Hyundai Sonata

Design and Quality

There is a lot to the cabin of this sedan, which makes it shine in the segment. And, broadly speaking, Hyundai is a step ahead when it comes to offering greater features and elegant design, all of which is visible. You won’t take a long time to figure that you, in fact, it is quite on your face the moment you’re in. The first thing you notice is the curved panoramic display, which looks futuristic but has a user-friendly interface. The quality of materials feels properly upmarket, with soft-touch panels where your hands naturally fall. The latest facelift brings a larger screen and mood lighting that really is pretty awesome in night drives. The seats feel solid and supportive, with ventilation, and you get almost everything covered. I’m not surprised that the cabin is insulated, shutting out most of the outside noise. It is subjective and also brand preference, but we feel that if you compare it with the Camry or Accord, the Sonata feels more audacious in design, yet just as refined at a more affordable price.

Front Seat

The driver’s seat is one of those places you could sit for hours without feeling tired; we really mean it from our experience. With power adjustments and memory, it is easy to find the right driving position quickly. The ventilation is a lifesaver in the heat, cooling down faster than you expect. The steering wheel feels solid, with controls that are simple to learn and use. The slightly higher seating compared to some rivals gives you a clearer view of the road ahead, which makes city driving less stressful. So, you get that feel of a premium and comfortable car than most buyers might expect in this segment.

Rear Seat

The rear bench is surprisingly generous when it comes to space, with enough legroom for tall passengers. A flat floor makes it more comfortable for a third person in the middle, which is often where sedans compromise. Perhaps, Hyundai made some extra efforts to overcome it. From the family’s perspective, as a big segment of the buyer, the space feels more than adequate, though on very long drives, the middle seat can get pretty secure. The rear AC vents are great, and nobody would hardly complain about the kind of cool cabin. The USB ports are within reach, which makes the rear practical, comfortable, and well thought-out.

Storage Options

Practicality doesn’t take a back seat here, and Hyundai knows well how much customers value it. And so, there are plenty of smart spaces, including a well-lit glovebox, good-sized door bins, and a deep centre console that fit all daily essentials easily. The cup holders are well placed, both in the front and rear, and the rear armrest has them nicely combined. No doubt, the Sonata checks all the right boxes when it comes to usable storage space for everyday driving.

Charging Options

It goes without saying that keeping devices powered is easy in the Sonata. You get USB-A and USB-C ports up front and in the rear, so everyone has access without needing adapters. The wireless charging is also standard, and it holds the phone in place nicely without overheating, even during long drives. For families or anyone juggling multiple devices, this setup feels modern and practical.

Boot Space

One of the benefits of a sedan is the size of the boot, and the Sonata’s boot is generous at 453 litres in capacity. What makes it handy is the wide opening and flat floor. Loading anything, be it groceries, strollers, or a couple of medium suitcases, is effortless, and you don’t need to bend awkwardly. On families, it swallows weekend bags with room to spare. The layout is practical, with space that feels deeper than numbers suggest. For daily life or long trips, it’s more than enough, unless you’re carrying bulky sports gear.

• 6 Drive and Passenger Airbags 
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Remote Smart Parking Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Safe Exit Assist
• Reverse Cross-Traffic Collision Warning

• Highway Driving Assist

• Lane Keep Assist 

• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ISOFIX anchors
• Door courtesy lamp

Frankly, there isn’t any doubt about the stylish look of this sedan; Sonata doesn’t just blend in, it really makes people look twice. The proportions are elegant, long enough to make its presence felt, but still easy to manoeuvre on city roads. At just over 1.45 meters tall, it is low and sleek, which helps the sporty look. It has those sharper lights and a more sculpted grille, which not only look smart but also help airflow.

Hyundai has worked on it well over the years, and even little details like the roofline, which flows into a fastback style, make it feel more premium in its segment, or rather, a segment above. So, the exterior design underlines the fact that this mid-size sedan combines practicality with luxury and serves as a reliable daily commuter with ease.

Front

Up front, the Sonata has a distinctive face that feels refined and contemporary. The grille is wide and commanding, while the slim LED headlights add to the design. Those new pixel accents come up on your face and provide a futuristic vibe. The parametric jewel grille gives it a great visual appearance that enhances its modern appeal. Slim, horizontally-stretched LED headlights seamlessly integrate into the grille design, making the front fascia a sleek, connected look. The front bumper features sharp lines and sporty accents, contributing to an aggressive stance on the road. From the driver’s seat, you can actually see the hood creases, which gives you the real breath of size and control. 

