The 2021 Hyundai Sonata is here and will
go on sale at dealers nationwide next month, with a few novelties. Don’t look
for anything major though, because that’s not the case. There are only a few
novelties, such as a set of 19-inch wheels, shod in 245/40 Pirelli P Zero
tires, for the SEL Plus trim level.
America’s midsize sedan also features Safe
Exit Warning in the SEL, SEL Plus and Limited grades, a system that warns the
driver of oncoming traffic when parallel parked by using the blind-spot radar
sensors. The final upgrade represents the introduction of a six-way
power-adjustable passenger seat in the Sonata Limited.
Justifying the novelties, the company’s
director of product planning, Scott Margason, said: “The 19-inch wheels and
tires make a beautiful looking car look and perform even better. After
listening to our early 2020 Sonata buyers, we were quickly able to add power
height adjustment to the passenger seat on the Limited trim. In addition,
across the lineup we’ve added Safe Exit Warning that gives drivers a second set
of eyes to let them know if it’s safe to open the doors on the driver’s side of
the vehicle when parallel parked on a busy city street.”
Elsewhere, the car continues to be offered
with the same diversified range of features that, depending on the chosen trim
level, include wireless smartphone charging, panoramic sunroof, electric
parking brake, heated and ventilated front seats, 10.25-inch infotainment
system, 12.3-inch digital dials, sat-nav, smartphone integration, Blue Link and
digital key, among others.
Customers can still choose between the 2.5
MPI and 1.6 T-GDI gasoline engines, which are mated to an eight-speed automatic
transmission. The higher displacement unit develops 191 HP at
6,100 rpm and 245 Nm of torque at 4,000, whereas the 1.6-liter mill
pumps out 180 HP at 5,500 rpm and 264 Nm between
1,500 and 4,500 rpm.
