Hyundai Australia has confirmed the facelifted Sonata mid-size sedan will remain a sporty N Line proposition locally, like the current model, once it arrives in the second half of 2023.
This latest development follows the updated Hyundai Sonata‘s physical unveiling at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea.
Hyundai has confirmed the facelifted Sonata N Line will be powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s unclear if this engine has received any tweaks from the current model, which produces 213kW of power and 422Nm of torque.
The Sonata N Line has Active Sound Design, N Powershift, rev matching, and launch control as standard.
Other powertrain options the updated Sonata will be available with globally includes a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol, and a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid. It’s unclear if any of these will make their way to Australia in the future.
Hyundai claims the updated Sonata has improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) due to body reinforcements and a change of steering wheel material.
As previously detailed, the facelifted Sonata wears a new take on the brand’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language, with a distinctive front end that closely resembles the likes of the Staria and Kona.
The front LED light bar is dubbed the ‘Seamless Horizon Lamp’, as it is on other new Hyundai products, and the headlight clusters are now separated and further down from the daytime running light strip.
A similar motif is replicated at the rear, with a full-width tail light bar headlining a range of rear design changes which Hyundai says emphasise the Sonata’s “high-tech image”.
Overall the Sonata presents a more aggressive, futuristic look compared to its predecessor, particularly in N Line guise that builds upon the tailpipe-shaped trims on the standard model with a quad-tipped exhaust treatment, adding to the ducktail-type spoiler lip.
New alloy designs also feature, ranging up to 19 inches in diameter.
Inside, the Sonata’s cockpit has received similarly significant revisions, both in terms of the overall design as well as the tech and trimmings, and features a more horizontal theme.
New for 2024 are dual 12.3-inch displays that are combined in one curved housing, as well as a 12-inch head-up display. The new steering wheel features the brand’s new dotted logo design, which is morse code for ‘H’.
A development of the digitised HVAC controls retains rotary dials for adjusting the temperature, though other functions move to a Genesis-style touch panel display which Hyundai says “boosts the high-tech vibe”.
Other headlining changes include a column-type shift-by-wire selector, freeing up more space in the centre console. Hyundai debuted this style of gear shifter in its Ioniq 5 electric vehicle.
There’s also Hyundai’s Digital Key 2 which allows owners to unlock the Sonata with their phone or smartwatch, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, power boot, and over-the-air updates for the infotainment system.
On the safety front, the updated Sonata comes with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot assist, safe exit warning, rear cross-traffic assist, lane-keep assist, Lane Following Assist, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, navigation-based smart cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, rear occupant alert, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
The updated Hyundai Sonata range comes with a number of exterior paint colours, though it’s unclear just which will come here. These include:
- Aero Silver matte
- Aero Silver metallic
- Abyss Black pearl
- Serenity White pearl
- Atlas White
- Nocturne Grey matte
- Nocturne metallic
- Transmission Blue pearl
- Biophilic Blue pearl
- Ultimate Red metallic
- Cream Beige
- Curated Silver metallic.
There are also a number of interior colour combinations, with the N Line coming with a dark grey interior with red stitching.
At this stage local pricing and specification of the 2024 Hyundai Sonata hasn’t been confirmed yet. It will likely be detailed close to its launch in the second half of this year.
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