Hyundai, a name plate you can no longer ignore. Until now, you almost could have, but with the arrival on the market of the American-made Sonata, it’s time to take the brand seriously. In fact, you may be hard-pressed to know that in terms of sales, Hyundai places fourth among all foreign brands, behind Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

A base model (GL) can be had for around $18,500, but our tester, with its 17” spoke aluminum wheels and its powerful V6 engine looked and behaved handsomely. No, it’s not a racer, but it could keep law enforcement officials on their toes during a car chase.

The interior is most spacious and comfortable from the front to the rear seats. Overall materials and colors used are of good quality and taste. The cockpit arrangement is no-nonsense and controls are intuitive. With six airbags, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes and Electronic Stability Control, it should be safe. And with the beefed up warranty Hyundai offers, the Sonata should be reliable.

Go for a test drive, we hear repeat business at Hyundai is gangbuster. And if all of this is not music to your ears, it will be to your wallet.