Believe it or not, the Sonata is the longest running nameplate for Hyundai. It debuted in the mid-1980s at a time when sedans were starting to grow in popularity. Now though, it will bow out along with the Kia K5 at a time when sedans just aren’t all the rage anymore.
But not before a last-ditch effort is made for buyers to claim a piece of future history. As with Korean brands, the styling is never a mild refresh but a comprehensive rebuff of the design that keeps it in line with the Kona, also brand new for 2024.
Here’s what to expect for the incoming new Hyundai Sonata.
2024 Hyundai Sonata
- Available turbocharged and hybrid options
- Wireless smartphone connectivity
- 12.3-inch dual display
- Engine/Motor: 2.5-liter inline-4
- Horsepower: 191 - 290 hp
- Torque: 181 - 311 lb-ft
- Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed auto, 8-speed dual-clutch, 6-speed auto
- Punchy turbo engine
- Hybrid gas mileage allows 600-plus miles of range
- Value-packed cabin
- That there won't be a Sonata sedan in a few years
- Kia K5 has more features
2024 Hyundai Sonata Rivals The Camry And Accord
A quick refresher, the Sonata is a midsize sedan designed to go head-to-head against the likes of Japanese rivals such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. While never the greatest seller of the segment, it has gobbled up considerable market share over time as Hyundai baked more value and ever more style into the model.
Consumers didn’t start to take notice until the sixth-generation Sonata debuted for 2011. Sales up to that point had hovered a little over 100,000 units per year. Then suddenly, Hyundai moved more than 200,000 for the first time that year. It was then that the Sonata gets a mention in the same breath as a Toyota Camry when recommending a new sedan.
Fast-forward to this decade and the industry frowns upon sedans. SUVs and EVs have taken over the norm. The Sonata is one of the few holdouts in providing affordable transportation for a segment that’s fading out of popularity. While the end of the line is near, it’s not here just yet.
Same Bones, New Face For 2024 Hyundai Sonata
It may look all new, but the 2024 Sonata is actually the eighth-generation model that’s been on sale since 2020. So despite the striking details, the silhouette is identical. The same is true under the skin for the powertrain options that carry over from the 2023 Sonata, meaning the driving experience should be identical to the 2021 SEL model that HotCars drove some years back.
The biggest impression on the front end is the Robocop-like horizontal LED strip that runs across the bumper line. That aids the headlamps now incorporated into the grille. Out back, the molding for the taillight design remains. Instead of a full red-lit element, however, the bumper-wide light design takes on an H-shape LED rear fascia mimicking the smaller Elantra.
New wheel designs are available, with higher-trim Sonatas getting 19-inch upgrades. They continue along the theme of mimicking the flow of motion while standing still. N-Line Sonatas will still get a blade-style cut painted with a two-tone effect.
Inside, enough changes take place to consider as borderline radical. The biggest impact to usability is the relocation of the gear lever which now sits mounted onto the steering wheel column below the wiper stalk. To ease convenience, padding extends forward of the armrest to ensure you don’t lift your forearm in order to change gear.
2024 Hyundai Sonata Interior And Powertrain Options Are Impressive
Otherwise, the rest of the cabin conveys switchgear familiar to the latest Hyundais and Kias. This includes the 12.3-inch dual displays that sit in a single pane similar to the Ioniq5. The difference being that it now curves similarly to the display in the latest Kia Sportage. Expect display size to shrink on lower trims.
Engine options carry over with one exception. The base model brings a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, 2.5-liter turbocharged motor reserved for the N Line, and a hybrid setup that connects a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor good for almost 200 hp. Power numbers should be identical to 2023 which currently sits at 191, 290, and 192 hp respectively.
In order, the transmission choices are an 8-speed automatic, 8-speed dual-clutch automatic for the N Line, and a 6-speed automatic for the hybrid. One notable absence from the 2024 engine lineup is the optional 1.6-liter turbocharged unit available on higher trims of previous Sonatas. That is now gone.
Hyundai is making up for it with a considerable revamp of the interior, increased tech, and new wheel and upholstery options to ensure that the 2024 Sonata is an appealing choice for customers. The 12.3-inch dashboard display is the star of the show. The HVAC controls sit below in an array of physical and touch-sensitive buttons, continuing the futuristic theme of the exterior.
Otherwise, the Sonata retains the goodies that have existed in the sedan for years now. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring should carry over, as is the en suite of safety features to ensure you have a safe driving experience every time. This includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic assist, and a trick safe exit warning system to ensure you can pull out of parallel parking spots with ease.
Expect premium options carry over too. Right now, the Sonata is available with such features like a panoramic sunroof, Bose audio system, 360-degree camera display, smart parking assistance, wireless charging pad, head-up display, and the Hyundai Digital Key, which is a smartphone app dubbing as your key fob. This allows you to adjust your seat and mirror settings as well as unlocking and starting the car. Android users can even share access with other Android users who wish to borrow the car.
2024 Hyundai Sonata Competition Is Fierce
A lot of this stuff is available on the Sonata's familial twin that is the Kia K5. Those yearning for a more luxurious experience will find that the Kia, in addition to the stuff that's mentioned above, is available with even more features like cooled and heated front seats as well as a heated steering wheel and acoustic glass for a quieter highway ride. If all-wheel-drive is a must, the K5 presents that option too.
On the subject of Kia, the 2024 K5 should receive updates soon to follow the Sonata.
Sedans may be on the downturn, but there is still a market and companies continue to show at least one mid-size offering in its lineup. The Honda Accord is recently redesigned. There is the aforementioned Toyota Camry, but also the Nissan Altima, and Subaru Legacy. Every nameplate from the 1990s is still here. The question is for how much longer?
Chevrolet has every inclination to drop the Malibu and the Ford Fusion is long gone. Kia will phase out the Stinger with a limited-run Tribute Edition. Mazda opted not to renew the Mazda6 instead to focus on growing its SUV lineup. The Volkswagen Passat is gone too. With the number of choices dwindling, would it be wise for Hyundai to follow suit?
While we wait for that answer, the 2024 Hyundai Sonata anticipates to go on sale before the end of the year. The price shouldn't change too drastically, which starts at $26,365 for a 2023 model. Those wanting the performance upgrades can expect to fork up at least $35,740 for a Sonata N Line.