2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line – now with sportier looks

2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line – now with sportier looks

The eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata gets a sportier bit of kit with the arrival of the N Line variant, bringing a host of performance-inspired changes to the four-door’s interior and exterior, a year on from its debut.

The added sportiness in its styling on the outside comes from the N Line-badged cascading grille that is now accompanied by a more aggressive front bumper with a larger set of air intakes, while N Line side skirts and 19-inch alloy wheels on 245/40 tyres continue the theme for its side profile. At the back, the sportier look is completed by a redesigned rear bumper with a black lower section, quad exhaust outlets and diffuser.

The theme continues to the interior of the Sonata, where N Line cues include dark chrome trim, sports seats for the front occupants, as well as red signature N Line contrast stitching for the upholstery, while the driver also gets metal-trimmed pedals.

Technical details for the Sonata N-Line have not been mentioned by the manufacturer, though the sportier-trimmed four-door is expected to get a hike in power and torque outputs from its engine.

This is tipped to improve upon the 191 hp and 245 Nm from the 2.5 litre naturally aspirated Smartstream GDI unit in the standard model, and Hyundai America’s director of public relations, Jim Trainor previously told Autoblog that the Sonata N-Line with “at least 275 hp, and probably a lot more.”

The logical candidate from within Hyundai’s current range is the 2.0 litre Theta T-GDI turbocharged inline-four that makes 275 hp and 353 Nm of torque in the Veloster N. The current range of engines for the Sonata is comprised of the above 2.5 litre NA engine, and a 1.6 litre T-GDI turbocharged direct injection unit that makes 185 hp and 241 Nm of torque.

2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line – now with sportier looks

The basic Sonata styling draws inspiration from the Le Fil Rouge concept of 2018, and the production four-door measures 4,900 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall and a wheelbase of 2,840 mm. The standard car boasts of a drag coefficient of 0.27, with aerodynamics aided by a flat underfloor and finned tail lamps.

Inside, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster offers visual information within a new dashboard layout compared to the previous generation, and gear selection is accessed through shift-by-wire buttons instead of a conventional gear lever.

Other interior equipment in the standard Sonata also includes a Bose Premium sound system, sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats along with navigation, while he Hyundai Digital Key employs near-field communication to allow a phone or digital device to unlock the car.

On the safety front, the standard Sonata Line gets Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Advanced Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, accompanied by Highway Driving Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor and Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) and Safe Exit Assist.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Fordist on Sep 23, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    The front tries too hard to be a Ford and rear tries too hard to be a Civic FC.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Gabriel on Sep 23, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      Guys in design, the fluidity is good but the question – that prolong nose/neck for what purpose?, overdone though, for the next Gen Sonata, pls trim it down, shorter overhang, bring the wheelarch forward 5 inch then whalla Sonata will competes with similar design found in S-90, E-Class, 5-Series & G80

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • vivizurianti on Sep 23, 2020 at 1:55 pm

    The front looks like koi fish searching for food….
    Inspired by Nature.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • both Hyundai Sonato and Kia K5 is adik beradik design ke? If compare I would say this is so ugly than K5.I will go for K5 look more gorgeous.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
    • Design perspective Jr on Sep 23, 2020 at 5:04 pm

      Agreed bro’ better hyundai upgrades their Sonatas using Genesis G80 platform to get better RWD proportion, long hood, short overhang as below side profile:
      https://paultan.org/2020/03/05/2020-genesis-g80-second-gen-exec-sedan-revealed/genesis-g80-second-gen-teaser-3/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Dong gor on Sep 23, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    Price it below 150k with decent spec as a proper D seg family car and you will get all the sales from accord and Camry. Only way to surpass Japanese sales

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • why post so many pictures of the infotainment screen ^^

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Sep 24, 2020 at 12:27 am

    this is the only time the front works.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • err … why la the front grill look so ugly???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Cyclist on Apr 29, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    Steering wheel design was the great UGLY ever for me.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Nancy Hoyt on Aug 10, 2021 at 5:24 am

    I have a 2015 Sonata LTD and love it. I cringe every time I encounter the 2020 “fish face” Sonata on the road and in pictures. I do hope they change it because they really are nice cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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