Driving Impressions: 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

The Hyundai Sonata Limited remains little changed since its last Driving Impressions review 17 months ago. The interval begs the question why we aren't reviewing a 2022. The answer known to all includes import problems (a third of the Alabama/ Georgia produced Sonata comes from outside the US), chip and labor shortages, and other maladies brought on by a global pandemic. One has to wonder whether late model year autos will sell for lower prices as they sometimes do. This doesn't seem to be happening. List or better seems to be the new car purchase rule. Whether manufactures might skip a production year. Development cycles are deeper than the pandemic's present length. Expect many 22's to debut next year rather than this one. And, of course, one might worry about steep depreciation after the purchase of a new 2021 model bought well into 2022. Alas, I wax philosophic.

Back to the 2021 Sonata Limited. I'm going to recycle and re-print last year's review. I feel no shame. A review of the Hyundai USA corporate website, during this July 21 test reveals one video titled 'Walkaround (One Take) 2020 Sonata' and another comparing the 2020 Sonata SEL with the 2020 Toyota Camry SE and the 2020 Honda Accord Sport.

This year's test reinforced my positive impression of the car. The front LEDs which blend into the hood line, and the taillights which so well integrate into the rear fenders and trunk are styling highlights. Hyundai's use of a real time camera view during lane change is commendable. And the features of the instrument cluster, the heads-up display, and the appropriately placed 10.25 inch touchscreen are straightforward and easy to use. Remotely, I drove the car forward and backward in and out of a simulated tight parking space and looked just as cool as John Krasinski (see Super Bowl 2020 commercial). The one low-tech feature available on lower line Hyundai models I missed in the Sonata was a rotary dial to change radio stations. I'll leave you with last year's review but share that Hyundai has launched an N Line Sonata which features a 290 hp and a multitude of modifications suggested by former BMW M series specialists. I'm looking forward to driving it.

Driving Impressions: 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited (recycled)

This is one tough segment. It's easy to classify – virtually all the midsized sedans ride on a 111 inch wheelbase. Ford and GM have all but abdicated and Toyota Camry continues to dominate with predictable annual US sales in the mid 300,000 range with Honda Accord sales typically trailing by 50-60,000 units. At the time of its 2014 makeover, Hyundai could boast a string of annual Sonata sales numbers topping 200,000. Last year sales were down 60% from those highs.

Enter the gen-8 Sonata with sophisticated tech and rich and detailed styling or as the manufacturer proclaims: 'The sedan is new again'.

Driving Impressions tested the top of the line Limited. The Sonata presented well especially in Quartz White. The contrasting front spoiler, ground effects panels on the sides and rear diffuser seemed like they belonged. The gloss black honeycomb grille is an enhancement (and adorns all Sonatas except the base SE). It's bordered by a pair of black intake grills and body colored functional front fender vents. The usual upper swage line is multi-dimensional extending the silhouette of the rear lights narrowing it across the rear door and then widening again as it dissipates just above the front wheel well.

The lighting package is unique. A continuous bar across the hatch extends vertically, rises horizontally and turns inward as it integrates with the spoiler. Six bullet-like elevations adorn the top of each taillight. Chrome strips atop each front fender draw attention to a lower profile hood line. Hidden within are nearly two-foot long LED strips which fade as they ascend the fenders. They invite a second look. Even the door handles are distinctive with chrome adorning the top and body color on the sides.

The Limited is luxury car rich in features including heated and cooled seats, a wireless cell phone charger with extra cooling to allow high (ten) wattage quick boost, surround view camera which stays engaged in forward view til the Sonata reaches 8 miles an hour, adjustable heads-up display, seat memory, an uncompromised Bose stereo, 12.3 inch instrument display, 10.25 touchscreen, customizable drive modes, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and unique parking assist which can be activated from outside the car. A cell phone app (Digital Key) uses NFC (near field communication) to control the locks and start the car without the use of the standard fob.

A little bit of luxury and a little bit of sport: I was pleased with the car's handling. The Sonata delivers a comfortable ride. Only the harshest bumps seemed to jar the occupants though they did not upset balance. (Some of the ride characteristics might be attributable to the low profile Michelin Primacy A/S's.)

The Sonata was solid in the corners and the precise steering even 'more so' in Sport Mode. The Limited is powered by a 180 HP 1.6-liter turbo four cylinder with patented CVVD – continuously variable valve duration. Certainly allowing the intake and exhaust opening to vary with rpm can optimize performance and economy and ecology but can it do all three simultaneously? Turbo-typical, the Sonata stumbles a bit off the line at full throttle; the Ipad recorded 0-60 times in the high sevens. Once underway, acceleration was brisk as were the shifts of the eight-speed automatic allowing the Sonata the power to pass and merge without hesitation.

The interior is uncluttered and up to date and allows four and occasionally five to travel comfortably with another easily accessed 16.0 cubic feet of storage.

Four levels of Sonata trim are offered. The base SE lists at $24,530; it features standard adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and forward brake assist. A better choice might be the SEL which for $2100 more has a higher horsepower, lower torque (than the turbo) powerplant and a host of additional features including keyless start, dual zone A/C, heated and powered front seats and all-important blind spot monitoring.

In it's top or Limited trim, the Sonata compares favorably with most (?all) luxury entries. A big (10.25) infotainment monitor, a very cool Blind View Monitor which projects a real time image in the ipsilateral guage bezel when the turn signal is activated, and surround view monitoring (enabled by camera, radar and sonar) represent the standards of the future. It checks the boxes of a economy (ave. 31 mpg on regular), warranty- 5yr /60,000 bumper to bumper and price - $34,320 list. Driving Impressions recommends it.

destination

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

Related Posts