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The Kona isn’t the only car that Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors will launch soon; the company also introduced the new Hyundai Sonata to the media this week. Entirely imported from South Korea, the eighth-generation DN8 will struggle in a slowly shrinking D-segment sedan market that still counts the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat as its fiercest competitors.
For now, the new contender is entering the battle with a single trim level, powered by a new 2.5-liter Smartstream MPI four-cylinder petrol engine. It generates 175 hp at 6,000 rpm and 232 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, all of which goes through a six-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels.
The new Sonata certainly looks very different compared to its formal predecessor. The first car to carry Hyundai’s latest Sensuous Sportiness design language, it returns to the sleek four-door coupe look first seen on the sixth-generation YF.
At the front, you’ll find a much wider and more aggressive waterfall grille, flanked by slim trapezoidal LED headlights that extend into the front wheel arches. The distinctive chrome strips on the Sonata’s hood take on new functionality by hiding the LED daytime running lights, which disappear from view when turned off thanks to laser-etched perforations.
Moving to the side, the sweep of the low roof line is reflected in the arched shoulder line, accentuating the car’s concave and convex surface. The rear features C-shaped taillights that you might recognize if you own a Honda Civic, attached at the bottom.
The Sonata enters the market in standard form, which means it takes on a more conservative look with a full-width chrome strip and hidden tailpipes. Make no mistake though, this is still a very eye-catching-looking car, a fact emphasized by the intricate 18-inch alloy wheels.
Take out the tape measure and you will notice that the Sonata is slightly larger than its predecessor. At 4,900mm long and 1,890mm wide, it is 45mm longer and 25mm wider, while its 2,840mm wheelbase is 35mm longer. However, it is 30mm lower at 1445mm, which adds to the dynamic look of the car. The drag coefficient has also been lowered to 0.27 thanks to features like flat underbody and finned taillights.
Inside, the new car is a big change again, with a slim dash, a tall center console, and a separate infotainment touchscreen. The display unit seen here sports a striking two-tone color scheme, with a tan top dash and leather seats. The touchscreen is the smallest eight-inch unit rather than the 10.25-inch screen available in other markets, but it is still compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Other unique touches include a push-button gear selector and a cooled Qi wireless charger that prevents your smartphone from overheating. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, power button, driver’s side power-adjustable memory seats, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, automatic lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an instrument display 12.3-inch and a 360-degree camera system.
Beneath the skin, the Sonata rides on a new third-generation platform that makes the car lighter and stiffer. There is a multiple load path structure and increased use of very high tensile strength hot stamped steels, which improve crash safety and reduce noise, vibration and harshness. The improved steering and suspension geometry also increases stability and handling response, Hyundai says.
In terms of safety, the Sonata features a new blind-spot view monitor, which works the same as Honda’s LaneWatch but with two key differences. Use cameras on both sides of the car, rather than just the opposite side; it also displays power in the instrument cluster (replacing the gauge on the driver’s side) instead of the infotainment display.
The car also comes with six airbags and stability control, but unfortunately, Hyundai’s suite of SmartSense driver assistance features, including autonomous emergency braking, is lost. This omission is particularly irritating considering that the higher-end Kona 1.6 T-GDI, which is sure to be much cheaper, will come with these systems.
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