The eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata has finally been launched in Malaysia. Just one variant is on offer this time, that being the 2.5 Premium. It’s fully imported from South Korea and retails for RM206,888 (with full 100% SST). However, the first 50 units will be sold at an introductory price of RM189,888 (with 50% SST).
Design-wise, the new Sonata is the first car that is based on Hyundai’s Sensuous Purity design language. Features include a large Cascading Grille, integrated air curtains on the edges of the front bumper, automatic full LED headlights, as well as LED DRLs that “soften” along the chrome strip on the bonnet. When the DRLs are turned off, the strips appear as chrome, and this is achieved via laser-etched perforations.
At the back, it gets full LED tail lights with a continuous LED strip along the boot, integrated fins atop the LED lights, roof-mounted third brake light, an integrated ducktail spoiler, the Sonata script, plus an integrated diffuser. Also on are 18-inch multispoke dual-tone alloy wheels (wrapped with 235/45 Continental PremiumContact 6 tyres), a subtle front lip, and side skirts.
There are six available colours, which include White Cream, Shimmering Silver, Nocturne Grey (pictured here), Oxford Blue, Midnight Black and Flame Red. Hyundai Sime Darby Malaysia (HSDM) is also offering three interior colour schemes, but these depend on the exterior colour choice.
White Cream, Nocturne Grey and Midnight Black will get the Camel two-tone interior theme that you see in these pictures, whereas the Shimmering Silver comes with the Greige (a colour between beige and grey) two-tone cabin with white leather seat upholstery. For those who want the usual all-black affair, you’ll have to settle for Oxford Blue or Flame Red.
Inside, the Sonata gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a head-up display projected onto the windscreen, an eight-inch Display Audio touchscreen head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, automatic dual-zone climate control, electronic parking brake, and a four-button shift-by-wire gear selector. There’s also a Qi wireless charging pad with cooling function.
A drive mode switch is standard, letting you choose between Smart, Comfort, Eco and Sport modes. Other features include a large panoramic glass roof, electrochromic rear view mirror, eight-way powered driver’s seat with two-way lumbar adjustment and memory function, four-way powered front passenger seat, and rear air vents. There are two USB ports up front and one at the back.
In terms of dimensions, the Sonata is arguably the biggest car in its class, measuring 4,900 mm in length, 1,860 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,840 mm. Boot space is 510 litres (no powered boot), and the rear bench folds in a 60:40 split configuration. There is also no spare tyre, just a tyre repair kit.
For powertrain, the Korean D-segment sedan is powered by a 2.5 litre Smartstream petrol engine. It’s a four-cylinder MPI unit making 180 PS and 232 Nm of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission (with shift paddles). There is a GDI direct-injection version of this engine that’s sold in other markets, offering 193 PS and 245 Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed auto. It’s not available in Malaysia due to fuel quality concerns, we’re told.
On the safety side of things, it gets six airbags as standard, ABS with EBD, ESC, hill-start assist, and vehicle stability management. Unfortunately, the Sonata doesn’t come with the Hyundai SmartSense suite of advanced driver assist systems, so it misses out on autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (there’s passive cruise control, though), lane departure warning or lane keep assist.
There is, however, a 360-degree surround view camera, as well as a blind spot view monitor. The latter uses the two side cameras (each with a 50-degree wide-view lens) to project a video feed onto the instrument panel when using the turn signals. This is like Honda LaneWatch, except better.
Again, pricing for the first 50 units of the Sonata is RM190k. Each purchase comes with a five-year or 300,000 km warranty coverage. You may browse CarBase.my for a more detailed look at the new Sonata’s specifications. You can also compare it against the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat, and more. So, what do you think of the Sonata? Sound off, below.
GALLERY: Hyundai Sonata official press photos
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with myTukar.
(Like) Sonata
(Dislike) Accord
The first 50 units early bird discount is about Rm17000.The unlucky 51st buyer will fork out RM17k more.Can u imagine the obscene amount of gross profits Sime darby makes?
Hyundai is among the top 15 car manufacturers in the world.If the package in terms of quality,after sales service and pricing is properly done,I cant see why Hyundai Malaysia is not doing well.Same goes for half brother Kia,which is doing poorly under the naza group.
There will never be a 51st buyer. Heck they will struggle to sell even 5 .
Aston Martin wannabe.
But Tbh, Hyundai is getting better for looks
Looks don’t buy you reliability, the key failures of Korean cars.
Totally agree…hahaha
Wow on top the Jap fanboys we now have Kimchi fanboys. Look at the amount of repeated dislike for comments such as these. They just can’t accept the truth.
