- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Hyundai Sonata. 35 year-old beauty
The history of the relatively young (just over 50 years old) automobile company Hyundai Motor is very interesting. For 20 years, which is not that much on a global scale, the South Korean brand has become one of the leading market players. It was Hyundai that was the first in the world to implement the Android Auto software. The company is one of the five best car manufacturers in the world and sells almost 5 million cars a year. Well, half of all Hyundai Motor sales come from the Elantra and Sonata models. Our article is devoted to the latter.
Today’s Sonata is a four-door midsize sedan. The eighth generation car has become larger. It is 4,900 mm long, 1,890 mm wide and 1455 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,840 mm. The eighth generation Sonata is built on a completely new platform.
The first generation
The model has a long history with the first generation being produced from 1985 to 1987. In 1983, a rear-wheel drive Hyundai Stellar was created on the basis of the Ford Cortina. Its more luxurious version was called the Sonata, but it was not very popular, as buyers did not see anything new in it. The car was equipped with Mitsubishi engines with the volume of 1.6, 1.8 and 2 liters, 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmissions. At the time, the list of equipment was quite long, including cruise control, power seats, headlight washers, power brakes, and adjustable power side mirrors. Plus, the car featured chrome bumper protectors.
The second generation
It was produced from 1988 to 1993. The second attempt to win the hearts of buyers was made in June 1988, and in the fall the car went to Canada and the United States. In 1989, the Sonata appeared in Australia and Europe. Back then, it was an independent car, not a version. The body design of the new model was developed by the eminent Giorgetto Giugiaro (the world famous ItalDesign studio), featuring the Mitsubishi platform used for the Galant model. The Korean car was equipped with a 2.4-liter engine developed by Mitsubishi. In 1990, a 3-liter V6 engine based on the Mitsubishi 6G72 was added to the range. The cars for other markets featured 1.8 and 2 liter engines borrowed from the first generation, but equipped with Hyundai fuel injection instead of a carburetor.
The third generation
The third Sonata was released from 1993 to 1998. In most markets, the base engine was a 2-liter in-line 4-cylinder 103 hp engine by Mitsubishi, whereas some markets offered a 3.0-liter V6 engine by Mitsubishi (143 hp). After the restyling in 1996, the front and rear end design was changed, and the 4-cylinder engine power was increased to 123 hp.
The fourth generation
It was produced from 1998 to 2013, while its restyling took place in 2001. The fourth Sonata of the EF series was based on the Hyundai-Kia Y4 platform. The car had a wheelbase of 2,700 mm, double wishbone front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension. There were two engines: a 2-liter unit with 136 hp and a 2.5-liter engine with 168 hp. This Sonata shared the platform with other Hyundai models, including the first-generation Santa Fe, the company’s first compact SUV. The first generation Kia Optima model was based on the same platform as the Sonata EF.
In 2001, Hyundai modernized the EF model, thoroughly upgrading the exterior and interior design and making some technical improvements. Importantly, the restyled Sonata featured an all-aluminum 2.7-liter Delta V6 (177 hp), as well as a 2.4-liter inline-4 from Mitsubishi with 139 hp. with.
The fifth generation
The fifth generation Sonata NF appeared in August 2004 and was released until 2010. The car belonged to the middle class. The new platform carried the first Theta all-aluminum in-line 4-cylinder engine. Initially, there was a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine (164 hp) and a 3.3-liter V6 with 237 hp. In Korea, a 2-liter version was sold, which enjoyed great popularity due to its fuel-efficiency. Diesel versions were available in Europe, New Zealand and Singapore. Standard equipment included an anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, traction control, and six airbags.
In 2008, the Sonata was restyled. It was designed by Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc., located in Michigan (USA). The car received a new, more expressive front face with a chrome grille, different taillights and a revised range of engines.
The sixth generation
It was produced from 2009 to 2014. Hyundai began development of the sixth Sonata YF back in 2005, and the model went into mass production only in September 2009. In some markets, the car is known as the Hyundai i45. The sixth generation Sonata was the second car after the Tuscon SUV to feature the exterior designed in compliance with the Fluidic Sculpture style.
The sixth generation model available on the US market was powered by a 2.4-liter Theta II 4-cylinder direct injection engine (200 hp at 6300 rpm). In addition, a new 6-speed automatic transmission was introduced. In South Korea, the Sonata YF was sold with a 2-liter Theta II (multipoint fuel injection engine rated at 165 hp). Other options were a 2.4-liter direct injection engine and a 2-liter turbocharged engine.
In 2008, Hyundai introduced the Hyundai Blue Drive hybrid powertrain, which used lithium polymer batteries. Such Sonatas could run both on electric traction and on petrol, as well as on a combination of both motors. In 2012, the model underwent a slight restyling.
The seventh generation
It was produced from 2014 to 2019, and was restyled in 2017. The seventh Sonata LF debuted at the New York International Auto Show, as the US market was a priority for the model and the sales in Korea fell short of expectations. The car inherited many design elements from the Hyundai HCD-14 Concept. As part of the seventh generation, Hyundai launched a plug-in hybrid for California and nine other states that had specific emission requirements. The electric driving range was up to 43 km, and the total range was 970 km.
The seventh generation Hyundai Sonata was restyled in 2017. The exterior featured new optics, radiator grille and more dynamic exterior. The dashboard acquired new air vents on the driver’s side and a larger touchscreen that was compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There was also a new steering wheel, gear lever and instrument cluster. Other restyling features included a smartphone charger and a USB port for rear passengers.
The eighth generation
It was produced from 2019 to the present (as of 2021). The new Hyundai Sonata is actively sold in South Korea, China and North America, which are its main sales markets. The eighth generation car is inspired by the very expressive and bright ‘Sensual Sportiness’ style. The car now has a fastback’s lines, new headlights running over the hood, and the C-shaped taillights, connected by a jumper.
The car is produced with two in-line engines (1.6 liter turbocharged unit with 180 hp and a 2.5-liter atmospheric double injection unit with 198 hp). Standard equipment includes: Intelligent Cruise Control, Forward Collision Avoidance, Automatic High/Low Beam Switching, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) and LED optics. The sedan’s new features include NFC digital key, Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), Around View Monitor (AVM), 10.25-inch Navigation Infotainment System, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bose premium sound system, next-generation Hyundai Blue Link technology and color head-up display.
The 2020/2021 Hyundai Sonata has finally succeeded in its homeland. After its debut, it was the best-selling car in South Korea. On September 22, 2020, Hyundai unveiled the N Line sports version with a 2.5-liter turbocharged Smartstream inline 4-cylinder engine (290 hp). The engine is coupled with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
