History/Overview
This year sees the Hyundai Sonata family sedan move into its eighth generation with a full redesign characterized by dramatic fastback styling that hides the car’s traditional sedan layout.
Neat tricks include front chrome trim that lights up when the car is turned on, while new powertrains promise better fuel economy.
Available Trims
Hyundai offers the Sonata in Preferred, Sport, Luxury and Ultimate trims. Preferred comes with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine; the other three configurations get a 1.6L turbo four-cylinder with similar power output. Both engines are matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Standard Features
Sonata’s Preferred 2.5L trim comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and tires, auto on/off LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, passive keyless entry, hands-free trunk opening, and heated/power-adjustable side mirrors.
Inside, there’s a split-folding rear seatback, heated front seats with manual adjustments, cloth upholstery, power door locks and windows, an 8.0-inch infotainment display, HD radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a six-speaker stereo, a heated/leather-trimmed steering wheel, artificial leather on the door and centre armrests, air conditioning, and a 3.5-inch gauge cluster display.
Safety and driver assist kit includes tire pressure monitoring, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, an electric parking brake, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision avoidance, and lane keeping assist.
Sport 1.6T trim adds 18-inch wheels and tires, premium LED taillights, artificial leather upholstery with red accents, an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar, satellite radio, dark grey headlining, chrome interior trim, faux-leather door trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, paddle shifters, a panoramic sunroof, and Bluelink connected services.
Luxury 1.6T brings power mirrors with memory, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, a power front passenger seat, a 12-speaker stereo, a 4.2-inch gauge cluster display, and 360-degree exterior camera views.
Finally, Ultimate 1.6T trim gains premium LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charging, an artificial leather-trimmed dashboard with stitching, a 12.3-inch full digital gauge cluster, ambient interior lighting in 64 colours, camera-based blind view monitor, remote smart parking, highway driving assist with automatic curve slowdown, and rear park assist with collision avoidance.
Fuel Economy
Hyundai’s fuel consumption estimates for the Sonata are 8.8/6.4 L/100 km (city/highway) with the 2.5L engine, and 8.6/6.6 with the 1.6L turbo.
Competition
With the new Sonata, Hyundai responds to recent family sedan enhancements from the Honda Accord, Toyota’s Camry and the Nissan Altima. It also competes with the Kia Optima, and Volkswagen’s Passat.
