Eighth generation Hyundai Sonata won’t come down without a fight. The current car (seen in the video below) debuted in 2019 with a bold look that was praised by the press for defying the anonymity of the midsize sedan segment. Car buyers, on the other hand, may not be convinced. Doubtful company bosses sonata version Unique looks have been a factor in sedan sales disaster in America and Korea. Sonata sales exceeded six figures in the US from 2004 to 2018, nearing or exceeding the 200,000 mark annually from 2010 to 2016. In 2022, agency here only moved 55,131 units. Between those stories won’t be the ninth generation Sonata, by Hyundai giving the current car another chance to impress with new front and rear clips and a revamped interior.
The design language called Sensuous Sportiness here is just “The Sportiness”. A “seamless horizon light” sets the new attitude, both it and the grille below running the width of the car. Both the standard Sonata and N-Line look sharp and taut, with the headlights housed in black inserts that fade into the overall design of the dashboard. They are distinguished by a slightly different grille and slightly blacker trim on the pricier model.
At the rear, the trunk is reshaped and the straight lines create a more technical look, accentuated by the new “H-lights”. This is a pair of vertical turn signals for the taillights, connected by a full length light bar. The rounded contours on the lower rear bumper of the current car have been sharpened into the same shapes as the muffler on the standard trim, trimmed to match the 4-pipes on the N-Line. That N-Line also has a slightly more aggressive deck spoiler plus new set of 19-inch wheels.
Horizontal also prevails in the overhauled cabin. For the first time, the instrument cluster and infotainment area are merged into a single curved screen on a Hyundai vehicle. There is a 12.3-inch screen for the driver, another screen of the same size for the infotainment. A full-length vent separates the center display from the bottom panel. Designers moved the gearshift lever to the steering column, opening up the center tunnel area for a longer armrest and more storage space underneath the richer-looking HVAC controller.
Hyundai will display the Sonata to the public at the Seoul Mobility Show on March 30 ahead of its global launch.
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