Hyundai Sonata interior revealed in new sketch

The latest teaser comes just days after Hyundai released a sketch of the new Sonata’s exterior, giving a clear look at its front end, which is significantly more conservative than that of its predecessor.

The seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata will be revealed in its home market later this month and has been confirmed to reintroduce the nameplate to Australian showrooms before the end of the year. The previous-generation Sonata was sold in Australia badged as the i45 but was discontinued early last year. The new model once again will join the i40 in a two-pronged mid-sized local offering to take on the likes of the Toyota Camry and Mazda 6.

Like the exterior, clean lines fill the new Sonata’s cabin. The hexagonal centre stack (somewhat reminiscent of that of the BMW 3 Series) features a large, high-mounted touchscreen display and simple audio and climate controls at its base.

Hyundai says its Human Machine Interface has been redesigned to be more intuitive to operate, with the number of buttons reduced and controls grouped more effectively to enhance its user-friendliness and minimise driver distraction.

The foot-operated parking brake looks set to be replaced by an electric toggle positioned beneath the gearlever, while a four-spoke steering wheel will sit in front of a clean instrument cluster with analogue speedo and tacho dials and a small central screen displaying drive data.

Hyundai promises a “more ergonomic” seat cushion design and “improved … feel and grip for every component that the driver touches”.

The Sonata will be the second addition to Hyundai Australia’s family sedan line-up this year, following the larger flagship Genesis, which is destined for our shores in the third quarter of this year.