The refreshed 2018 Hyundai Sonata has been revealed in Korea… it will launch in Australia towards the middle of this year.
THE REFRESHED 2018 Hyundai Sonata has been revealed at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, in Seoul, which Hyundai describes as “an iconic, cultural landmark of Korea’s capital”.
The refreshed Sonata adopts Hyundai’s new design language producing a “bolder, more sophisticated exterior, with precise lines and distinctive styling cues that reflect Hyundai Motor’s latest design language. The new Sonata will also continue the model’s strong reputation for performance, with driving dynamics coupled with an unsurpassed suite of advanced safety offerings,” Hyundai said. The new Sonata will offer a choice of 17-inch directional spoked wheels or two new 18-inch alloy wheel designs.
Hyundai said it had tweaked the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that will be fitted to Sonata’s in Oz, but it hasn’t released details.
Visually, the turbocharged variant of the Sonata will get “a sporty mesh radiator grille that is augmented by black bezel headlamps, black DRL surrounds, black lower front bumper and black side mirror casings.
“Other enhancements for the Turbo model include dark chrome moulding for the lower side body, door handles and rear lamp mouldings. The rear diffuser and dual exhaust mufflers are also adorned with chrome, to complete the car’s premium appearance”.
All trims have updated steering wheels with a new “sportier three-spoke design”. The 2.0L Turbo version receives a flat-bottomed steering wheel, this model also benefits from more “aggressively bolstered” front seats and four drive modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart – with the latter mode switching automatically between the first three options depending on the driver’s current style of driving.
Like other Hyundai models, Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity will be offered, although it’s not yet known whether cars here will get the same 7.0-inch touchscreen as Korean cars, or the cost-optional 8.0-inch unit.
In terms of safety, the new Sonata will offer Lane Departure Warning assisted by a Lane Keep Assist function, as well as High Beam Assist and Dynamic Bending Lights turn in the direction of travel. Also available will be Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
When the Hyundai Sonata arrives later this year it will land in a very diffent market that, last month at least, saw passenger cars eclipsed by sales of SUVs. That wasn’t, however, because of a boom in SUV sales, rather due to a collapse in passenger car sales.
Who bothers with this segment anymore? My theory it is really old guys and ex-pat North Americans and Russians. Sorry, Hyundai, this car is doomed to sell at a trickle in the midst of an SUV fuelled market.
People who aren’t sheep.