The new Hyundai Sonata has just been unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show 2023 with hardly any trace of its predecessor from the inside and out.
What is so evident from the latest iteration of the Sonata that for so many years was a top nameplate for the Korean brand until age caught up with it is a front fascia that resembles its recently-launched van Staria with the signature Seamless Horizon Lamp so prominent on its nose.
Put the Sonata, the Staria and even the Stargazer together and you’ll get a glimpse of triplets sporting a common look.
The full facelift of the Sonata that took the spotlight in Hyundai’s media day presentation at the KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center) was made behind the theme “Sensuous Sportiness” with its low-slung exterior exemplifying a progressive automotive design.
Why the Sonata was given such a daring The Edge monicker could be because of interesting features that hint of a last-gasp attempt at prolonging the lifespan of a once-thriving model which had its last all-new version released four years ago.
New to the 2023 Sonata are the new H-lights connected by a light bar, a first-in-class power trunk, and a muffler-shaped rear garnish. Inside, a panoramic curved display features an12.3-inch drivier information cluster integrated into the 12.3-inch audio-video navigation (AVN) system promise an immersive digital experience at the cockpit. It also has the Remote Smart Parking Assist that allows the user to park the vehicle and exit parking spots with a smart key plus a Rear Occupant Alert built to prevent infants from being left unattended.
It’s brimming with advanced driver assistance and safety features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-spot Collision Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Safe Exit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Smart Cruise Control using a navigation-based Smart Cruise Control. Drivers can now park their vehicles and exit parking spots remotely by controlling them with the smart key.
The Sonata line-up, meanwhile, includes a gasoline-powered 2.5L engine, 2.5L turbo engine that was developed especially for the N Line and 2.0L hybrid electric vehicle.
While orders in Korea will be accepted starting on April 20, Hyundai officials were non-committal when asked of the possible date of the new Sonata’s arrival in Philippine shores.
But the many weapons left in Hyundai’s arsenal that can further boost its campaign for a bigger share of the Philippine market pie makes that possibility so unpredictable.
Given the slow turnover of mid-size sedans like the Sonata and the growing acceptance of fuel-efficient crossovers and SUVs, the Kona and the Casper might just even steal the thunder.
Main photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
