The 2018 Hyundai Sonata officially debuted in South Korea about a month ago, and it is now presented to the US public in New York. The carmaker confirmed a few of the specs and the new Sonata is basically an updated version of the car that was revealed three years ago also at the NY Auto Show.
Even though the Sonata was a competent rival, some people criticized its design. This was partly the reason why the updated version has changed its styling drastically, but there have also been some mechanical as well as safety upgrades. The front grille and the headlights are taken from the smaller and handsome Elantra and Accent models, and the Sonata Sport 2.0T comes with the so-called cascading grille that has a mesh pattern.
The Sport 2.0T received dark chrome molding for the lower side body, door handles and rear lamp molding, all the tweaks meant to separate it from the regular Sonata. This 2.0T model is called the Sonata Turbo in other markets in the world and chrome adorns the rear diffuser and dual exhaust tips as well.
2018 Hyundai Sonata Interior
Inside the cabin of this vehicle we have the new controls for the climate functions have been added and the center stack looks slightly different. Above it, you can see the standard 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but a larger 8.0-inch is optional. You can also choose a different steering wheel design whereas in the Sport 2.0T, the one with the flat bottom is offered and the passengers can place themselves comfortably in the bolstered front seats.
There are also new connectivity features such as an additional USB charging port which is positioned at the rear of the center console, while the wireless charging pad is also available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, of course, integral equipment of the new Sonata and we should also mention the navigation systems which is equipped with a bird’s eye view feature, traffic flow and incident data.
Engine
The engine lineup is carried over, with the only change being the replacement of the six-speed auto with an 8-speed automatic transmission on the versions that are powered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 unit good for 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Models with this engine, one of which is the Sonata Sport 2.0T, come with 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin tires.
The chassis has been improved as well, which means that the ride quality and handling on the 2018 Hyundai Sonata are better. Some of the modifications include the addition of the thicker rear suspension components, new bushings, and recalibrated steering. Safety tech includes lane departure warning, seven airbags, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist.
