By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
The crease isn't quite as pronounced (too bad). Still the hood matches the profile. The grille actualy doesn't look too much like the Genesis', but I like it better.
It's funny, I like how it looks, but it's more derivative and not as good a design overall as the new Sonata.
Those headlights are very Euro Ford.
The greenhouse is very Nissan, I thought it was a Rogue at first glance.
The fenders looke more like the current Elantra than the new Sonata's look.
Let's see it in person.
Oh please, open up my foot, honestly. Even though I dislike their internal America has no right to decide what's justice and what isn't. But that's my opinion against yours, and since this is off topic let's just stop there.
On topic:
The new Sonata looks pretty good IMO. Far better than blandmobiles Camry and Accord, although I agree the headlight treatment is a bit off. The grille isn't bad, and not as weird as the Klingon head grille on Genesis. Interior reminds me a bit of Infiniti+Lexus+Cadillac CTS, but the effect of those swooping lines is really nice. Good job overall.
The whole look is an almost complete ripoff, Euro Ford headlights (as you mentioned). Bit's of Mazda CX7 up front, Rogue profile. Thumbs down.... :sick:
It won't be confused for a luxury vehicle, anyway.
They copied the most daring competitors.
Saying the design cues were "copied" or "stolen" from another car is ludicrous. Any headlight, grill, roof line, or fender design will look like something that's already been done.
As for the new Sonata, I thought the "leaked" photos were truly bold, but the shots from the unveiling reveal it to be too bulbous, top heavy and, unfortunately, reminiscent of a Camry. The stance, in other words, is a bit wanting. But, perhaps we need to wait for better photos.
Also, has anyone noticed that the rear trunk lid and light treatment is somewhat like those of the new Forte???
However, every design starts somewhere. Do you then say that the Chinese copy-cars are not stolen designs?
If manufacturers go for a truly unique design, it will impinge on cabin space, engine bay space, trunk space, foul up aerodynamics, or be very expensive to produce. Stylists are really up against the wall, because everything has been done, except radical looks that most people would find ugly. When you have a choice of "familiar" or "ugly", you play it safe.
Bingo, good word for it. A $50k luxury sedan has to be desired.
The specs said the Sonata is lower than the outgoing model, so I don't think it will end up looking top heavy in person. We'll see.
Is that what you meant? Or were you sort of noticing the wheel-to-fender gap? Bigger wheels may help with that visually.
They can lower (photochop) brochure pics, but in person small base wheels won't look good with such a swoopy design. Spring for the upgraded wheels, at least.
Yea, and some of it may be caused trying to create a unique design.
SantaFe has hints of Infiniti FX and VW Touareg copies, but the result's pretty good looking. Not so with this Tucson.
Looking at Sonata's pictures, the more I see the interior the more I like it. Still looks a bit Camry-ish IMO, but minus the blandness. The wheels look undersized, though, and larger ones would make it look much better IMO. :shades:
You know, I think it has more to do with the fact that the sides, accentuated by the prominent crease (a la CL550), bulge outward. No matter the wheels or the gap, it's like a pear-shaped person - unstable seeming.
But, as previously cautioned, we should wait for better and more pictures.
The more I see it, the more the rear just is not "rich" enough. It's just too Forte-esque.
Haven't formed an opinion on the profile and front yet. Just not enough good pictures.
This picture is misleading, because the car is on a turntable. The wheels have dropped 2-3", making the car look long-legged, and showing a lot of fender well.
I don't like overly decorated cars, reminds me of Pontiac and it's body cladding craze, gross.
The detail of the rear lights making the strange lip/overbite around the license plate (this kind of thing seems like it would become a dirt and rust magnet) is uncanny.
It's not just the Asian automakers who love huge lights. That goes a long way back. For example:
And it continues today:
I never made any comparison about the front, but thanks for the distraction. My post was about specific details - not the entire car, and I stand by it.
Late 90s GM designs aren't even from this planet, they don't count.
As for the rear cluster, maybe Audi took it from the Civic?
