Hyundai sells the 2006 Sonata in four trim levels: GL, GLS, GLS V6, and LX. Standard equipment for the Sonata GL includes a tilt steering wheel, power door locks with keyless entry, heated power mirrors, and auto-up/auto-down functionality for the power windows. What’s more, dual-tiered storage for the center console, a CD/MP3 player, air conditioning with cabin filtration, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an illuminated glove box and trunk are also included in the base price of $18,495 including the $600 destination charge.

Bump yourself to $19,995 for the Sonata GLS to add 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and chrome exterior trim. The GLS also includes a four-speed automatic transmission, premium carpet, woodgrain or metalgrain interior trim, premium door sill scuff plates, and upgraded cloth for the seats. Other standard features include floor mats, automatic headlights, lumbar support for the driver’s seat, audio controls on the steering wheel, and a trip computer. Options include a power sunroof, or a Premium Package with the sunroof and an eight-way power driver’s seat, an electrochromic rearview mirror, a Homelink programmable transmitter, and a compass.

If you need more power than the standard four-cylinder engine provides, choose the Sonata GLS V6 at $21,495. This adds a V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission, chrome-tipped dual exhaust outlets, bigger brakes, and solar control window glass. Options for this model mirror the standard GLS, except that the Premium Sport Package includes 17-inch alloy wheels – hence the addition of “Sport” to the option package name.

The luxurious Sonata LX starts at $23,495. The LX includes 17-inch alloy wheels wearing lower profile tires, chrome accented door handles, and leather seats. An eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and automatic climate control with an Air Quality System are also part of the price of entry. Sonata LX models further feature an electrochromic rearview mirror, a Homelink programmable transmitter, a compass, a telescopic steering wheel, and a sliding center armrest. Options are limited to a power sunroof and a CD changer with premium speakers.

Every 2006 Hyundai Sonata comes equipped with a healthy list of standard safety features. Stability control, traction control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), six airbags including front side-impact restraints and side curtains, active front head restraints, and both pre-tensioners and load limiters for the front seatbelts. All this safety gear is doing some good: the NHTSA assigns a five-star rating for frontal and side impact crashworthiness to the new Sonata, and the car gets a “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 40-mph offset frontal crash test. Note, however, that the IIHS gave the Sonata the next-lowest rank of “Acceptable” for its side crash protection.

Crash protection is not the only security that the 2006 Hyundai Sonata offers. The powertrain warranty is 10 years/100,000 miles, and the Sonata gets bumper-to-bumper coverage for five years/60,000 miles. Hyundai also throws in five years worth of 24-hour roadside assistance no matter how many miles you drive, and guarantees against rust perforation for seven years/unlimited miles.