Ho-hum exterior styling could be redeemed if Hyundai had knocked it out of the park on the inside. But Hyundai kept the same general interior styling as the previous-generation Sonata. The steering wheel and center stack have changed design, but overall it looks substantially similar to last year’s model.
It’s a safe and conventional design but it’s nothing remarkable. Hard plastic can be found anywhere you put your hands, and switches aren’t of the highest quality. Again, this is all acceptable at $23,000 but disappointing if you’re spending $33,460.
There is a bonus to this utilitarian style, though. As per usual, Hyundai’s infotainment offerings are on point. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both on board, accessed through the company’s well-designed infotainment system. There are also physical buttons for everything essential — think climate control and audio controls — which is refreshing.
Finally, the seats are quite literally a sore spot. Within the first 30 minutes on a three our jaunt to Detroit, both my friend Zach and I were complaining about how uncomfortable the seats were. If you do a lot of long-distance driving, the Sonata might not be for you.