Nasi lemak fan or Nothing.
But at least Hyundai Malaysia are gradually improving. Also believe that when Bermaz Kia takes over Naza Kia, believe that they will also slowly improving too.
The problem with Hyundai brand is bad car quality, poor fire safety, slow poke replacement parts which is uber expensip anyways, and they don’t care to educate the local technicians here on their car umpteen problems which goes back to bad car quality.
I guarantee you didn’t owned a Korean car before condemning. Nowadays Korean produce high quality cars and the problems are far lesser than many Japanese rivals. I won’t say it is better than Toyota but rest assure the rest of the Japanese car brands are unable to beat Hyundai. I own a Korean cars with mileage more than 250k km but it still running strong. I can’t deny the part replacement of Hyundai or Kia taking freaking long time and also their technician is not as skillful as we thought. But build quality is good is undeniable.
Absolutely True.. I own 2 hyundai cars.( sonata & Avante) 13 years & 10 years respectively. Very reliable and more reliable than all japanese cars except toyota.
Well if they can sell 50 of this! My money is on the table, let’s check the sales number publish by PT
Both also no people buy… D-seg is dying
This CBU price is acceptable to me ( including M6 & Camry ), but i still don’t understand why accord assemble in Alor Gajah Melaka is selling at rm195?!!!
Honda is CKD and they suppose able to price down. Look at Civic the price is super competitive among C segment. Btw the reason why it sell this expensive is because the high production cost due to low demand on D segment car. To setup A CKD assembly line is talking about tens of millions, if sales not justify the car maker surely need to hike up the price to cover the cost. That’s why most Camry and Mazda 6 rather CBU though it is expensive but it is trade off set up a CKD line in Malaysia. Civic able to sell cheap because the demand is so high and the production cost is justified.
Then why Passat can setup CKD line in Msia and yet the price is competitive among D segment although it is not high demand. It is because currency advantages compare to Honda and Toyota which CBU or CKD parts are from Thailand. In the past 10 years exchange rate of Thai Baht rose nearly 30% while Euro is only 6% increase compared to Ringgit. That’s why BMW, Merc and VW car can aseemble in Msia as the components mostly from European countries and the exchange rate is relatively stable. It makes sense to setup CKD plant in Msia to save cost compare to import as CBU which high tariff charged.
If Thai Baht keep going up in the next 10 years the Accord and Camry will be more expensive than C200 or 320i.
Example, Civic sold 500 units a month while Accord is less than 50 units. The cost of production/assembly of Accord will be much higher as it unable to achieve economies of scale to lower down the cost. To trade off Honda force to sell Accord in higher price or otherwise they should learn from Toyota just bring in CBU Accord to Msia. I guess if Accord demand is keep going low Honda may consider to change to CBU.
Why Jazz demand so low but still can CKD, it is because Jazz can use City assembly line since they share many similarity except one is sedan and another is hatchback. It only involve little different setup. Just like VW Vento and Polo is using same assembly line but in certain stages are slightly different.
Of course there is model Honda make loss or very little margin such as BRV which is extremely poor sales among all models.
I would really like to speak with the person who orders one of these, truly unique individual.
He or she is korean movie die hard fan
I strongly believe that even the Samsung Malaysia ceo will salute to those who buy it
Catfish front end. Ugly steering wheel. Copycat Civic rear end. Trying too hard and it doesn’t work. Car will look very outdated even before the warranty expires.
So only to you right? Accord also look very outdated than this.
Accord rear design looks dated even before the warranty started. The staple shape rear lamp is God know person design, he must be doing a lot of stapling paper admin job before switching to become Honda car designer.
RM190k for a Sonata, good luck and all the best!
DOA Dead on arrival.
DOA goes to Accord
looks too aggressive. At least Korean design did better than any japanese design like Honda
LIKE: Sonata, Camry, Borui
DISLIKE: Accord
If not mistaken, this car with 2.5 MPi Smartstream runs around 9 seconds probably
Civic look a bit but looks better than Prawn Accord
When. Someone trying to sell satay at rm11.20 per piece @ cucuk.. Saying that it has larger portion and delicious as well.. Makes us wonder.. Do they really want to sell or not?
I hope this will become CKD and additional of ADAS. This will be even more appetite to all buyers.
So when bringing both new Elantra and Tucson
“It’s not available in Malaysia due to fuel quality concerns, we’re told”. This is absolutely bullshxt from Hyundai saying Msia fuel quality is bad. Yes, we used to have low quality Euro 2 previously but nowadays all petrol stations in Malaysia are offering Euro 4. Mazda GDI compression ratio is identical like the Hyundai 2.5 GDI at 13:1. Why Mazda can do it but Hyundai can’t? Meam Hyundai tech is not comparable with Mazda. 2.5MPI and 6 speed AT is just similar tech as in Camry 2.5 but Camry is selling slightly cheaper with better safety features.
