The new Hyundai Sonata is designed in accordance with the brand's design concept - Fluidic Sculpture 2.0. The previous Sonata is easily recognizable in it, but many rounded shapes have now become sharper and straighter, giving the car a more solid look.
The leitmotif of the new business sedan, which was created by a whole team of specialists under the leadership of the legendary Peter Schreyer (who previously worked on design solutions for Audi), is "inner strength" - an artistic embodiment of determination and sophistication that emphasizes the quality and status of the car. From the front, the car looks stylish and restrained. The roof dome, designed in modern automotive fashion trends, descends through massive pillars to the compact rear of the body.
The charismatic signature side "rib" running above the level of the door handles also catches the eye; sculpted wheel arches with radii outlined as if with a fine compass; an elegant and refined side glazing area, as well as stylish exterior mirrors with integrated turn signal repeaters. The rear of the body is made in a traditional style - a massive bumper, a high vertical wall and a compact horizontal plane of the trunk lid. The rear LED optics with an original design perfectly emphasize the premium appearance of the updated Sonata.
The interior of the cabin has been completely transformed - it has received higher quality finishing materials, rich and elegant trim colors, carefully thought-out and verified ergonomics of the driver's seat, a wide list of standard and additional equipment that creates a unique atmosphere of comfort in the cabin. The front part of the car's interior has been completely improved, from the dashboard and steering wheel to the seats. The position of the multimedia system screen has changed, all buttons have been regrouped, making control of the car's electronic systems intuitive and accessible. The ergonomics of the driver's seat are made on the principle of premium sedans - compact, concise, strict.
The new Sonata has made a serious claim to leadership in its class in terms of noise and sound insulation. To provide the driver and passengers with the maximum level of comfort, the new Sonata uses a large amount of additional sound-absorbing material, a thicker protective cover for the underhood space, a windshield of increased thickness, and fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene linings under the car's bottom. The new generation of the legendary mid-size sedan differs from the previous one in increased external dimensions: length - 4,855 mm, width - 1,865 mm, height - 1,475 mm, wheelbase - 2,805 mm. The trunk volume is 462 liters.
The new Hyundai Sonata is based on a modernized chassis from its predecessor; the use of high-strength steels in the design has increased from 21% to 51%. In production, hot-stamped steel elements and additional structural reinforcements have found wider use. The result of all high-tech design changes was a significant increase in body rigidity - compared to the previous generation, the body of the current generation model has become 41% stiffer.
In the car's suspension, although the scheme remains the same - front MacPherson type and rear multi-link - the operating modes of the springs and shock absorbers have been modernized and changed, as well as the geometry of the suspension elements at the front and rear. The rear suspension has received new double lower arms. The steering column is now more informative. The steering with electric power steering has been modernized and equipped with a Drive Mode Select system to change its operating modes (Normal, Sport, ECO). The new car has become not only safer, but also more composed, with refined handling and a balanced chassis. The engines of the new Hyundai Sonata work in tandem with a 6-speed automatic transmission. A manual transmission is available for the base modification.
The car is equipped with an economical and highly efficient 2.0-liter gasoline engine that can produce 154 hp at 6,200 rpm, and a maximum torque of 198 Nm is achieved at 4,000 rpm. For connoisseurs of dynamic acceleration, a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a power of 178 hp is available. The dual continuously variable valve timing system (D-CVVT) allows increasing torque, making this engine even more powerful, reliable and durable.
The list of additional equipment available in the new sedan may include a whole set of modern safety and comfort elements. Namely: a full set of airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, a wide range of assistance and safety systems (ABS, ESP, EBD, BAC, HAC), adaptive cruise control with emergency stop function, blind spot and lane departure warning system, automatic headlight switching, LED DRL daytime running lights, xenon headlights with washer, the latest multimedia complex with navigation (audio system, voice control, phone, iPod support, navigation), panoramic sunroof, leather interior in three colors, seats with ventilation and heating, tires 235/45 R 18 on alloy wheels, as well as the Smart Trunk remote trunk opening function. Prices for the new Hyundai Sonata in Ukraine, depending on the trim level (Comfort, Express, Premium, Prestige and TopNavi), range from $26,800 to $38,000.
