This sharp looking Hyundai sedan finally makes it to Malaysia.
It seems that Hyundai Malaysia is set for a big shakeup within its lineup. Not long after announcing the (long-awaited) arrival of its Kona compact SUV, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) have officially announced that they will be launching the latest iteration of Hyundai Sonata here too later this year.
Previewed by the motoring press during the Kona test drive session a few days ago, Hyundai are now officially opening the order books for this 8th generation Hyundai large sedan. A nominal booking fee of RM 888 is all one needs to secure a booking for one of the sharpest looking D-segment saloons in Malaysia.
Launched worldwide in early last year, the Sonata quickly gained a stellar reputation in every market it entered. Hyundai and Kia have long since shed their low-rent image, by making cars that actually could compete with the Japanese and even Europeans. The latest Sonata is just a continuation of the South Korean offensive, attributing multiple international awards to its name since entering the scene.
Design-wise, fair to say that striking is the word most would use to describe it with, especially with its gaping front grille and distinct rear end design. That said, with Luc Donckerwolke, incidentally the man who designed the Lamborghini Murcielago, having a hand in the design of the Sonata, it wouldn’t have been any other way.
Moving on to the interior, the Sonata’s cabin is as premium as you’d expect for a car of this class. The technology is also up there with some of the best in the class too. A heads up display, Qi wireless charging pad, powered boot lid and a panoramic sunroof are standard on this fully imported car from Korea. An 8 inch central infotainment screen with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard too, and so is a 12.3 inch Supervision digital instrument cluster.
What more is that the Blind-spot View Monitoring System is also standard. Feeding live footage from the door-mounted mirrors onto the digital dials when switching lanes or turning.
Continuing on the safety aspect, Hyundai has touted that the Sonata is built from proprietary Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). Thus allegedly making it ‘one of the safest cars in the world’. Six airbags and an advanced tire pressure monitoring system is also included in the extensive list of safety equipment on the Korean sedan.
On the subject of what is under the bonnet, when everyone else is downsizing and turbocharging, Hyundai is going in the complete opposite direction by offering its rather large capacity 2.5 litre naturally aspirated Smartstream four-cylinder as the only propulsion option. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, it delivers 180 hp and 232 Nm of torque through to the front wheels.
No word thus far on the prices of the large Korean sedan yet. If historical evidence is to be any indication however, it should be within the ballpark of its main Japanese rivals. The question now is whether Hyundai will be bringing in the sporty looking N Line variant here too. Regardless, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry better watch out as the Koreans are back in the game.
PRESS RELEASE: The 8th generation, all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata, slated to be launched before the year end, is boldly positioned as the leader of D-segment sedans in terms of design and technological advancements.
“Make no mistake. Hyundai’s roll-out of all its latest models is poised to disrupt the market. The all-new Sonata is no exception. It has surged ahead of competing models in terms of sales in several markets and the awards are accumulating,” said Mr. Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM).
How different is the Sonata vis-à-vis the competition?
“The Sonata’s unique features in the D-segment is patently obvious. One look at it and you can already see that its Sensuous Sportiness exterior design, with its coupe roof line and elegant, sporty body lines, makes this the stand-out car in the segment. The conservative look of the D-segment has been totally discarded. This is a stunning, sporty, long coupe-like sedan for the business executive. Its design was conceived to emote. This is not your average D-segment car,” elaborated Mr. Low.
With its courageous new design, Hyundai’s new Sonata is a statement of intent. Here is a marque that refuses to blend in with the crowd. With every new model, some of the best car designers and creative directors in the world such as Luc Donckerwolke and SangYup Lee have been hired by Hyundai to create cars that move you in more ways than one.
What does the new Sonata bring to the motoring world that will make a difference to drivers?
“The car’s blind-spot-view monitoring assists Sonata drivers with a “live” video feed of the blind spot which is projected onto a video screen on the digital gauge cluster. This is not available in other D-segment sedans,” explained Mr. Low.
“The Sonata, like all Hyundai models, is also one of the safest cars in the world. It is built from Hyundai’s proprietary Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). This stems from our corporate legacy which started as an industrial steel company, forging steel of such robust strength that it was used in the construction of railway tracks, bridges and ships. Now the AHSS is used to build every Hyundai car,” he added.
What can customers look forward to in terms of Hyundai’s new innovations?
The new innovations and cutting-edge technology found in the Sonata include:
- Smartstream G2.5 MPi engine with improved fuel efficiency
- 6-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire feature
- State-of-the-art Hidden Lighting Lamps architecture
- Wireless phone charging with cooling function
What accolades have been bestowed on the new Sonata?
To date, the Sonata has bagged several coveted awards in the US which include “Best Car for Teens” by US News and World Report, “2020 Best Auto Tech Award” by Kelly Blue Book, 2020 NHTSA 5-star Overall Rating, MotorWeek’s “2020 Drivers’ Choice Award” for Best Family Sedan and Wards “10 Best User Experience Award”.
When can customers book the new car?
The Sonata is now open for booking with a fee of RM888 at all Hyundai showrooms nationwide.
