Would you have one of these over a VW Arteon?
Four-door coupés are one of the hottest trends of late (second only to crossovers & SUVs), and with traditional large family saloons generally losing ground, Hyundai’s given its big Sonata saloon some major aesthetic changes to maintain its appeal. While the Sonata has been a style-focused affair over the last few generations, the newest model is sleeker & more athletic than before, which should help it stay relevant for a little while.
The new Sonata take its design inspiration from the Le Fil Rouge concept from the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, which works altogether to push a relatively premium look. The face is dominated by a ‘Digital Pulse Cascading Grille’ which is flanked by LED headlights with daytime running lights that extend up into the bonnet.
The rear end looks a little bit Honda Civic-like, with familiar-looking taillights that are linked together by a wide light bar.
The interior has been pushed significantly upmarket, with an overall look that just comes off as far more plush & premium than any saloon in this end of the market really needs to be. There’s a width-emphasising dash, with upright elements like the aircond vents made slimmer to underline the girth of the cabin, contributing to an airy feel. The centre stack is topped by a large infotainment screen that’s angled slightly towards the driver. There’s also an interesting new gear selector, a ‘winged’ instrument cluster, and softer leather throughout.
“This shape almost levitates or floats when looked at, and this philosophy carries into the long armrests. Satin chrome accents enhance the effect. Designers compressed the height of the dashboard, of the HVAC vents as much as possible to aid the light-weight feeling, while modern, light fabric colours & leathers provides a fresh & freeing ambience for the driver.” – Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai didn’t go into much detail about the powertrain, so it’s going to be assumed that the Sonata will carry over the engine & drivetrain options of the current car. To that end, Hyundai Australia says that the 2020 Sonata will be here within the second-half of 2019, with unique suspension tuning to suit our market. Expect prices to go up from the $31k entry point currently, but hopefully, not by much.
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