Back to the future
Hyundai has completely reinvented its design language to create an audacious design for the 8th generation of the Sonata that is taking a mass market brand to a level beyond premium
The Sonata has for long been the Hyundai flagship and it has reflected the stage the company has been in its own journey. With the latest Sonata, Hyundai is entering the unabashedly bold phase that shows off its prowess, and the audacity to innovate and push the envelope, not just a little but a lot further. The new Sonata is audacious with a swooping front that incorporates the pedestrian safety lip at the front of the car into the bonnet as it curves downwards over a gross black mesh grille. The DRLs encompass the headlamps and then swoop backwards along the crease on either side of the bonnet right to the base of the A-pillars. And then, Hyundai has taken a leaf out of the book of the Kia Soul and joined the tail-lamps with an inverted LED strip!
The story continues on the inside with premium appointments, an all-digital instrument panel and a 10.25in touchscreen for the infotainment. The 12.3in LCD digital instrument panel is configurable and each of the digital dials for the speedo and tacho also double up as blindspot cameras on the turn of the indicator. The list
of features is beyond impressive. Apart from all the driver assistance features the car also has a smart parking assistant that can drive the car into and out of a tight parking spot by the use of the car key – yes a feature picked out from the high-end BMWs.
The car is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-charged direct injection gasoline engine that is good for 180bhp but also produces high torque across the rev range. The gearbox is an 8-speed automatic that is commanded through fly-by-wire tech and thus needs just a ‘D’ button to be pressed to engage first gear. Then there are paddles on the steering wheel for taking over control if the change of drive modes don’t do it for you.
The car is loaded, has a smart engine but how does it drive? Well, if I say that it drives like a sportscar, I will not be very far from the truth. This is the best sedan I have driven in its class, the Germans included. The 1.6-litre turbo engine is itching to go, is smooth and torquey while the car itself is taut, the suspension firm without being hard and the steering direct. Built on an all new third generation platform, I think the torsional rigidity of the frame has been improved manifold and driving the Sonata is a refreshing experience and despite its over 1.5 tonnes of kerb weight, it feels light to drive. Definitely one of the best sedans of the year and I would love for it to be launched in India!