like a luxury vehicle. It has the interior of one and makes you feel as if you are in a much classier vehicle. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I have driven vehicles which were priced 10k or more higher that didn't impress me as much.

However, to be fair, I also drove the 4 cylinder version in the same GLS trim for a week and was rather less enamored of it. I found that it lacked the smoothness of the V6, and in some ways it subtracted from the luxury feel of the vehicle. When you consider the $2000 or so price difference, I would opt for the V6 model every time.

You may have noticed that I have not actually mentioned the price of the Sonata GLS premium model yet. That is because like all good story tellers, I wanted to save the best bit for last.

The sticker price on the 07 Sonata GLS Premium is only $29,445!!!

Think about that for a moment! This vehicle supplies the feel of luxury motoring at a price which is almost unbelievable. In fact, I believe that if I took the name badges off this vehicle and showed the average person in the street, they would most likely guess it to be at least 5-10k more expensive.

That, in a nut shell, appears to be the company's cross to bear. It now has product to compete with the best of the competition. However, Hyundai still needs to shed its previous budget vehicle maker image. One possibility is that it could re-shuffle the product lineup with its sister company KIA, leaving the Hyundai brand to surge even more up market.

Whatever the company decides, I feel quite certain that it have a bright future ahead of it, and with the products which it are now producing, I could see myself one day boasting of owning a Hyundai.