2022 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Review

The story of the Hyundai Sonata is one that’s filled with highs and lows over its surprisingly long history – from being a rebadged, rebranded product in the mid 1980s, to the stunning model that you see here today. One would argue that the first Hyundai Sonata that was truly memorable globally would be the fifth generation model that came in 2004 – though not entirely popular here, it is still used in Singapore in its diesel form as a taxi.

It was the sixth generation Hyundai Sonata that really made big waves locally when it was introduced in 2010, being a big step forward for the brand and priced highly competitively. This was also a time when Hyundai was ready to start stepping up their presence in the local market, which meant that there was a significant amount of budget and focus in building the brand. At the time, D-Segment sedans were still an important indicator of whether or not a brand had value, and these Hyundai Sonatas sold surprisingly well.

Unfortunately, following this model there was a bit of a lull. Globally, Hyundai managed to really improve their standings in the eyes of other markets, wholly revitalizing their range of products and stepping up their engineering standards. Locally we didn’t see much of this effort, with an actual narrowing of the product range in order to focus on stronger models like their MPVs and SUVs.

After a brief and relatively uneventful run of the seventh generation model, the eighth and current generation model arrived on our shore for a preview in 2019, with a launch in the latter half of 2020. It was made available with a singular engine and in a singular variant, with a rather peculiar equipment list.

There is some debate as to whether this strategy will pay off for Hyundai in Malaysia, but given how the market is tending towards SUVs and MPVs and crossovers, perhaps this Korean brand was a little ahead of the curve. Take-up rates for traditional sedans has been declining over the years, so it’s understandable that there hasn’t been as much investment in this particular segment.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Specifications

As mentioned before, the Hyundai Sonata is available in Malaysia in a singular variant: the 2.5 litre Premium model. In some promotional material it is also referred to as a 2.5-litre Smartstream, though here it is referring specifically to the sole powertrain choice on offer. Here the Hyundai Sonata is decidedly traditional as the engine is a naturally-aspirated unit, producing 180 PS and 232 Nm of torque which is delivered to the front wheels exclusively through a six-speed conventional automatic transmission.

This engine isn’t particularly punchy or complex – in fact that are turbocharged and turbodiesel models available in other markets, and there’s even a direct-injection variant that puts out a little bit more performance. By process of elimination, that makes this engine a port-injection unit which isn’t exactly ground breaking, though the omission of direct injection is most likely due to concerns with fuel quality.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Exterior

There are an array of striking paint options that you can choose for your Hyundai Sonata – which usually comes as a benefit for lower volume products. White Cream, Shimmering Silver, Nocturne Grey, Oxford Blue, Midnight Black and Flame Red are all available to you, though regardless of which you choose you will be provided with Hyundai’s impressive Sensuous Purity design language that blends fluid lines with sharp design elements and features. The front end has an LED DRL design that blends seamlessly as sit flows up the bonnet – an incredible look regardless of the lighting conditions. The rear lights are full LED units with an extra LED strip that runs the width of the boot.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Interior

The inside of the Hyundai Sonata comes in a variety of colours – though there’s pairing in this sense with exterior colours as well. A two-tone camel coloured interior is matched with the White, Grey, and Black paint options, while a beige-grey two-tone cabin is matched with the Silver paint option. Black interiors are matched with the Oxford Blue or Flame Red exterior paint choices – though regardless of which interior you get, you can be assured that the materials are soft to the touch and pretty luxurious. Front and centre on the dashboard is an eight-inch infotainment system; unfortunately this is a common theme among Hyundai models as they have oddly small head units.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Safety Features

Despite being one of Hyundai’s more premium products, the Hyundai Sonata in its Malaysian form does not come with any advanced driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking or lane keep assist. It does provide you with a blind-spot camera that’s activated with the turn signals, though that’s the extent of advanced systems. Besides this you get your usual assortment of acronyms from ABS with EBD to ESC.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Strengths & Weakness

As is the case with most Korean products, the strength of the Hyundai Sonata is the fact that it isn’t a traditional, conventional choice – and in that sense it offers a different experience from what you may expect in this market segment. The company has done an impressive job in making their products feel more premium and European than what they were known for in their formative years, and that has lent to their success in more economically developed markets.

The looks and styling are definitely things to pay attention to, as the unique lighting elements make the Hyundai Sonata distinctively recognizable from a distance, both day and night. However, the lack of advanced driver assistance systems and the relatively simple powertrain means that the Sonata doesn’t exactly keep up with its rivals – all of which are packing these systems as standard.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Price

The official launch price of the Hyundai Sonata can be a little tough to swallow, as the singular 2.5 Premium variant goes for RM 206,888 – though the first fifty units were sold at a discounted RM 189,888. If you’re wondering why it’s so expensive, it comes down to a variety of factors – from the build cost and material choices, to our weakening currency, and even the shrinking market segment that worsens the economies of scale.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Features

While the list of standard features for the Hyundai Sonata isn’t particularly long, the items there are things you can appreciate in your regular day-to-day life. The 360-degree surround view camera is especially useful when it comes to parking; modern cars have terrible visibility at the rear and over the window sills so being able to accurately position your car in a space is a good help. There’s also a massive 12.3-inch digital screen that functions as the instrument cluster, also being the display for the blind spot camera system. The driver gets an eight-way power adjustable seat, while the front passenger gets a four-way power adjustable unit. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support are standard, as is dual-zone climate control and wireless phone charging.

Hyundai Sonata 2022 Fuel Consumption

There are no manufacturer quoted fuel consumption figures for the Hyundai Sonata in this particular form; other markets do provide other figures but these are for the more potent direct injection variants of the 2.5-litre powertrain.