2020 Hyundai Sonata

After reverting to its old, conservative ways for a generation, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata is all-new and once again shaking up the midsize sedan segment with distinctive, eye-catching styling and above-and-beyond efforts everywhere you look. The Sonata did the same thing a decade ago, inspiring the far more stylish and well-executed competitors we see today, especially from Honda and Toyota. As such, Hyundai had to do even more this time around to clear the bar it did so much to raise. That styling is chief among those efforts. The proportions are sleek and evocative of "Sportback" luxury models like the Audi A7. The body is sculpted without being overwrought. The face isn't classically pretty, but it's visually bold and uniquely accented by LED running lights that blend into the chrome trim that lines the hood and snakes around the windows. You can even get the new Sonata in a brash shade of yellow. The interior is handsome as well and sees a marked improvement in materials quality, while boasting some impressive, user-friendly in-car tech. All of Hyundai's safety and driver assistance technology is also present and is excellent. It all adds up to the 2020 Sonata leaping back into the conversation as one of the best midsize sedans. It's a must-drive. What’s new for 2020? In a word, everything. Hyundai has re-engineered the Sonata from the ground up, restyling it with a coupe-like roofline and adding new safety and convenience features and further expanding its electrification efforts with an overhauled hybrid model. You can read more about what's new and different in our 2020 Sonata first drive review.  What are the Sonata’s interior and in-car technology like? The 2020 Hyundai Sonata boasts a sleek, futuristic cabin with minimal clutter and high-quality materials. Like most new cars, its infotainment control screen is featured prominently atop the dash. Base models get an 8-inch screen, while a 10.25-inch touchscreen is optional from the SEL model on up. No other midsize sedan offers such a large screen, and as you can see in the video below, we think it's terrific. Behind the wheel sits a customizable 12.3-inch virtual cluster display (optional on SEL, standard on SEL Plus and Limited), and a full-color head-up display is also offered on the top-of-the-line Limited. There are some nice touches for tech junkies, too, including Hyundai’s “Digital Key,” which allows the owner to unlock the Sonata by waving an authorized smartphone over the exterior door handles. Hyundai also offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration as standard equipment. There are three USB ports and wireless charging is refreshingly not exclusive to the highest trim level. Hybrid buyers are in for a special treat, as those who opt for the range-topping SEL Plus also get a solar roof. In sunny conditions, these panels can replenish up to 2 miles of additional range per day, or approximately 700 miles per year. More practically, they can power accessories while the engine itself is off, like the air conditioning on a sunny …
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