Eighth-gen mid-size sedan features sleeker profile and is first to use the brand’s all-new platform.
Is there a new trend forming here?
Hyundai has officially revealed the all-new Sonata, a mid-size family car aimed squarely at the Honda Accord, Nissan Teana and Toyota Camry.
But rather than making the eight-generation Sonata a traditional sedan matching the Camry and Teana, the Korean carmaker has evolved the predecessor’s hatch-like profile.
The latest Accord, which has just been launched in Thailand, has a similar design strategy as the Sonata, although Hyundai actually did it before Honda.
Hyundai says the Sonata is the brand’s first car to employ a new design language, previewed in last year’s Le Fil Rouge concept car. The Sonata’s headlamps are said to be distinctive when either on or off.
Underscoring the sporty statement is 30mm lower height and 25mm wider stance. As well, the 4,897mm length and 2,840mm wheelbase are longer by 45mm and 35mm respectively.
The interior has been revamped with a BMW-alike infotainment screen, new steering wheel and button-style gearshift on the centre console.
Is it more about just looks and space?
Apart from an evolved design and bigger package, the Sonata sits on an all-new platform developed to be more rigid than ever with better levels of NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) suppression, as well.
Hyundai has initially announced two petrol engines for the Sonata including 180hp turbocharged 1.6-litre and, for those who don’t like small motors, 191hp naturally aspirated 2.5-litre. Both get eight-speed automatic transmission driving just the front wheels.
The Accord is the only car in Thai mid-size sedan segment to have turbo power to choose from in the guise of 190hp 1.5-litre.
Expect a hybrid drivetrain to be made available for the Sonata when the car makes its debut at the New York auto show later this month. In fact, the previous model had a plug-in hybrid to choose from, but only for selected states in the US.
Can it really fight its rivals in Thailand?
Ever since the seventh-gen Sonata, the Thai Hyundai office found it tough to slug it out with those Japanese trio explaining why sales weren’t considered anymore.
That should remain the case with the new Sonata. The Accord and Camry, in particular, have been assembled in the country for years and now attract very low excise taxation for their hybrid models.
This is why Hyundai prefers to avoid them by selling all-electric vehicles instead like the Ioniq and Kona. After all, imports of whatever models in the 1.5-2 million baht price bracket would still be small.
