2020 Hyundai Sonata revealed with coupe-like styling

2020 Hyundai Sonata revealed with coupe-like styling

Believe it or not, what you’re looking at here is the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata, which will take over from the seventh-generation LF model. Following Hyundai’s theme of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’, the Sonata takes inspiration from the equally striking Le Fil Rouge concept that debuted at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Dimension-wise, the new Sonata is now longer at 4,900 mm (+45 mm), wider at 1,890 mm (+25 mm) and has an enlarged wheelbase of 2,840 mm (+35 mm). The sleeker look sees a compromise to its height, which now measures 1,445 mm (-30 mm).

Rather than continuing with a three-box approach, the new Sonata now adopts a four-door coupe look that reminds us of the Volkswagen Arteon and Audi A7 Sportback. At the front, there’s a seven-point Digital Pulse Cascading Grille that blends seamlessly with the sculpted bonnet. Further down in the lower apron, a wide chrome trim gives the face a “smile” of sorts, culminating in corner inlets.

2020 Hyundai Sonata revealed with coupe-like styling

However, it is the headlamps that are the most distinctive items on the Sonata, with a unique cluster design that features four individual lighting elements within. The LED daytime running lights, which Hyundai refers to as Hidden Lighting Lamps, are influenced by the HDC-2 concept, appearing as chromic material before they are turned on. For greater dramatic effect, the DRLs lead into chrome strips that run alongside the bonnet (like on the current LF), meeting up with the loop of the chrome window surrounds.

Along the sides, two distinct character lines are seen between the lightly flared wheel arches, with the upper element ending at the taillights. The coupe-esque styling is also in full view from this angle, as is part of the liftback rear which features a small lipped section and wide taillights.

The rear end sees a long light strip linking the taillights clusters, which themselves sit outwards to create pointed humps that meet with the side character line. The tailgate itself appears to make cargo ingress and egress more convenient with a wide aperture, while the reverse lights and reflectors/fog lamps occupy individual areas, with the number plate in between.

2020 Hyundai Sonata revealed with coupe-like styling

The design overhaul extends to the interior too, with a new dashboard layout that is highlighted by a new primary touchscreen display for the infotainment system and a winged-shaped instrument binnacle with a digital display within – the latter said to be inspired by stealth aircraft. The carmaker adds that both displays are threaded together by a S curve to make it less distracting for drivers.

Hyundai says its designers aimed to create a “lightweight feeling” in the cabin, hence the compressed height of the air vents and the section they occupy. The conventional gear lever has also been replaced with buttons for the shift-by-wire transmission, with switchgear for the drive mode selector and driver assistance systems placed nearby.

For now, Hyundai has yet to released additional technical details about the new Sonata, especially the type of powertrains that will be made available. As far as first impressions go, what do you think of the new look for the Sonata?

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Korean Fan on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    Sloping coupe sedan, hyundai copied perdana2.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 40
    • Ex-VW group Chief Designer on Mar 08, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      Got taste!!!

      Audi front
      Civic rear
      Mazda3 interior

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
      • Chief since 2015 on Mar 10, 2019 at 9:16 am

        Luc Donckerwolke (born 19 June 1965) is a Belgian car designer at Hyundai’s Genesis luxury division and a former design director at Volkswagen Group’s Bentley, Lamborghini and Audi.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Roti john Sdn Bhd on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    The next generation Korean game changer sedan have revealed. Time to say good bye to Proton game over sedans (Prevé, Perdana and john)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 31
    • Albert's Fake News Pvt Ltd on Mar 06, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      You’ve been telling us game changer everytime but each time Proton sales results comes up, it’s game over for you. Sales numbers don’t lie.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 2
      • Popcorn Ramly LLP on Mar 06, 2019 at 7:53 pm

        I take the Geely Borui more muscular stance over this, anytime

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
      • The ironic thing is he is the one who should change. His trolling with copy and paste comments in every article whether related to Proton or not is tasteless at best and idiotic at worst. Then, add in the self replies and self likes by his dupes which are so obvious I wonder why he keep doing them.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • azlano on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Audi A5 front, Accord rear..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • Rear light is veryyyyy ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 5
  • StingerKia on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    I like the front and side profile, but the tail light… quite civic shadow… -_-

