The Hyundai Sonata is an "old and forgotten" known in Europe. When the South Korean brand arrived in the Old Continent, it launched it as a flagship to close its range and attract those customers looking for a representation model. It is true that in terms of image, technology or interior quality it was not at the level of its rivals but deep down, it was a "I want to and I can't". Then there were the commercial "swings" with their different iterations...
Today the Hyundai Sonata is limited to a handful of markets in which sedans still have a commercial pull. And not only that, the premium Genesis brand has almost completely "eaten" its market, making it a real rare bird in depending on which markets. Therefore, the fact that the brand has opted to update it to sell it in the US has been a real success. All in all, this question arises: Isn't it a beautiful model? In essence, it's weird...
The renewed Hyundai Sonata offers a more aggressive as well as sporty look…
As you can see, the aesthetics of the new Hyundai Sonata emulates the one that already looks Staria minivan. If we look closely, we can see that the brand's designers have played with symmetry. Thus, the front and rear have a similar design pattern with a grille and front air intakes located in the corners. If we go to the rear, the designers have opted for H-shaped Full LED optics with a muscular style bumper.
Inside the new Sonata you can breathe a premium rather than general atmosphere.. It highlights the inclusion of a double curved central screen of 12,3 inches each for the digital instrument panel and the infotainment system. There is also a climate control that with haptic and analog controls. Or a newly designed steering wheel that dispenses with the Hyundai logo that "hides" the automatic transmission selector in the shaft.
Under its skin there are no changes but it does offer the effective HTRAC all-wheel drive…
The Hyundai Sonata's technology has also been fine-tuned in this latest generation. The brand does not announce all the data we would like, but it does announce which engines make up its range. Thus, there is a 2.5 liter gasoline engine, a motor 2.5 liter turbo and an engine 2.0 liter hybrid electric (HEV). The first offers a performance of 191 HP that can reach the ground through the front axle wheels as well as through the four wheels.
In the second case, the 2.5 liter Turbo block with 290 HP y the hybrid settles for 192 hp thanks to the union of the thermal engine with the electric one. However, one of the great improvements is the arrival of the HTRAC four-wheel drive. This system is the same one used by the Asian brand's SUVs and intelligently distributes the torque between the four wheels. The pity is that, for now, a racing N version is not expected.
Did it make sense for the new Sonata to be sold in Europe…?
Well, answering this question is just as complicated as in the case of the Elantra. It seems that Hyundai is not getting the bills in the Old Continent since the segment in which the Sonata is positioned is strongly dominated by the Bavarian premiums. If we add to this that they want to introduce Genesis as a rival to these, it does not seem like a very sensible move to make two models of the group overlap. A shame...
Source - Hyundai
More information about this model
- Plazas 5
- Power 115 - 136 hp
- Consumption 4,8 - 7,3l/100km
- Assessment 3,7