April 25, 2024

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Sonata the Edge N Brand with 2.5 gasoline turbo engine (Hyundai Motor Group)

The face-lifted version of Hyundai’s flagship family sedan Sonata the Edge has made a grand comeback after four years, making its 37th anniversary this year.

The Sonata is the longest-running car in South Korea, selling around 9.3 million units since its launch in 1985. But the beloved midsized sedan suffered a setback in recent years as more drivers flock to SUVs. Amid slowing sales, the car even faced rumors that it might be discontinued when the carmaker delayed launching the eighth-generation model last year.

Dispelling rumors, the new Sonata has returned with a complete turnaround both in style and performance. The car, in particular, added its first N Brand performance model in an apparent move to shed a boring family car image and appeal to younger drivers with racing car elements.

The rear part of Sonata the Edge N Brand with 2.5 gasoline turbo engine (Byun Hye-jin/The Korea Herald)

The most noticeable change was how the car’s front part adopted Hyundai’s new signature seamless horizon lamp, so-called unibrow design, succeeding a refreshed family look of new Hyundai cars, including the Grandeur sedan and the Kona compact SUV.

A test drive was conducted last week from Hanam to Gapyeong in Gyeonggi Province, which was a roundtrip course of some 100 kilometers. The reporter drove two versions – the N Brand version with a 2.5-liter gasoline turbo engine and a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine model.

The N version, in particular, delivered high-speed stability and maximum cornering capabilities, a refreshing surprise for many drivers who are familiar with existing Sonata cars as a comfortable family sedan. Compared to the N model, the 1.6-liter model felt more suited for city commuters.

The interior of Sonata the Edge N Brand with 2.5 gasoline turbo engine (Byun Hye-jin/The Korea Herald)

As for the interior, the N Brand model took after the signature red stitches and N logos of the performance line on car seats. Both models offered spacious legroom and trunk for a midsized sedan. The controversial button gear in the former eighth generation model was replaced with a column gear shift on the right side of the steering wheel.

A total of eight types of powertrains are available for the new Sonata, including three for the N Brand version. The basic price ranges from 28 million won to 39 million won ($21,000-$29,000). Among its key rivals is the Kia K5 sedan with a 2-liter gasoline engine. For the same engine models, the Sonata is about priced 8.05 million higher.

By Byun Hye-jin (hyejin2@heraldcorp.com)