2017 Hyundai Sonata receives facelift
Hyundai has unveiled a fresh fresh look and a technical upgrade for its fighting Sonata mid-size sedan, displaying the car this week in South Korea and planning a mid-year launch in Australia.
The styling switches consist of a fresh family nose and tail that links with its siblings, particularly the upcoming i30. Inwards are major cabin switches with a more premium look, while under the bonnet the drivetrain switches from a six-speed to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia hopes the fresh look will spark greater buyer interest in the fleet-focused car that was launched to take on rivals including the Toyota Camry.
Sonata sales have been disappointing, last year selling one thousand six hundred seventy six units for seventh spot in the sub-$60,000 mid-size car market. Its sales represented about half those each of Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo and just six per cent of the volume of segment leader, the Camry, with 26,485 sales in 2016.
This year to February, Sonata sales are down by about seventy per cent on the same period last year, with one hundred six sales for the two months.
To lure buyers back to the model, Hyundai has fitted its fresh corporate grille design that will be very first seen in the skin with the two thousand seventeen i30 due here next month.
Hyundai describes the standard-model grille as being like hot steel and which “emulates the elegant form of a Korean celadon vase”.
The flagship turbo model will be identified by a mesh radiator grille.
The nose also has vertical daytime running lights, a fresh bonnet with extended strakes and dummy intake grilles in the front spoiler ostensibly for brake cooling.
The boot line is higher and the car has been given more horizontal presence by the broad spacing of the “Sonata” lettering on the boot lid’s edge.
The turbo model is identified by its different grille and darkened exterior features including dark chrome for the door treats, lower figure and tail-light surrounds. It also has a chrome rear diffuser and harass pipe tips to give it an upmarket appearance.
Inwards, the centre console has thicker controls and uses what Hyundai describes as “piano key” buttons for items such as the radio, heating and air-conditioning.
Standard equipment includes a seven-inch touchscreen, however the Elite and Premium may be suggested in Australia with an eight-inch version.
Like some others in the Hyundai range, the Sonata is expected to get upgraded connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Hyundai will not announce pricing and specifications for Australia until closer to launch but it is hoping that the fresh car will include the wireless phone charging pad on the centre console that was fitted to the South Korean variant.
Safety equipment is yet to be determined for Australia but is hoped that the list will include lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, cornering headlights, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Engines are carried over from the existing cars that were launched here in early 2015.
Australia will get the 138kW/241Nm Two.4-litre four-cylinder aspirated engine, as well as the 180kW/350Nm Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol mill for the upmarket Elite and Premium versions.
Hyundai has substituted the six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-cog model that comes with spanking paddle shifters and four modes – convenience, eco, sport and brainy. There is no report on the fuel economy advantages of the fresh transmission, albeit the fuel consumption of the current Sonata is not considered industry leading.
2017 Hyundai Sonata receives facelift – Car News, CarsGuide
2017 Hyundai Sonata receives facelift
Hyundai has unveiled a fresh fresh look and a technical upgrade for its fighting Sonata mid-size sedan, showcasing the car this week in South Korea and planning a mid-year launch in Australia.
The styling switches consist of a fresh family nose and tail that links with its siblings, particularly the upcoming i30. Inwards are major cabin switches with a more premium look, while under the bonnet the drivetrain switches from a six-speed to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia hopes the fresh look will spark greater buyer interest in the fleet-focused car that was launched to take on rivals including the Toyota Camry.
Sonata sales have been disappointing, last year selling one thousand six hundred seventy six units for seventh spot in the sub-$60,000 mid-size car market. Its sales represented about half those each of Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo and just six per cent of the volume of segment leader, the Camry, with 26,485 sales in 2016.
This year to February, Sonata sales are down by about seventy per cent on the same period last year, with one hundred six sales for the two months.
To lure buyers back to the model, Hyundai has fitted its fresh corporate grille design that will be very first seen in the skin with the two thousand seventeen i30 due here next month.
Hyundai describes the standard-model grille as being like torrid steel and which “emulates the elegant form of a Korean celadon vase”.
The flagship turbo model will be identified by a mesh radiator grille.
The nose also has vertical daytime running lights, a fresh bonnet with extended strakes and dummy intake grilles in the front spoiler ostensibly for brake cooling.
The boot line is higher and the car has been given more horizontal presence by the broad spacing of the “Sonata” lettering on the boot lid’s edge.
The turbo model is identified by its different grille and darkened exterior features including dark chrome for the door treats, lower figure and tail-light surrounds. It also has a chrome rear diffuser and harass pipe tips to give it an upmarket appearance.
Inwards, the centre console has fatter controls and uses what Hyundai describes as “piano key” buttons for items such as the radio, heating and air-conditioning.
Standard equipment includes a seven-inch touchscreen, however the Elite and Premium may be suggested in Australia with an eight-inch version.
Like some others in the Hyundai range, the Sonata is expected to get upgraded connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Hyundai will not announce pricing and specifications for Australia until closer to launch but it is hoping that the fresh car will include the wireless phone charging pad on the centre console that was fitted to the South Korean variant.
Safety equipment is yet to be determined for Australia but is hoped that the list will include lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, high-beam assist, cornering headlights, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Engines are carried over from the existing cars that were launched here in early 2015.
Australia will get the 138kW/241Nm Two.4-litre four-cylinder aspirated engine, as well as the 180kW/350Nm Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol mill for the upmarket Elite and Premium versions.
Hyundai has substituted the six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-cog model that comes with spanking paddle shifters and four modes – convenience, eco, sport and brainy. There is no report on the fuel economy advantages of the fresh transmission, albeit the fuel consumption of the current Sonata is not considered industry leading.