Test drive the new Hyundai Sonata

A new platform, a striking design, a rich arsenal of electronic systems - the Korean flagship has become better in everything before and surprised with a number of non-standard solutions

After Elon Musk showed the world the latest Tesla, we realized that car manufacturers have completely ceased to be shy in expressions. The new Sonata may not look as outrageous as the Cybertruck, but its efforts to be bright and visible are obvious. The front bumper cuts through a thin chrome molding with coquettishly twisted tips like on Hercule Poirot's mustache, LED strips run up from the headlights along the side edges of the hood, a red brace for the taillights surrounds the trunk lid - with a rational approach, these decorations would be enough for the heels of different models.

But modesty is not one of the virtues of the Korean car. Not only does it sparkle at any time of the day or night, it is also named by its creators as a four-door coupe. Although in profile, this Hyundai looks more like a liftback, but in fact, as before, is a sedan. In general, the search for "Sonata" of its own "I" continues.

And it's not just about style. For example, on the taillights, you can find a dozen small longitudinal fins, and looking under the car on a lift, you can see thin plastic shields covering most of the bottom. All this, as stated in the press release, is done to improve the car's handling at high speeds and fuel efficiency, as well as to reduce external noise from the oncoming air flow. At the same time, judging by the figures from the same document, the drag coefficient of the new Sonata does not differ from that of its predecessor. Both Cd is 0,27.

But to say that the seventh and eighth generation sedans differ only in body edges is categorically wrong. The new one is 45 mm longer, added 35 mm in the wheelbase, and most importantly, it is built on a completely new universal platform that allows the use of different types of power units, including hybrid ones. Full electrification is also planned. But this is in the future. Today, one of the tangible benefits of the architecture developed from scratch is the increase in space in the cabin, primarily for rear passengers. The boot volume of 510 liters is neither more nor less.

There is really a lot of legroom here. Even large people have a decent amount of space from the knees to the backs of the front seats. However, the cabin is not that great in height. When properly seated with a straight back, a 185 cm tall person touches the ceiling with their crown. Such is the price for a trendy compartment silhouette and a panoramic roof with an opening section.

Glass roofing, however, is one of the options, and you can refuse from it, saving 50 rubles. And, in general, there is nothing more to optimize costs. Rear passengers have access to adjustable seat heating, a folding armrest with a pair of cup holders, the most expensive Prestige configuration has removable curtains for side and rear windows, but there is only one USB connector for all.

The driver was much more fortunate. The front seats are also set high, but this is perhaps the only and not the most serious reason for criticism of ergonomics. The visibility is complete, the moderately rigid optimally profiled seats have wide adjustment ranges, and the driver has no problems in interacting with the arsenal of information and auxiliary systems.

With the exception of the Online version available to order only on the Internet, all other configurations with the new 2,5-liter gasoline engine received graphic dashboards with a 12,3-inch screen. True, you won't be able to play with the sizes of the speedometer and tachometer, but you can change the themes corresponding to the Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart driving modes. You press a button on the center tunnel, and along with the settings for the steering wheel, engine and transmission, the splash screen also changes. Made from the heart: the old one crumbles into shard pixels, and right there in its place a new one is assembled - in a different color and with its own graphics.

Another special effect is available to buyers of the top version with a blind spot monitoring system: when the turn signals are turned on, the right and left disks of the dashboard temporarily turn into "TVs" broadcasting a picture from the side of the car. The "trick" is spectacular and is not at all useless in the dense city traffic.

In addition to virtual devices on expensive versions, starting with Business, there is a multimedia system with built-in navigation and a color touch screen with a diagonal of 10,25 inches. The picture on this "tablet" can already be configured as you like - for example, install widgets of frequently used functions on it, and refer to the rest by scrolling through the pictures along the screen or from top to bottom. Screen responses are instant.

And how do you like a wireless charging platform with a temperature sensor and cooling that protects your smartphone from critical overheating? Such a control panel for automatic transmission modes has not been met before. There is no lever, no "washer", and instead - something like a large computer mouse with buttons. The sensors for forward, backward and neutral are arranged in a row. On the left is a separate parking button. A convenient solution that is in perfect harmony with this elegant and interesting interior.

The only frustrating thing is that, unlike cars for the Korean and American markets with 8-speed gearboxes, sedans from Kaliningrad are content with 6-range automatic transmissions from the previous generation car. The basic 150-horsepower unit also remained unchanged. How this duo works will be appreciated only at the beginning of next year. But the work of the tandem with a more powerful 180-horsepower engine was not very pleasant.

The motor itself is quite good - from where the Sonata starts quickly and accelerates quite confidently. But even with a leisurely movement and uniform traction, the box can spontaneously switch to a step down or up, as if it could not make the right choice. She is slightly embarrassed by a sharp, strong press on the gas pedal. The "Sport" mode helps to overcome the indecision of the automatic transmission, but then you will have to put up not only with high fuel consumption, but also with the noise of the engine. Starting at 4000 rpm, the engine sounds in the cabin seem inappropriately loud.

There are still questions about the suspension. On the new platform, the car steers unambiguously more accurately - the sedan does not prowl on the high-speed line, it is commendably tenacious and almost without rolls in slow turns, but at the same time it counts all the road trifles. Either this is the result of Russian adaptation with an increase in ground clearance to 155 mm, or the chassis itself is strongly sharpened towards sports, but the term “smooths out all the irregularities” cannot be applied to the suspension of the new “Sonata”.

This does not mean that the car is rolling hard. He rides resiliently, but if the asphalt is not perfect, as if in a shallow jump. Driving a comfortable-moving large sedan is little fun, especially when driving at a relaxed pace with cruise control on. By the way, now it is adaptive, and right in the package with a lane-keeping system and a reverse parking assist.

The former, seventh Sonata, although it could not boast of such a sharpness of reactions, but the balance of its driving performance seems to be more optimal. However, reconfiguring the suspension and writing new software for the machine are quite feasible tasks. In addition, the expected after the new year versions with a slightly less heavy 2-liter engine and tires with a higher profile may themselves be more comfortable. So we'll get back to talking about the car.

A type	Sedan	Sedan
dimensions (length, width, height), mm	4900/1860/1465	4900/1860/1465
Wheelbase, mm	2840	2840
Ground clearance, mm	155	155
Cargo space, l	510	510
Curb weight, kg	n. d.	1484
engine's type	Naturally aspirated gasoline	Naturally aspirated gasoline
Working volume, cubic meters cm	1999	2497
Max. power, l. with. (at rpm)	150/6200	180/6000
Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm)	192/4000	232/4000
Drive type, transmission	Front, 6АКП	Front, 6АКП
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s	10,6	9,2
Max. speed km / h	200	210
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle), l per 100 km	7,3	7,7
Price, USD	from 19 600	from 22 600