Photos – Hyundai Sonata Facelift Revealed

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When it comes to D -segment / Mid-size sedans, you can’t go wrong with Accord or Camry. Unfortunately, both options are only available as CBU/ Imported in Pakistan, provided you have a huge budget to afford one. But then globally, in D-segment, there are some other offerings as well and for example, like Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai’s first generation Sonata came into being in 1985. Since then, it has been one of the brand’s best-selling global models, and it can be understood from the fact that the model collected over 9 Million global sales since its first generation and now Hyundai Sonata facelift is here. 

DN8 – Current Generation & Rumors

The current 8th generation Sonata Chassis code “DN8” was revealed in early 2019 in overseas markets while it went for sale in Pakistan in July 2021. A locally assembled Sonata was a pleasant surprise from a local company and has collected a lot of attention in Pakistan, especially considering this is the first entry in the country for the segment. The 8th gen Sonata is well-praised and has won numerous awards since its arrival.

Although Sonata remained a best seller in the Korean market for many years and was known as a “People’s car, “the 8th gen model took a swing statistically. In Korea, where it used to be the top-selling model dropped to number 5th place and lost nearly 30% of sales year-to-year. Hyundai even slowed down the production of the Sonata because of low sales, and basically, the assembly line was shut down. The global Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, overall styling, and the exterior design, which is very polarizing and didn’t attract consumers, were the primary reasons for low sales. 

Hyundai Sonata’s Declining Sales 

While the virus attacked humans and now has a cure in the form of a vaccine, globally, the sedans are attacked by the Crossover Utility Vehicles/ SUVs and conventional sedans or becoming endangered species & their sales are sliding and can be one of the reasons for sluggish sales for Sonata. For example, in North America, one of the largest D-segment sedan markets, the 6th generation Sonata tipped over 200,000 units a year in sales with its outstanding styling and driving dynamics.

The 7th generation didn’t perform, but it still touched an average of around 150,000 units a year for its lifecycle. But when it comes to 8th, Sonata could not cross the 90,000 mark a year in the United States. So much so Hyundai sold only 52,140 units in 2022. In contrast, Toyota sold almost 300,000 units of Camry in 2022, and Honda sold 154,000 units of the US Accord.

For around a year, there had been conflicting unofficial reports from Korea and various automotive blogs regarding the fate of the current 8th-generation Sonata. Initially, it was reported that Hyundai was working on the facelift model, but then it appeared that the mid-cycle planned facelift of the DN8 was canceled, and Hyundai will work on the 9th generation model and it will appear earlier than the end of DN8 life cycle. Alongside these reports, one more piece of information was floating around, Hyundai will put the Sonata nameplate to rest, and we might not see a replacement new generation model.

Please remember that there is no official word from Hyundai in this regard, but Hyundai Group is aggressively pushing toward the EV market and plans to sell 3 million units globally by 2030. This will shake up the current model portfolio for Hyundai and Kia brands and might drop the number of slow-selling models, including Sonata, and Kia K5, a nonidentical twin of Sonata.

We already know that Kia Stinger’s days are numbered while Hyundai and Kia are retooling their assembly line for award-winning EV models like Ioniq-5, Ioniq-6, and Kia EV while dozen more models are in the pipeline, including a 3-row SUV.

New Exterior of Hyundai Sonata Facelift 

Rumors & speculation died when a camouflaged Hyundai Sonata was spotted earlier this year in Korea, which confirmed that the Sonata is getting a mid-cycle makeover. The 8th generation model is an entirely new design philosophy & adopted Hyundai’s “Sensuous Sportiness” design language with a 4-door coupe profile.

In fact, DN8 Sonata was the first model adopting the new design parameters for the brand, but the facelift has refined the design philosophy to the next level. Normally a facelift for a model generally and visually comes with minor exterior & interior updates. Still, in the case of Sonata, there are some new interesting design elements and extensive changes on the exterior, and we can say a major makeover. It didn’t carry over many things from the pre-facelift model.

 

The available official pictures show a complete overhaul of the front fascia with a new bumper and bonnet. The current catfish-like frontal appearance has gone and adopted a simpler and modern look. There is a new bumper, new headlights, and the newly designed slim horizontally designed LED bar as DRL.

The Hyundai emblem is now positioned on the bonnet. We can say that the facelifted Sonata seems to be influenced by the Hyundai Staria van or the newly released Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Grandeur. Gone are the days of the most talked about signature lighting feature of the current Sonata, the hidden DRL lighting strip, which extends with the hood’s profile, is no more.

There is a redesigned rear tealights & the trunk portion is also newly profiled with a new cutline. The slim LED light bar across the trunk remains, but its orientation is changed now with H-pattern. The side profile obviously remains intact, although we can see a new wheel design for the regular and the N- Line version, which is the hardcore performance variant of Sonata.

New Interior Of Sonata Facelift:

Like extensive exterior design upgrades, there are massive upgrades on the interior with a new fully digital instrument cluster. There will be a 12.3 inches instrument panel extended into another 12.3 inches infotainment system, creating a panoramic curved display.

The central console gets a new design, and the gear shift by wire selector has been moved to the steering column, now having a stalk. This results in improved storage space in the center and less cluttered. The central armrest also gets a new design with an extended surface area. The air vents are also new, elongated, and slim across the dashboard’s width. The facelift also receives a new steering wheel and touch-type climate control panel, giving Sonata a premium look.

Overall the interior is futuristic, sporty, and modern. Hyundai says, “The interior has undergone significant upgrades for an improved passenger experience with tasteful interior color combinations to enhance the sense of sportiness and premium character simultaneously. “

Global Reveal and Pakistan:

Hyundai Global revealed the first pictures of the facelift just today. The 8th gen made a global preview at NY Auto-show in April 2019, and we may see the facelifted model for public view at the upcoming New York Auto-show in April 2023; again, there is no official word.

The facelift Sonata will be sold in North America and its home country Korea later this year as model year 2024. It is also pertinent to mention that the news of the discontinuation of Sonata from the global lineup is still firm. Unfortunately, Sonata followers might not see any next, that is, the 9th generation. I hope we are wrong.

As for Pakistan, I don’t expect a facelift landing in the country for at least a year after the global reveal, so we can relax for some time. Additionally, the current restriction on imports and the devaluation of PKR further complicate the situation. Hyundai Nishat was faced with extensive criticism for launching an older Elantra and Tucson, but the arrival of the newer DN8 Sonata helped recover consumer acceptance and trust in the local company.

It looks like it was easier for Nishat to introduce the newer Sonata because of low sales in Korea / North America and the easy and early availability of CKD kits and other plant machinery.

Anyways, what’s, are your thoughts on the Hyundai Sonata facelift? Tell us in the comments section. 

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1 Comment
  1. Waqas says

    It is a huge facelift, since it is the same platform and engine it won’t come in Pakistan.
    Hyundai Nishat should launch the Palisade.

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