2018 SONATA: DEFINING THE BENCHMARK FOR MID-SIZED SEDANS

by ·

The redesigned 2018 Sonata enters the market with a new look from the front, side and rear thanks to a “cascading grill,” a more assertive profile and an entirely new rear; showcasing a clean and handsome approach with reimagined, slim taillights.

“It’s all about making an impact,” said Chris Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai North American Design Center. “We wanted to deliver an exciting expressive car to our customers and show the world how passionate Hyundai is about design and craftsmanship. The objective was to make an impact, this design provides the visual excitement and unique identity our customers associate with Sonata.”

Created at Hyundai’s California Design Studio with American aesthetic tastes in mind, the new Sonata is bold, daring and beautiful. The 2018 Sonata made its North American debut today at the New York International Auto Show.

ELEVATED ELEGANCE
Supplementing the bodywork, the 2018 Sonata now lights the way with LED daytime running lights. When night falls, available LED headlamps with dynamic bending light illuminate the path and add to Sonata’s already radiant posture. The same standout style continues in the rear with sharp taillight design and enlarged Hyundai badge, which now cleverly houses the trunk release button. Chrome accents surround the daylight opening (DLO) and fresh wheel designs cap off its new look.

Inside, the renewed center stack and instrument panel echo the exterior’s catching new looks. The trend carries down to gauge dial design and a strong three-spoke steering wheel. Piano key buttons for audio and HVAC controls give a premium look and touch.

“The moment the pen left the drafting paper I knew we had something special in this re-imagined Sonata,” says Chapman, “Dynamic lines, strong graphics, and our new signature cascading grille come together in an athletic way.”

BEAUTY BENEATH THE SKIN
The new Sonata has a refined chassis with improved ride and handling. To achieve this feat, talented engineers increased the torsion bar stiffness within the steering system by 12 percent, which improves steering response and feel in all conditions. They then enhanced that improvement further with new steering calibration, focusing on responsiveness and on-center steering feel. Previous ratings for ride, handling and NVH showed customers were quite satisfied, so engineers just reset an already high bar.

In addition to these steering changes, the Sonata received an updated rear suspension. The trailing arms are 21 percent thicker, making them stiffer and better able to manage heavy suspension loads. New bushings work with the new suspension arms to allow for more ride compliance and yet quicken response time to control all other wheel motions. The result is a communicative, nimble and comfortable sedan.

For the top-of-the-line powertrain, there’s even more. The 245 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine now includes an eight-speed automatic transmission, which adds ratio range at both the top and bottom of output speeds. The eight-speed allows for extra thrust off-the-line and a quieter, more fuel-efficient dash down the interstate. The 2.0-liter turbo models roll on 18-inch wheels, now with Michelin tires.

COMPELLING COMFORT AND SAFETY
The 2018 Sonata features a standard seven-inch color display audio touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® integration. Speaking of smartphones, driver and passenger alike can keep them charged without a plug using the available Qi standard wireless charging pad. Sonata now adds a second row USB charge port, a nod to today’s connected rear-seat passengers. Available navigation systems now come with a bird’s eye view feature as well as traffic flow and incident data, without ever having to pay a subscription for the service.

The Sonata offers more safety features in 2018. In addition to seven standard airbags (dual front, side, and curtain, as well as driver’s knee) and a battery of safety systems (VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS, EBD, BA, and TPMS) comes Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA). The Sonata is the only Midsize car sold with this safety technology as standard equipment. Despite drivers spending a tiny amount of time in reverse, one-quarter of all accidents happen when someone is backing up. BSD with RCTA gives drivers peace of mind that the road behind them is clear. Furthermore, there’s also a new Lane Departure Warning system with an enhanced Lane Keep Assist function available.

BETTER BLUE LINK
As our cars become a mobile extension of the connected world, Blue Link continues to add more features to integrate your life. Blue Link now talks to Amazon Echo™, allowing you to control your car inside your home, or wherever the Amazon device is located.

More Lifestyle News:

  1. 2018 Acura TLX, Aggressive, Sporty Design, and New Technology Features Acura has unveiled a refreshed and significantly enhanced 2018 TLX performance luxury sedan, delivering the brand’s Precision Crafted Performance design direction to its core sedan. The all-new TLX A-Spec takes the sedan’s design in an even more emotional direction, further...
  2. 2017 Honda CR-V Earns TOP SAFETY PICK+ Rating from IIHS The 2017 Honda CR-V, America’s best-selling SUV, has earned the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with available Honda Sensing™ and LED headlights. The model earned a SUPERIOR...
  3. 2018 Honda Fit Launches Next Month with More Aggressive Styling, New Sport Trim and Available Honda Sensing Honda revealed the 2018 Fit with fresh new styling, the addition of a Sport trim and the availability of Honda Sensing® on its popular hatchback. Updated styling at the front and rear, and a splash of additional color add vibrancy and...
  4. Honda Reveals 2017 Civic Si Coupe and Sedan in Dynamic Global Debut Video The all-new Honda Civic Si Coupe and Civic Si Sedan debuted today in a global reveal video broadcast on Honda’s YouTube channel The exciting and dynamic video features the stylish, personal two-door coupe and sleek, accommodating four-door sedan – both...
  5. Acura Electrifies SUV Lineup with Powerful and Efficient 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid Acura’s first-ever hybrid SUV, the 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid, will arrive at showrooms in early April with more than 30 additional horsepower and a 45 percent higher EPA city fuel economy rating as compared to the conventionally-powered MDX SH-AWD. With...
  6. 2018 Hyundai Sonata Streamlines Packaging With High-Demand Features At Every Price Point Theautomatic transmission in 2.0T models, once again sets the standard in the mid-size sedan segment. Pricing throughout the lineup delivers consumers a compelling choice, starting at $22,050 for the Sonata SE. The 2018 Sonata arrives in dealer showrooms this summer....
  7. Hyundai Sonata Awarded Best All-around Performance And Best Economic Performance In Class By Automotive Science Group The 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has been recognized for class-leading performance and value by Automotive Science Group (ASG), earning their “Best All-Around Performance” honor, while the Sonata earned their “Best Economic Performance” honor in the full-size sedan category, besting 106...
  8. All-New 2018 Kia Rio Sedan And 5-Door With its eye-catching design and impressive roster of features, the all-new 2018 Rio sedan and 5-door are the latest additions to the world-class Kia Motors America (KMA) model lineup. Penned at Kia’s European and U.S. design studios in collaboration with...
  9. All-New 2018 Toyota Camry It’s already making a lot of noise.  Now, it’s almost here.  The all-new 2018 Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America for the past 15 years, will be rolling into dealers late summer.  The excitement over the eighth-generation sedan is...
  10. 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS The fastest and most powerful street-legal 911 model ever is ready for launch: The new 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is celebrating its official world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from June 30th to July...