Side

You’ll definitely appreciate Hyundai’s design from the side profiles. The Sonata has this flowing design that gives it a coupe-like look but doesn’t really miss its practicality. The long wheelbase comes into action with great stability, especially when crosswinds pick up on open stretches. Visibility isn’t a problem; the windows are big and nicely designed, which adds to the overall side profile look.  The doors open wide, making it easy to get in and out, especially for the older family members or kids, and that enhances its family utility. The chrome accents on the mirrors and along the beltline serve the purpose of making it look premium without the feel of too many design elements. The body panels catch reflections nicely at sunset, and at night, it also feels attractive with its body characteristics attracting attention.

Rear

At the rear, the Sonata also scores well with great angles and overall merging into the exterior. The LED light bar, most common across the Hyundai line, goes all the way across, making the rear look quite appealing at night. I wouldn’t call the rear very flashy, but certainly polished. A subtle lip spoiler is there for sportiness, and for ease of parking, there are sensors and a camera at the rear.  The boot door looks well integrated and easy to open as well, serving a practical and overall appearance.

City Performance

No matter which city you’re driving in, the Sonata feels more agile, and that makes it ideal for city driving. What makes that way is the light steering, which is quite effortless when going through crowded roads or busy traffic, or pulling U-turns or parking at the right spots. The brakes give you confidence, and the cabin is a lot quieter. The powertrain, comprising a 2.5L engine, pulls smoothly off the line, feels lively. What stands out is how relaxed it feels in bumper traffic as the auto gearbox works smoothly, so you don’t end up tired after a day of stop-start runs, certainly a huge relief. 

Highway Performance

Out on the highway, the Sonata is equally exciting and fun to drive. No matter the speed, it feels solidly settled, and you don’t feel any concern even when it's rainy or windy outside. The main difference you‘ll find is the engine. While the base engine is perfectly fine for steady cruising, the N Line with 286 hp makes overtaking just like that, and you won’t stop feeling awesome when you need quick power. Also, long inter-city trips for work or families are easier, where you can utilise the cruise control, which takes the strain out of holding speed for hours. The cabin, as I said earlier, is silent for the most part, and you enjoy every moment on the highway without the noise of wind or tires or roads..

Ride and Handling

Sonata is a mid-size luxury sedan, which means comfort is well taken care of, as is visible through the key ride and handling elements. Starting from the suspension, they’re quite remarkably tuned to ensure you’re always at ease, no matter the road conditions. And, so, on most of the rough patches or potholes that we encounter in our cities, Sonata stays composed, cushioning most jolts without making passengers uneasy. On the N Line, you do feel a sportier car; the sedan sits flatter in corners, and body roll is less noticeable, but the sharper one you might feel. The steering is good, which makes handling a little light, through city speeds, on the highway, it gives you that nicer, firmer feel.  nicely weighted on highways so you feel secure at speed. The grip levels are solid, even on sandy stretches or uneven roads. We took the Sonata on an intercity trip from Jeddah to Mecca and then Medina, and these rather long road trips, even after driving for hours in one go, you hardly feel tired, and so, this makes you realise just like we did, how easy the Sonata is to drive on long stretches. It's not completely sporty, but sure is stable, and quietly capable.

• Panoramic curved display (12.3-inch)

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with heads-up display

• 16-19-inch alloys

• Pure leather seats with ventilation
• Full touch AC controller

• Bose premium audio

• Keyless entry with Digital Key

• Smartphone wireless charger
• Power rear sunshade
• Smart power trunk
• Column-type shift by wire
• Electrically controlled Ride Comfort

• Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control

Sayarabay Recommendation

The Sonata is available in as many as seven different variants, and hence a lot to choose from. After studying all of them across key parameters, our recommendation is the Comfort variants, which are priced at SAR 122,535. And, here are the reasons: first, it has what an average buyer of this segment really wants. It strikes a balance between luxury with features like Bose audio, ventilated seats, etc and practicality with superior mileage, spacious cabin, bigger size boot along with comfort and convenience. This is obvious if you aren’t looking specifically for the sporty features of the N Line, in that case the selection is different, as it carries some unique additions of refinement, price and features.

So, what is our final take on this rather globally recognised nameplate from the Korean brand? Well, the Sonata seems to have evolved a lot, and it hardly feels like it carries such a long legacy, simply because there isn’t any historical trace other than the name. This means the newest Sonata, which retails in KSA right now, is a sedan to reckon with. With its sharp facelift, roomy cabin, and tech touches like the curved display, it feels more high-end than it actually is, taking into account the price you’re getting at. If your use is for the city, it is smooth and easy, while on highways, it maintains steady and efficient, with trims ranging from economical hybrids to the lively N Line for enthusiasts, catering for everyone. What it delivers is comfort, safety, and value in one package, and therefore, should be on every prospective buyer's list in the segment. 

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