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 1
  • Pyraxle on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Oh my god. The rear tail light looks like Civic FC + Volvo = HIDEOUS!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 5
  • Dylan Ch'ng on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    The taillights are like miniature civic taillights

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • Celup King on Mar 06, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    Why the rear copy ketam Civic and the front copy Audi? Hyundai designers all tidur is it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 10
    • seancorr (Member) on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:54 pm

      Bro u do know their previous design boss was from Audi yea?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
      • Lets See on Mar 06, 2019 at 7:28 pm

        So you meant he plagiarised his old designs when he moved to Hyundai?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Curwen Tan Pei Hong on May 30, 2019 at 10:16 am

      Hyundai s chief designer is from audi hahaha.So its like audi lahh

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • That rear,,, im confused??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Farisun on Mar 06, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    Heck no ….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • VoidDance on Mar 06, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    Hi Sonata, Civic called.

    They want their rear lights back.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Leonardo on Mar 06, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    Overall the car looked stunning. But the rear…I have to agree with the others here…too Honda-ish, specifically the Civic. The designers should have made it more cleaner and elegant, like the front design. Especially in this segment. Benchmark Merc, Audi, BMW, Aston Martin, Jaguar, etc.
    Not enough ‘bright works’ for the interior. Does not look premium.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • sohhai on Mar 06, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    Looks way better than the upcoming Accord. The similarity of the rear to the Civic surely made the Honda designers wonder why they didn’t come up with a design like this for the Accord

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • Tunerz on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Well, from the exterior could already concluded that it’s not going to sell … Perhaps a major makeover in their upcoming facelift.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
  • New Accord coupe-like styling too …

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • I thought it was a new car on GTA online, till I read the article.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Hyundai A4-Civic

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • vincent on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    front nice, but the butt tak boleh la

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • benzs on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:41 pm

    Civic at first glance from behind. Front like Lexus LC500 headlamp, front grill and bonnet of a Aston Martin. Copy paste

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • seancorr (Member) on Mar 06, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    Now you don’t have to purchase an A7 to have that long strip tail light. It’s now available on a Hyundai. But seriously, the design looks okay and the rear should look good at night while the interior is an improvement over the previous generation.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
  • HYUNDAI SONATA YF STILL A LOOKER.. 2010-2015
    click like if u agree <3

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • dashboard design , materials and perceived quality….all class-leading….

    exterior design wise, i’d say it is interesting , and brave , boring and ugly it sure isn’t….

    quintessentially korean…..but oozing with character

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • albag on Mar 06, 2019 at 9:41 pm

    the rear is our Perdana..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
  • Jimmy on Mar 06, 2019 at 11:18 pm

    Copy here and there.
    CX-9 boomerang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Mr Hakim on Mar 07, 2019 at 8:38 am

    The front is good but really let down on the rear, why the heck Hyundai want to follow Honda like tail lamp, is not like the resale value gonna be up.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Izzat M. on Mar 07, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    Hyundai Malaysia needs to do something before Hyundai cars disappear from Msian roads due to slumping sales. The current Elantra and Sonata are major disappointments bcz they tried too hard to imitate Honda Civic and Toyota Camry in terms of engine choice and pricing. Bring back the naturally-aspirated 1.6L engine for the Elantra instead of only promoting the 1.6L turbo to beat the Civic 1.5L turbo (which Elantra could not win at all due to brand favouritism). As for the Sonata, do something with the 2.0L engine since ppl are criticising it for being quite weak for the large body entry-level exec sedan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • malaysianz on Mar 07, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    remind me of civic crab hand tail lamp

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Meanwhile, lousy Proton still rebadging a 12 years old Honda Accord and selling it proudly as their 2019/2020 Proton Perdana

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Haidi on Mar 28, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    To me, the new design from Hyundai looks really weird. Look at the Elantra facelift, this Sonata, look at the steering. They’re just weird looking…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Mohd Taufik Nordin on Jul 01, 2019 at 10:04 am

    any idea on the price tag?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Any idea, Will this car come into malaysian market? I like design interior and exterior and lights……I wanted to buy but no evedence that it will come to malaysian market…Any idea to buy it? Where to buy it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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