2020 Hyundai Sonata Review

The next-generation 2020 Hyundai Sonata pushes the design envelope for Hyundai and brings a ton of new technology features to the table. Hyundai's midsize sedan has been redesigned and comprehensively upgraded to make it stand out from the crowd, and stand out it will.

Hyundai has changed the Sonata's dimensions, making it about an inch lower in height and an inch wider. The front and rear wheels are also pushed a little bit farther apart, and the car is almost 2 inches longer. Along with a longer hood and aggressively styled grille, the new Sonata looks significantly sportier.

The new daytime running lights are a neat visual element. They trace the underside of the front headlights and then stretch up over the hood, looking like nothing else on the road. When switched off, the lighting strips create a reflective surface that's integrated into the chrome strips running along the hood.

A lot of engineering work went into making a stronger, lightweight frame that could wear this more striking design, and it's paid off. The 2020 Sonata certainly stands out on the road. But can it back up those looks?

Yes. At launch, two engines will be available. Last year's base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine has been replaced with a new 2.5-liter non-turbocharged four-cylinder. Power has increased moderately, up to 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai says fuel economy is also better and that the engine should get 33 mpg in combined driving, compared to the previous engine's 29 mpg combined.

Higher Sonata trim levels will get an updated version of the turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that was available previously. For 2020, it makes 180 hp (an improvement of 2 hp over last year) and the same 195 lb-ft of torque. That torque is fully available from a lower engine rpm than before (just 1,500 rpm now), which makes it much more usable for most drivers. Hyundai expects fuel economy to remain unchanged at 31 mpg in combined driving.

A sportier version of the Sonata, called Sonata N-Line, will arrive late next year as a 2021 model. It will use a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder (290 hp, 310 lb-ft of torque) and pair with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N-Line will also offer unique performance-oriented suspension tuning and styling.

A high-performance Sonata will be a curious exercise, much like Toyota's 301-hp V6-powered Camry TRD or the less explosive Honda Accord 2.0T Sport. You don't expect fireworks from mainstream midsize family sedans, but Hyundai's pursuit of the idea, simply because it can, gives us the warm fuzzies. Alas, there's no sweet spot between the sensible power numbers of the new engines and the more irresponsibility-inducing possibilities of the forthcoming N-Line.

Also missing are the hybrid and PHEV powertrains. Hyundai has suggested it will be introducing updated hybrid powertrains at some point in the near future, so we expect the Sonata won't see an electrified powertrain option until after that announcement.

We expect Hyundai vehicles to offer a good feature set for their price, and the Sonata certainly has plenty of features available. The base car is equipped with active safety features, including automatic emergency braking, high-beam assist and adaptive cruise control. Hyundai's new version of lane centering, Lane Follow Assist, is also standard equipment. Move up one trim level, and you'll also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. At the top of the range, the Sonata sports a full surround-view camera and blind-spot cameras that activate when you turn on your blinker.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the basic 8-inch touchscreen. In higher trims, you can get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, leather seating, ventilated front seats and a digital gauge cluster. And the Sonata can be upgraded with a new 12-speaker Bose stereo — one of several firsts for Hyundai debuting in the Sonata.

One of the features we saw that illustrated how thoughtful Hyundai has been about the new Sonata is the ventilated wireless charging pad, which is designed to keep your devices from heating up too much when in use.

On top of the new stereo partnership and updates to active safety features, two technologies debut on the Sonata that will roll out across more of the lineup in the future. The first is a remote park-assist feature, which lets you direct the car to move forward or backward using buttons on the key fob. It's designed to make it easier to park the Sonata in a tight space or a narrow garage. The car will even automatically make minor steering adjustments, so you don't have to worry about being perfectly lined up with the space.

The Sonata moves very slowly in park-assist mode, so it's not a great solution for every parking lot. But in a pinch, it means you can utilize spaces that would be too narrow to allow you to get in or out of the car easily.

The second new technology is the debut of Hyundai's digital key, an app that lets you use your phone as a key. To ensure greater security and quicker response time, Hyundai's digital key doesn't connect to the car through the cloud. Instead, it uses Bluetooth and NFC communication to enable access. This route means you either have to push a button in the app to unlock the car or tap your phone against the door handle. You'll also have to place your phone in the wireless charging slot to start the car.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's reliance on NFC to make its digital key work means it's not currently compatible with iPhones. Hyundai does say it is working on partnering with Apple to enable its app, but for right now it only works on Android devices.

Some drawbacks aside, the digital phone key has a few neat extra features. You can share your key with anyone you choose and decide how much access to allow. For example, you can grant your teen permission to unlock the car to gain access to something left in the back seat without also giving him or her permission to start the engine. You can set a time limit for how long the key works, such as when you lend your car to a friend for a weekend or give a repair shop access for 24 hours.

The digital key also finally enables driver profiles. Honda lets drivers attach their profiles to specific key fobs that remember seating position and a few other settings, something Hyundai hasn't offered in the past. Hyundai's digital key gives you a broader range of preferred settings. And it allows you to adjust those settings from the app, so you don't even need to be in the car to set your favorite radio stations for your next drive.

Overall, we think that we'd likely stick with the key fob for most driving since proximity entry and push-button start take fewer steps. But you can hold on to your key fob and still share the digital key with other friends or family members, making it a nice convenience for some buyers.

First off, the 2020 Sonata, at least with the 1.6-liter engine, doesn't quite have the guts to live up to its sporty looks. For most drivers, this won't be an issue: The engine's low-end torque means the Sonata feels snappy enough off the line. Like many small turbocharged engines, however, this one runs out of juice as you approach the redline.

