Hyundai Sonata: The Hyundai Sonata has always been a symbol of class, practicality, and upper-category comfort in the midsize sedan segment.
Not nearly as loud or exciting to drive as some of its rivals, the Sonata excels by offering a grownup driving experience, surround by intelligent features, a roomy interior and Hyundai’s focus on technology and safety.
Around the world, the Sonata keeps changing, sharpening its looks and updating its features, but in markets like India, the car also remains a beacon of aspirational luxury, the kind people remember fondly (including those who owned earlier generations).
A Striking Design Statement
The current Sonata has a futuristic and daring design that immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Hyundai has adopted a more sedan-meets-coupe look for the current-generation Sonata, and it looks the part, with a canted stance, a wide grille, and distinctive LED lighting that flows back into the body lines.
The DRLs slide nicely into the bonnet – one of the trademark design details that makes the Sonata feel like a bit of an outsider among its rivals.
In back, the sedan gets a full-width LED tail lamp bar and sleek bumper treatment that lend real luxury-car vibes.
With its 18-inch alloy wheels, sharp creases and fluidic bodywork, the Sonata has a fine balance of a refined look that’s also athletic, and it’s a tough act to pull off in its segment.
Cabin That Puts Comfort and Tech First
Get inside the Sonata, and it is evident that Hyundai has upped its interior game. The cabin seems upscale, with premium materials, soft-touch surfaces and a driver-oriented dashboard design.
A twin-screen arrangement (one for infotainment and another for digital instrument cluster) gives a techy feel and ambient lighting further sets up the relaxed mood of night driving.
The wide, supportive front seats get cooling function, which is very welcome on longer trips.
The back seat is just as roomy, with abundant leg and head room, and an almost flat floor that keeps middle passengers from feeling shortchanged.
Advanced options include the panoramic sunroof, power front seats, premium audio system and wireless charging pad.
Engine and Performance
With a range of powertrains available worldwide for the Hyundai Sonata — natural-aspirated petrol, to turbocharged, and even a hybrid variant — the new model is sold with a variety elsewhere.
While not groundbreaking, the 2.5L naturally aspirated version is adequate in terms of performance and consumption, however, if you want a little more excitement, nothing is more satisfying than the 1.6L Turbo variant on your favourite open road.
The vehicle conveys acceleration without jerk, handling without surprise and with a quiet interior, this car makes to a refined driving experience.
It’s not a sports sedan but the Sonata’s steering and ride quality are tuned more for comfort and composure rather than aggressive dynamics — and that’s just right for its target audience.
Safety and Technology
Hyundai has stuffed the Sonata with all manner of safety technology. Its features, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and 360-degree camera coverage, give additional confidence to the driver on the road.
The car has also scored well in crash tests across the world, proving Hyundai’s focus on the safety of its passengers.
Boasting a strong cradle made from high-strength steel and enough passive safety aids to satisfy the most cautious buyer, the Sonata at least checks the box for safety-minded buyers.
Pros:
Aesthetically pleasing futuristic design that is a total head turner
Interior is roomy and packed with technology, with upscale materials.
Smooth ride that is perfect for daily driving and extensive travel
Top-notch safety features and driver assists
Hybrid variant for improved fuel efficiency (in some markets)
Cons:
Not available in some markets including India currently
The ride is smooth but unexciting for driving enthusiasts.
Does not offer all-wheel drive, a feature some competitors do.
Some will find the tech to be a bit too technical for older users
Hyundai Sonata: Conclusion
The Hyundai Sonata is the very model of a modern midsize car.The Sonata is a four-door, five-passenger sedan, so there’s nothing sexy or trendy about it, but it is attractive in a clean, straightforward way.
It may not be chasing performance numbers or the aggressive marketing it would require, but it is delivering exactly what the mature comfort-seeker wants.
No matter who you are a professional wanting a neat small city car or a family looking for a large family sedan the Sonata is a complete package that subtly and quietly stands apart in all areas.