- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr Ar He
2019 Hyundai Sonata Sedan. 8th generation
Interestingly, this car belongs to both the family segment and the business class. Either way, this is the eighth generation five-seater front-wheel drive sedan.
The distinctive exterior of Korean cars makes the Sonata stand out from the crowd. You can’t walk past it in the parking lot, as it draws your attention with its “magnetic strangeness”. It may remind you of a masterpiece Korean film Parasite, with graceful Mrs. Park, a delightfully restrained and attractive oriental lady. So the Sonata is unique and mysterious. And no wonder, because the chief designer of the 8th generation Sonata, Sang Yup Lee, is the head of the Korean Hyundai Design Center, known for developing the exterior of the Chevrolet Camaro and Bentley Bentayga.
Exterior
The daytime running lights go out of the headlights and flow into the chrome moldings that run through the hood and then through the sides of the body. Their lights gradually fade out, shining through the holes, located at an ever greater interval. The lower edge of the bumper features a chrome crescent-shaped trim with upward curved edges. At the rear, this motif turns into a red crescent line that adorns the car across its entire width and glows in the dark, which makes the car one hundred percent recognizable. In Israel, the car is offered in 7 body colors and with a hybrid system.
The new Hyundai Sonata sedan is based on a new modular platform, which comprises high-strength steels, increasing the body stiffness and making the car 25 kg lower than the previous generation model. The layout has been revised, so the front overhang has decreased by 20 mm, while the wheelbase has increased by 35 mm and the total length has increased by 45 mm. The sedan body is 4,900 mm long, 1,860 wide and 1,465 high, with a wheelbase of 2,840. The center of gravity has become lower due to a different arrangement of the seats. The car features the same MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, but slightly modified for the sake of handling.
Interior
The interior of the 2019/2020 Hyundai Sonata can be safely called spacious and elegant. The creators have made an effort to improve the tactile sensations. However, the unusual push-button control of the automatic transmission is out of step. The buttons instead of the selector are located along the movement and require special attention. The car has a clear readable digital dashboard, a projector showing the speedometer and navigator readings on the windshield, and a circular view system. There is enough space in the rear seats, although the backrest tilt seems excessive. It is pleasant to see that all the seats are heated. And the trunk of the sedan is simply huge, with a volume of 510 liters.
Equipment
The 2020/2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is sold in Israel in three trim levels: Prestige, Premium and Limited. The list of equipment includes a windshield projector, wireless smartphone charging, multimedia with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bose speakers. And the Limited version has a very interesting BVM function, displaying the blind zone on the dial of the digital clock when the turn signal is turned on. Options include heated and ventilated seats and leather trim.
The new Sonata is protected by a package of electronic assistants Smart Sense (including adaptive cruise control, automatic braking systems, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring system and high-beam control) and 9 airbags.
Powertrains
Israeli buyers can purchase a hybrid version of the sedan. The aggregate capacity of the engine and electric motor is 192 hp. The petrol engine is a 2-liter 4-cylinder Smartstream G2.0 GDi direct injection unit (152 hp, 188 Nm). The electric motor is integrated into the 6-speed automatic transmission and has a maximum output of 52 hp and 205 Nm. There is a curious Active Shift Control (ASC) transmission control system, and the new Sonata Hybrid was the first to receive this technology. It uses an electric motor to synchronize the speeds of the internal combustion engine and transmission shafts, which reduces gear change times by 30%, eliminates jerks and improves efficiency. The car has a 6-speed automatic transmission.
By the way, due to the fact the car is powered by electricity for some time, the fuel consumption is only 5 liters per 100 km in the extra urban cycle. At the same time, acceleration to 100 km/h takes only 9.2 seconds. The chassis corresponds to a vigorous temperament of the sedan, featuring a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, as well as disc brakes, with the front ones being ventilated.
