Hyundai Sonata 2015 Review - International

A very quick lap of Hyundai's 14-lane, dead-straight and dead-flat Namyang test road isn’t going to tell us a whole lot about Hyundai’s seventh-generation Sonata. But what little we did get to sample, we liked. And here’s why.

Firstly, the car’s fit and finish is now at a level that would give pseudo-prestige European marques a run for their money -- and that extends to the quality of materials, instrumentation and switchgear tactility within the oh-so-quiet cabin.

Secondly, it's under acceleration that the Sonata’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matches so well to its six-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission that the gearshifts are nigh-on imperceptible, and there’s not many in the category we can say that about.

The Sonata had no trouble hitting 100km/h and, at a guess, I’d say the dash took just south of nine seconds.

OK, so we didn’t get to take in any corners of note and the U-turn at the end was slow enough that we couldn’t really get a feel for the Sonata’s dynamics. However, the steering weight feels consistent and quick enough for the job. The brakes, too, are well metered and offer a decent level of assistance.

Cabin space was equally generous across the front and rear rows, with very good entry and egress through largish door apertures. There was enough head, knee and legroom up back to allow two adults to sit comfortably side-by-side for long trips, while a third could squeeze between for the odd run down the street.

The Sonata sampled was of high trim grade, approximating equipment levels found in the Santa Fe Highlander (cruise control, dual-zone climate, sat-nav, eight-inch touchscreen, heated leather seats with memory, auto brake hold, etc).

Hyundai says Australian models will come only with petrol power -- including the 143kW/241Nm 2.4-litre Theta II direct-injected unit sampled here, and a nippier 183kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo four (also from the Theta II engine family).

In some markets, the 2.0T is even offered with sports suspension and larger front disc brakes.

The Mk7 Sonata embodies Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language, as premiered on the new flagship Genesis luxury sedan.

Stiffer, more aerodynamic (0.27Cd) and with a higher level of standard safety equipment -- including a long list of electronic driver aids as offered in the Genesis -- the Sonata is set to challenge the Toyota Camry and Mazda6 in the upper-medium segment.

Australia will get its first taste of the Sonata early next year, with full pricing and specification details expected to be announced before the end of 2014.