So this is the Hyundai that will give the folks at Nissan, Honda, and Toyota sleepless nights. I can certainly see how Honda’s troops might find themselves trying to open the door of the wrong vehicle in a parking lot because the Sonata has an overall shape that is very Honda-like capped by a front end that looks as though it was one of the alternatives for the European Accord/Acura TSX. Inside, the low cowl and relatively thin steering wheel have a Honda feel to them that has to be more than mere coincidence. As for the Toyotans, there’s the Lexus-style slot for the key on the face of the instrument panel. Sure, this position gets the key out of the way of the driver’s knees in a front accident, but the detailing is about what you’d expect if Toyota brought this same design to its grocery-getter vehicles. Nissan might be surprised to find a variable valve timing 3.3-liter engine with 235 hp mated to a five-speed automatic under the hood. And all of these companies would be justified in believing they had a target painted on their backs.

Compared to the previous generation Sonata, this version is a minor miracle. It is roomy, powerful, handsome, and has an interior that – in terms of design and accoutrements – can hold its head high in this segment. Even with its hard plastic lower section, the instrument panel has a richness you never would have expected from Hyundai. The seats still need work – the lower cushions are too short and lacking in proper support, and almost feel convex – but they are covered in a handsome fabric that should wear well. And rear seat passengers will find plenty of room, but – again – reason to hope seat design gets more attention the next time around.

Little touches really stand out: the color-coordinated inset on the chrome exterior door handles, the Visteon-supplied AM/FM/MP3 Mach audio system, the articulated trunk hinges, the redundant audio controls on the steering wheel, the automatic door locks and headlamps, the 17-in. alloy wheels, the tilt/telescope steering wheel (with more spring tension on the tilt portion than is optimal), the side curtain airbags, and the sliding center armrest. Oh, and the $22, 895 base price which includes all of these features. Yep, this car has undoubtedly created some insomniacs.