Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Hyundai
Spy Shots: 2009 Hyundai Sonata interior
by Sam Abuelsamid on Oct 8th 2007 at 3:34PM 
Hyundai's mid-size Sonata is due for a refresh in about a year, and a sharp-eyed observer with a camera has captured a shot of the new interior. The design looks considerably more upscale than the present setup, which is great considering how bland we find the dash design of the current car to be. The center stack flows down into the console and has a clean uncluttered look. Like the Veracruz crossover, the vents are now vertically oriented and the trim around the radio and HVAC controls carries a matte aluminum look. The powertrain also gets upgraded with a standard five-speed automatic replacing the current four-speed and improved power and efficiency from both four- and six cylinder-engines. The refreshening is just in time for the Sonata to take on all-new models in the segment like the 2008 Honda Accord and 2008 Chevy Malibu, as well as the perennial best-seller from Toyota, the Camry. Even more important, however, is to see Sonata sales improve to the point that idling the Alabama plant producing them to reduce excess inventory isn't necessary.
[Source: The Car Blogger]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff 3:40PM (10/08/2007)
GARBAGE !!
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Larry 4:12PM (10/08/2007)
Jeff, ashamedly, I used to mock Hyundai, til I saw the restyled '03 Tiburon GT..... I took a chance.....the price for a loaded car, and the smooth ITALIAN (yeah, DERIVATIVE!) styling, was great.. Nearing retirement here, and, having to endure a MINI-VAN for my work vehicle, I could not justify an expensive car just for "fun." Fifty thousand miles and five years later, this Hyundai has become one of my favorite cars I have ever owned. I had a lot of "American muscle" back in my day....... fast, but trouble, always.... my LAST one was a 20th anniversary Trans-Am Turbo, it LIVED in the shop..... This little Hyundai, is a joy, trouble free and PAID FOR in a year! (Sure, I would rather have a FERRARI! LOL!)
SPG 3:40PM (10/08/2007)
That looks like a great update!
Now the inside of the car looks as upscale as the outside.
Good work Hyundai. Next up, your minivan.
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Vectortrance 3:42PM (10/08/2007)
Hyundai is making some great strides lately.
I applaud them.
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rjmhotrod 3:58PM (10/08/2007)
Looks good to me. Can't wait to see the rest of the car. One of the things I noticed about my parents '06 Sonata was that the seats felt rather flat and "benchy". I hope they make the seats a bit more comfortable.
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cirquo 4:22PM (10/08/2007)
Hyundai is one of the only carmakers that have made a 360 to great cars in the shortest time. GM should take note.
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Ben 10:50PM (10/08/2007)
Ha ha you must surely mean Ford and Chrysler? GM has already turned around 75% of their product.
The Other Bob 4:33PM (10/08/2007)
Could somebody please make a unique looking interior? They are all carbon copies.
The only one that is slightly (very slightly) unique is the 2008 Malibu. The Subie Tribeca and Nissan's minivan are unique, but not in a good way.
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Billy 11:07AM (10/09/2007)
The Malibu is the only car with a unique interior? Really now?
MikeW 4:37PM (10/08/2007)
The V6 already has a 5 speed auto. It should get the 6 speed auto.
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Johnny082 6:33PM (10/08/2007)
Looks really good...kinda like the new Accord though
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Ray 7:06PM (10/08/2007)
I used to be a non believer of what Hyundai made. Being a car mechanic for over 30 years and seeing what they have done and now owning my second Hyundai, am a true believer of what they can do. I am waiting for the release of the new rear wheel drive Genesis so it can make believers out of more people.
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Bryan 8:58PM (10/08/2007)
Looks like any other me-too interior. This is progress? I would not want to see the current interior!
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I_Hate_China 10:46PM (10/08/2007)
No, this is a refresh due out early next year.
All new YF Sonata is due out in 4q 2009 in Korea, with the US model hitting the US market as a 2011 model in Spring 2010. It will get smaller and much more sportier than the present NF model, as Sonata/Azera twins no longer need to be so big to serve executive sedan market; that will be taken over by Genesis.
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Mark 1:56AM (10/09/2007)
I've got an 2006 and definitely say the current interior looks rather dated compared to other cars not just in this segment, but in general.
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tekdemon 4:48PM (10/09/2007)
That looks oddly enough a lot like a 2002 Camry's interior...or even a 2001 Honda Accord's...
Although I do remember the older Sonata's having just plain awful interiors (circa ~2000) when I was checking them out, and at the time only the redesigned 2001 Elantra had an interior that was even vaguely modern.
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waiownsyou 2:16PM (11/07/2007)
I think it looks more like the Lexus RX's interior with the Camry's steering wheel!
Christopher H. Kim 2:32AM (10/10/2007)
This will be a solid new Accord and Malibu fighter
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