The similar safety feature is Passat Elegance but VW comes with turbochaeged with DSG which is far superior than this new Sonata while the pre reg new car is selling only RM 160k, almost 30k cheaper. Both Sonata and Passat are low resale value, so why should one consider to buy Sonata.
New Sonata is nicely designed (it is subject) but other than that nothing to shout about. With this price good luck to Hyundai.
Copy and Paste II: “ Due to CBU. But don’t why Accord sell at RM195K with CKD”
Currency and economies of scale which cause Accord can’t sell cheap. Refer to above comment I have explained the truth. If still can’t accept the fact then work harder earn more to buy. Complain won’t make our life better.
Will even be rarer that the camry and accord
There is a GDI direct-injection version of this engine that’s sold in other markets, offering 193 PS and 245 Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed auto. It’s not available in Malaysia due to fuel quality concerns, we’re told.
I dont understand why GDI is now all of a sudden not introduced in Malaysia due to fuel concern?? Sime Darby did you not introduce TGDI engines for Hyundai Tucson & Elantra?
Sonata handsome
honestly i think not even one sonata will be sold unless discount 30%.
Great
This car is dead on arrival. It is so expensive and it does not even come with Auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control lane departure warning or lane keep assist. These are becoming a MUST in Malaysia. Hyundai can’t keep up with what the buyers want.
I am buying silver color
Ouch CBU price but can see this being sold to Korean people and companies in Malaysia regardless of the price. I doubt CKD plans will help sell more too since the used car dealers are still chopping the price like no tomorrow when u want to sell it off.
Also, what’s with that hole next to the parking brake??
The new Kia Optima much better looking
Both Kia Optima and this look much better looking and nice
190k for Kimchi brand. No thank you
Due to CBU. But don’t why Accord sell at RM195K with CKD
So many Kimchi salesmen giving you thumb down. No worry. They will get zero sales anyway.
You mean so many honda fanboys posting negative comments for proton, including other brands too, but in the end, it is opposite way and proton and other brands will able to sell well
Hyundai all the way
It is going to be fun for driving this
very nice
even the first 50 gotta fork out RM190K is not worth it for this car’s badge. anytime a honda accord is a better buy.
Hopefully its not the only 50 ever sold here..
Once sonata comes with locally assembled, Accord sales can bungkus
This sonata will be as rare as the current elantra facelift. Without the advance safety and more expensive than the Camry/Accord full specs with Toyota Safety Sense suite/Honda Sensing suite. This sonata can only sell if is about 160-170k.
So so smexy… but eh, why button gear shifters :( Tak suka d.
If we’re gonna move away from the auto PRND stick, I’d take the Mercedes’ stalk any day. Took a while to get used to that one but makes sense since one can still use it without taking your eyes off the road, unlike push buttons.
Blank button on the keyfob !? ….dat sucks….., neway , previously Mazda 6 2.5 was CBU all d way from japan , and it has full active safety suite …..similar pricing too when first introduced……
Anyway, not digging the styling, but thats subjective.
All d best to hyundai tho
wow nowadays so called D segment Camry Accord and now Sonata pricing is going above 200k …. because of our shrinking currency/purchasing power ?? The rear looks like S90 Volvo ….
Not really. New City just launched is priced about the same as before. New Kona prices not too far from HRV. New Vios & Yaris too not much change. Civic facelifted last year also not too different prices. Only Dsegment Accord, Camry and now Sonata shoot up for no good reason. Makes getting the Perdana a far better deal.
Honda, volvo, now Hyundai.. Don’t they all love crabs design… What an ugly rear.
GDi not available due to fuel quality concern? Sime darby PR think the engine need rocket fuel is it? Even Ron 95 are euro 4M now, still use this as excuse?
I love it! Stylish and superior
Sonata still looks light years better in and out too.
Sport sedan
Design different looking makes more interesting.
Let’s Rock
Hopefully will bring ckd anytime. We were interested looking at this with more variants. Also hope that will come with AEB
Cool
This looks more better than bored accord
Good car. Should also bring smartsense technologies too
Secondhand value to kimchi car is worse than local brand…top up a little bit can get entry merc….whoever buy this either not using his own money or otak tak ada akal :p
No ACC, AEB, no talk! Come on, this car, with the ACC (and other features related) is among the top models recommended for OpenPilot below Toyotas. Its a shame we dont get the features.