The Sonata's eight-speed automatic is generally smooth, and the delay between asking the car for more power and the transmission downshifting is pretty minimal. The combination of the eight-speed and 1.6-liter engine is easy to drive and reasonably efficient, but it won't set anyone's pants on fire. If you want speed, you're better off waiting for the N-Line or opting for a competitor with a punchier motor.

Our drive route featured mostly long, sweeping ribbons of Arizona state highway in various states of repair. The Sonata certainly feels planted and stable, and it changes direction firmly with good body control. The all-season tires can only offer so much grip in turns, though. Swapping them out for a moderate performance tire would wake up the Sonata even more.

The Sonata's steering also has more heft than the rival Accord's. But, as in the Accord, the steering seemed to lack feedback from the road. Still, it's quick and precise, and the weight makes it feel a bit sportier.

More impressive is how Hyundai has improved the Sonata's ride quality. The all-new chassis and suspension have elevated the Sonata's road comfort, even on the chewiest parts of the Grand Canyon State's weather-beaten roads, to a level on par with the class benchmarks. The harsher quality of earlier Sonatas remained one of the few areas where its Honda and Toyota rivals held the advantage. This new Sonata has closed the gap considerably.

We'll reserve final judgment for when we can complete a full in-house test of the 2020 Sonata. But our initial verdict is that it's still a perfectly capable performer for most sedan shoppers, and an even more compelling alternative to the Accord, Camry and Altima. Drivers looking for a little extra fizz will likely still be better served by something such as the Mazda 6.

We also had a chance to drive an early N-Line prototype around the genteel streets of Scottsdale, Arizona. Hyundai engineers on hand were at pains to remind us that the car had been built only days before and that everything about it was a work in progress. So while we'll need to wait to fully appreciate the N-Line's handling and power upgrades, we were able to give it the spurs briefly around a boulevard corner and a short empty stretch of road.

Clearly there's still a bit of work needed to smooth out the prototype's power delivery and transmission shifts. But it's also clear that this Sonata surges forward with more urgency than the standard car. We didn't notice any torque steer (which is the propensity of the steering in a high-power front-wheel-drive car to squirm left or right when you accelerate at full throttle) but we weren't availing ourselves of all N-Line's 290 horses, either. For what it's worth, Hyundai officials say the company has no plans for an all-wheel-drive Sonata. 

The new Sonata's interior impressed us with its thoughtfulness and ease of use, although once again it's worth mentioning we only sampled the Limited trim. We also found the interior design distinctly modern and inviting.

The new climate controls are simple. In just a few hours, we found we'd mastered them enough to make adjustments with hardly a glance away from the road. The big, high-mounted infotainment screen is likewise easy to use and very sharp-looking.

The new push-button shifter makes the cabin feel even more open, and it improves access to the tray that houses the wireless charging pad at the base of the center console. Hyundai engineers also worked hard to make room for a pocket that runs the entire length of the front armrests, acting as both a convenient grab handle for passengers of any height and as a space for small items.

While the Sonata has less rear legroom than the Accord on paper, we found it more than adequate. A 6-foot passenger has space to fit comfortably behind a 6-foot driver, thanks in part to the generous toe boxes under the front seatbacks.

The interior is also relatively quiet, with little wind noise and good isolation from traffic for the class. We did experience some tire and road noise over some stretches of pavement, but less than what we expect to hear in something like the Camry.

Overall, the clean design, user-friendly controls and small-item storage solutions are definite strengths. However, after a few hours in the car, we found the driver's seat began to wear on us a bit, something we don't expect from a Hyundai. And while most touch points are handled with improved materials, there were plenty of spots that seemed a bit plasticky. Again, this isn't unusual for the segment, but we remain mindful that some competitors do a better job of conveying a near-luxury feel in their top trim levels.

The midsize sedan segment is still very popular with American shoppers regardless of what you might hear about the death of cars. Not only is the sedan popular, but sedan shoppers are very loyal to the body style, with more than half saying they want a sedan for their next car. Honda and Toyota dominate the midsize sedan market right now, with Nissan running third and Hyundai looking to make more inroads into the segment.

Hyundai also still has to overcome an awareness gap compared to its competitors. Older buyers remember the rattly econoboxes of the '80s and '90s with scant fondness, and younger buyers are more aware of Japanese mainstays than the South Korean brand.

Sonata is Hyundai's most recognized nameplate, so it's a logical place to not only fight for more sedan buyers but to also make a gambit for building the brand's image. The sportier and more striking design, thoughtful interior setup, and extensive selection of technology features are designed to win over new and younger sedan buyers and get people thinking about Hyundai in a new way.

Our top pick in the midsize-sedan segment is the Honda Accord. Honda did an amazing job redesigning the Accord and made this generation one of the more impressive vehicles on the road. It offers a level of refinement and practicality that is hard to match for the money.

There's also the segment sales leader, the Toyota Camry. Sure, this generation Camry is rather rough around the edges and lagging behind the field in terms of technology features (other than its standard safety suite, of course). But its popularity endures thanks to its roominess and efficiency as well as Toyota's reputation for worry-free ownership.

Trim for trim, the Sonata stacks up favorably against its top competitors, offering features that buyers want without the need to upgrade to a top trim level. And starting around $700-$1,000 less than its primary competitors, the Sonata remains a strong value proposition.

An all-new platform and design typically mean an all-new price, and so it is with the 2020 Sonata. Starting prices throughout the lineup rise about $1,000 or more, depending on trim level. The topped-out Limited trim comes in at a bit more than $34,000, a number that's uncomfortably close to the threshold where the mainstream market ends and the luxury class begins.

Offering strong value will remain part of the 2020 Sonata's success. And despite an escalating price tag, the features, performance and overall improved refinement should keep the Sonata on the right side with buyers. Relative to what you get, the Sonata is a very good car at a bargain price.