Hyundai Sonata 2017 pricing and spec confirmed

Australia’s declining mid-size car segment has been given a shot in the arm with the mid-life refresh of Hyundai’s up-specced Sonata sedan hitting showrooms from $30,990 plus on-road costs.

The Sonata, which shares the medium passenger car segment with its i40 sibling, enters the 2018 model year with sharper styling characterised by the ‘cascading grille’ and slim headlights shared with the smaller i30 model.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) has also deleted the mid-spec Elite version, offering the new Sonata as an entry-level Active at $30,990 plus on-road costs – a rise of $500 on its predecessor – while the flagship Premium remains unchanged at $45,490.

The Sonata adds timely upgrades including a new multimedia system that has an 8.0-inch touchscreen display and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

HMCA says the new transmission helps reduce fuel consumption by 0.7 litres per 100km.

Active variants also gain dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning with automatic defog, push-button start with smart key, automatic boot opening and chrome exterior door handles.

The Premium gets a more comprehensive list of new goodies, including an eight-speed automatic transmission that replaces the six-speed unit which remains on the Active.

HMCA says the new transmission helps reduce fuel consumption of the Premium’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine by 0.7 litres per 100km, bringing the average down to 8.5L/100km.

The new transmission has four driver-select modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart – with the Smart option able to gauge driver and road conditions and automatically switch between the other three modes.

There’s more safety kit in the Premium which adds blind-spot detection, driver attention alert, lane-change assist, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.

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At the rear, the Sonata has a larger bootlid and refreshed tail-light design.

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Premium also now has LED headlights, a driver attention alert system, wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Safety equipment on the Active consists of mandatory electronic traction and stability systems, plus a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

There’s more safety kit in the Premium which adds blind-spot detection, driver attention alert, lane-change assist, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, active cruise control and front parking sensors.

Externally, the new Sonata is identified by the ‘cascading grille’ nose – that has become Hyundai’s calling card on its passenger cars – and a more liberal use of chrome trim.

The look includes narrow headlights set further back into the front fenders, daytime running lights that are now vertical, and a more angled front spoiler.

At the rear, the Sonata has a larger bootlid and refreshed tail-light design.

Hyundai says the new look and updated features list will make the Sonata more competitive in the medium passenger car segment.

The Active variant retains a 138kW/241Nm 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic with an average fuel consumption of 8.3L/100km.

The Premium has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine rated at 180kW with torque up slightly (3Nm) in the new model to 353Nm.

The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension with selective dampers has been tuned for Australian conditions by HMCA.

Hyundai says the new look and updated features list will make the Sonata more competitive in the medium passenger car segment.

In year-to-date sales figures, the Sonata has found 766 buyers – down 44.3 per cent on the same period last year – compared with the Toyota Camry with 18,441 sales, the Mazda6 (2812) and Ford Mondeo (2355).

The sub-$60,000 medium-car segment has been treading water for a few years. In sales to September this year, the segment is down 9.5 per cent.

Will the new look and features add to Sonata’s popularity? Tell us what you think in the comments below.