Hyundai Malaysia lineup has received another quick update, this time in the form of the 2020 Sonata. The company initially previewed the sedan giving us a hint of its soon arrival and now it's finally here. Locally, the D-segment sedan will be available as a fully-imported unit from South Korea and will give tough competition to the likes of Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. This time around, the highlighting part of the deal is the car's updated design language. Also, there are some noteworthy inclusions in the cabin and safety feature side.

The 2020 Sonata is available in one variant option, 2.5 Premium. It retails for RM 206,888 (with 100% SST), however, under an introductory offer, Hyundai is selling the 50 units for RM 189,888 (with 50% SST).

In this “first impression” story, we’ll cover all the key aspects of the 8th generation Sonata. Thus giving prospective buyers a better idea of Hyundai's latest sedan that’s loved and preferred by customers both locally and globally.

New Sonata Dimensions

In terms of size, the Sonata is the biggest offering in the segment. It measures 4,900 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,445 mm in height. With a wheelbase of 2,840 mm, the Sonata ensures a spacious cabin with ample legroom. The boot space of 510-litre is super-travel friendly with the 60:40 rear seat only enhancing the cargo capacity.

New Sonata design theme

There is so much to talk about here, as the new Sonata is the first car in the brand's lineup to feature Hyundai's Sensuous Purity design language. The front profile is dominated by a massive Cascading grille, followed by sharp full-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights that soften the design along the chrome strip on the bonnet. Speaking of DRLs, when switched-off the strips appear silver (chrome), it was made possible via laser-etched perforations.

The side features sharp contour lines running through-out the car's length. Further, the chrome window outlining adds to its premium touch. The D-segment sedan rolls on multi spoke 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45 Continental PremiumContact 6 tyres.

The rear gets full-LED tail lamps with continuous LED strips running across the car's bonnet. Also, the car gets a roof-mounted third brake light, integrated ducktail spoiler, diffuser, and Sonata script on the tailgate.

The 2020 Sonata is offered in six exterior paint options, including Flame Red, White Cream, Nocturne Grey, Shimmering Silver, Midnight Black, and Oxford Blue.

New Sonata cabin

Hyundai has blessed the Sonata sedan with best-in-class features that contribute towards making the journey (small or short) leisure-some. Included in its long list of features is -

• 12.3-inch digital instrument panel
• 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen head unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
• Head-up display projected on the windscreen
• Automatic dual-zone climate control
• Qi wireless charging pod with cooling function
• Electronic parking brake
• Four-button shift-by-wire gear selector

Also, part of the new Sonata's kit is a large panoramic glass roof that lights up the cabin in the morning and at night let everyone enjoy the night sky. Further, the comfort factor is added by an eight-way powered driver's seat with memory function and two-way lumbar adjustment, four-way powered front passenger seat, rear vents, two USM ports (front and back), and electronic rearview mirror.

New Sonata engine

The D-segment sedan draws power from a 2.5-litre Smartstream four-cylinder MPI petrol engine that pumps out a maximum power of 180 PS and a peak torque of 232 Nm. The mill is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles that sends power to the front wheels. The gear selection is controlled via a shift-by-wire selector that makes for a more precise and safer gear change, plus its smaller size clears up valuable centre console space. Hyundai has added the push-button convenience to its electronic parking brake system that comes with auto-hold, allowing the driver to remove his foot from the brake pedal during halts.

New Sonata Safety

Thanks to the new Sonata's 24 kg lighter weight and rigid body structure made using high-specification steel alloys, the sedan meets and in many cases even exceeds the toughest crash safety tests standards globally. The car's safety kit includes -

• Six airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Hill-start assist
• ESC
• Vehicle stability management
• 360-degree surround-view camera
• Blind-spot view monitor (with two 50-degree side cameras)

What we miss, however, is the Hyundai SmartSense suite of advanced driver-assist system that includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and autonomous emergency braking.

New Sonata price

As far as pricing is concerned, the Hyundai Sonata is priced at RM 206,888 with full 100% SST. Each purchase comes with a five-year or 300,000 km warranty coverage.

Also Read: Hyundai Kona launched in Malaysia, price starts at RM 115,888