Approach again after I was a teen, I went to promenade in a Hyundai. I obtained just a little little bit of flak from a few of my associates for not becoming a member of them in a fancy-pants limo, however my date and I made a decision to splurge on a pleasant dinner and share the embarrassment of exhibiting up on the social occasion of the yr in an affordable Korean import.

Oh how instances have modified. The 2018 Hyundai Sonata is one thing my 17-year-old self could be proud to promenade in. It has been redesigned for its eighth technology, with new expertise, sheet steel, suspension elements and transmission.

The Sonata, Hyundai’s midsize sedan, slots in between the price range Elantra and the luxury-focused Azera, which continues to be accessible as a 2017 mannequin. The Sonata is accessible in SE, SEL, Sport and Restricted trim with a naturally aspirated 2.Four-liter engine, however I spent my time within the extra highly effective 2.Zero-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is just accessible within the Sport and Restricted trims.

Each trim degree of the brand new Sonata comes commonplace with blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and lane change assistant. A brand new lane-keep-assist expertise is commonplace on the Restricted 2.0T trim, and accessible on the SEL and Restricted trims. The system gently steers the automobile again into the lane for those who drift exterior the markers with out signaling. It is so light it is robust to really feel it working, but it easily slides the automobile again into correct place on the street.

Hyundai’s adaptive cruise management capabilities properly in stop-and-go visitors, bringing the Sonata to a full cease behind a lead automobile and taking off once more after a quick pause. This function, in addition to emergency automated braking, has the identical availability because the lane-keep-assist expertise. If you’d like driver’s aids commonplace, you must have a look at the Honda Accord, which makes these options commonplace on all trims save for the bottom mannequin. Toyota does one higher, providing this expertise commonplace throughout all trim traces of the brand new 2018 Camry.

Hyundai’s glorious Blue Hyperlink infotainment system is displayed on a 7-inch touchscreen commonplace, though an eight-inch display screen is optionally available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are commonplace, however the former a bit glitchy for me. At first Apple CarPlay would solely learn incoming textual content messages by my cellphone, not the automobile’s audio system. Nevertheless, after plugging and unplugging the cellphone, the issue fastened itself.

Regardless, Blue Hyperlink is fairly slick, with a customizable residence display screen and an optionally available navigation system that features Google native search. One field vacation spot entry permits you to simply discover addresses or factors of curiosity.

There are a number of little tech touches that make the Sonata stand out from the group. Qi wi-fi charging is commonplace on the Restricted 2.0T trim and accessible on Restricted. All however the SE trim have a second-row USB cost port commonplace.

Designs on driving

Though the two.Zero-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is similar as 2017, making 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, the eight-speed automated transmission is all new. However Hyundai did not cease there, revising the rear suspension and steering system to enhance responsiveness and dealing with. On the again roads of northern California, I discovered the Sonata to be a spry little sedan, certainly.

The Sonata’s responsive automated transmission is nice at gear choice. It is wanting to downshift on nook exits and holds the revs for fairly a while, even when driving in Consolation mode. Swap to Sport and the transmission holds them for a bit longer and shifts even faster. There are paddle shifters if you wish to get down and soiled, however left to its personal units this new transmission is likely one of the sportiest I’ve encountered shortly.

Eco mode is not an train in frustration, both. Certain, it upshifts faster for higher fuel mileage,  however it’s removed from annoying. It would downshift simply for passing and when accelerating from a useless cease, in order that it is robust to inform the distinction between Consolation and Eco mode. The naturally aspirated 2.Four-liter engine takes an enormous hit in energy, right down to 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque and mated to the six-speed automated transmission from 2017. I have not sampled this mixture, however presumably the smaller energy output and older transmission would put fairly a damper on the enjoyable.

The recalibrated steering affords fast inputs and a great on-center really feel. There isn’t a torque steer, even upon heavy acceleration from a useless cease and I did not discover any understeer whereas flinging the sedan by the twisties. Very spectacular, Hyundai.

Nevertheless, the Sonata 2.0T fell in need of its EPA mixed gasoline score of 26 miles per gallon. Throughout my week with the sedan, I solely averaged 23.2 mpg. Nevertheless,  I are likely to drive with a rock on my proper foot always, so your mileage could fluctuate.

For 2018 the Sonata will get a brand new aggressive entrance finish, with what the Korean automaker is asking a “cascading grille.” LED daytime working lights at the moment are commonplace on the two.0T trims and the accessible LED headlights with dynamic bending mild are bigger than final yr, bringing much more emphasis to the brand new grille.

Within the rear, the accessible LED taillights are trimmer for 2018 and the license plate has been moved decrease, bringing an uninterrupted, clean line from the highest of the trunk lid to the bumper. A soft-touch button within the heart Hyundai brand opens the trunk. It is fairly cool.

Though the mid-size sedan phase is cooling a bit due to America’s obsession with crossovers, there are nonetheless a lot to select from. The Toyota Camry has been improved for 2018 and could be had with 301 horsepower, though that energy comes at a number of thousand extra. The Honda Accord is priced fairly equally and is accessible with a six-speed handbook transmission, if that is your bag. The Mazda6 has been my sedan of selection, although it was down on energy. Nevertheless, the 2018 mannequin boasts a brand new turbocharged engine for 310 ponies.

How I would spec it

If I had been headed to the dealership, I would just go proper for the two.0T Restricted, if solely as a result of adaptive cruise management is not accessible within the barely inexpensive 2.0T Sport and I cherished the additional energy within the turbocharged engine. Nevertheless, if I had been keen to surrender some hustle, I would have a look at the SEL trim for $23,700 and add the expertise bundle for $1,000, tacking on adaptive cruise management, lane conserving help and automated emergency braking.

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata begins at $22,050 for the bottom SE, however my high of the road Restricted 2.0T strikes that entry level as much as $32,450. Though the motive force’s aids aren’t accessible on all trim traces, it is a enjoyable and inexpensive sedan that stunned me with its agility and beauty.