√2024 Hyundai Sonata facelift unveiled, confirmed for Australia this year

The Hyundai Sonata has been given a makeover to turn around slowing sales, with new styling and technology. It is due in Australia later this year.

The facelifted 2024 Hyundai Sonata sedan is due in Australian showrooms before the end of this year with a new look and features in a bid to reboot the company’s slowest local seller.

Unveiled in South Korea, the updated Sonata is a moderate to significant facelift by Hyundai’s standards, with new front and rear styling and a redesigned dashboard bringing updated techology.

Australia is expected to retain a single N Line variant, after plans for standard or hybrid versions for Australia were scrapped before the current model – which was unveiled four years ago – arrived in local showrooms close to two years ago.

This facelift is expected to give the Sonata at least two to three more years in showrooms, though its future beyond the current generation is unclear, amid declining sedan sales globally.

Standard Hyundai Sonata facelift, not sold in Australia.

The exterior changes are led by a new front end inspired by Hyundai’s latest models – including the Kona small SUV and not-for-Australia Grandeur sedan.

The current model’s divisive headlights – which blend a daytime-running light strip on the bonnet with the chrome trim around the windows – have been dropped in favour of a full-width LED daytime-running light bar, and the low/high-beam headlights below.

The body shell, roof, windows and doors have been carried over from the current model, but there are new front wheel arches with extra detailing behind the front wheels, restyled alloy wheels, and new side skirts.

The rear scores a full-width LED tail-light bar akin to the smaller i30 Sedan – which sits on a black geometric pattern – plus redesigned bumpers on all models, tweaked boot-lid edging, and a new font for the Sonata badge.

N Line versions are distinguished from regular models overseas with unique 19-inch alloy wheels, sportier bumpers, quad-outlet exhaust tips, black trim, N Line badges, and an additional lip spoiler on the boot lid.

Inside, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument display sit behind a curved glass panel – replacing the tablet-style 10.25-inch touchscreen and hooded 12.3-inch instrument cluster.

The screens appear to run the Hyundai group’s latest ‘ccNC’ infotainment software, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation and over-the-air updates.

Other changes include a new three-spoke steering wheel, a relocated gear selector now mounted to the steering wheel column (rather than push buttons in the centre console), and a restyled upper dashboard with new wood-look inserts.

Hyundai says the centre console armrest has been lengthened to serve as a palm rest while driving, while there is said to be additional cupholder and storage space.

It is unclear if there will be any changes to the Hyundai Sonata’s engines, or improvements to its suite of safety features.

In Australia, the N Line is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 213kW and 422Nm, sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (and an open differential).

More details of the 2024 Hyundai Sonata are due to be confirmed in the coming days, ahead of an Australian launch in the second half of 2023.

Hyundai reported 536 Sonata sedans as sold in Australia last year – down 47.7 per cent in five years, in a category (mid-size cars under $60,000) down 52.9 per cent in the same timeframe.

The Toyota Camry remains the top seller in the class with 9538 deliveries reported last year – but it too has experienced a decline of 37.5 per cent over the past five years.

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