I think the rear of the Sonata bears more resemblance to Lexus than Audi, because of the shape of the rear lights and the chrome detail above the license plate.
BTW, the LaCrosse is a 2010 model.
Maybe Honda took that from the A4 that was on the road probably summer 2004 in Europe?
I didn't see a LaCrosse, I got a broken image notice.
Actually, Hyundai admitted openly they took styling cues from Audi for the 2006-10 Sonata. I see more resemblance of that car to Audis than I do with the 2011 Sonata. I think the new car has gone more "Asian" in its styling.
The image I posted initially for the LaCrosse got messed up somehow, so I posted a different one.
A casual glance at 2 new cars can make you think they are very similar. If you buy one and get used to it, you will notice many differences.
Some people look at the rear of that Audi as a work of art. I look at it as being very easy to wash and wax.
I do agree the lighting cues of the new Sonata are very Asian, yes - the large sweeping light units.
That Audi was very modern 5 years ago, but it's just a car now.
Can anyone give us a short "elevator speech" about why it is so good and why Buick sells more cars in China than anyother brand?
While I am sure the LaCrosse is being compared to Lexus (didn't someone say that Buick was the US Lexus?), does LaCrosse have AWD available, good handling, a brand name (e.g., Mark Levinson, Bose, etc) sound system, etc?
I like the black areas on the insides of the headlamps, I like the black tops of the side mirrors, etc. Well done design. Even the gaping front turn signal corridor smacks of new and interesting to me.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Not only that, the photographer must have used a fish eye lens.
Check out the wall in the background. Unless it's a bowl instead of a wall, that is.
The effect makes the rear look bigger than it is, and the front of the car fades off and appears smaller.
I do agree about the Asian love for large headlights.
In fact, when you said that, I thought the Sonata's taillights reminded me of the Solara coupe.
They keep pulling headlights back, and taillights forward, pretty soon the two will collide!
I've seen two Genesis sedans in the past 2 days.
The Asians will imitate with cheaper lights.
It's funny, because when the Audi TT came out, I was one of the most vocal admirers of that gorgeous interior (especially the functional bezel around the vents that open and shut the airflow).
Now, I curve the TT for evoking a slew of copy-cats with cheap painted plastics made to look like metal. Hard to think of a car without it.
I'm not a big fan of silver trim, either metal or plastic. With metal it can dent, and the finish will wear off the plastic. It's not made for longterm wear. I have to admit I prefer wood trim, real stuff that is. The black maple in my car is very exotic to my eyes, and is reminiscent of marble. The C43 had warm brown maple which was somehow comforting, and the striped Zebrano in my old W126 was unusual and attractive. And in the fintail, the old non-laminated wood reminds me of vintage furniture. Real wood is nice to my eyes.
By comparison metal seems cold.
Sonata has it's flaws, the swept back oversized headlights for one, and it needs bigger wheels. But other than that I like it a lot, and the interior is plain stylish, as long as it's not grey :shades: . IMO no manufacturers get grey interiors right except VW, Audi, MB. No, not even Lexus get grey interiors right.
Giving opinions about cars is what we do here not because we want to buy it or not, but simply because: we like cars. :shades:
I'm not even in the market for any car at all right now, just a curious car enthusiast who likes to stay on top of things.
I will definitely check out a Sonata, probably during Auto Show season, mostly out of curiosity.
Would I buy one? If my needs in the future call for a mid-size family sedan, I'd consider one, sure.
FWIW, this thread is meant for discussion and debate, so you'll see people in both camps, fanboys and haters, at each extreme.
I imagine the Sonata threads are a bit friendlier, if that's what you're looking for.
Mostly, we've been talking about it in the context of Hyundai's gradual move upscale. You'll note Hyundais now cost a bit more than Kias in the same size class, plus discounts are smaller, as I mentioned in an example above.
If Hyundai indeed does not want a new brand name, then this becomes important for the brand image.
I think even if Hyundai wants a new name for the highline cars - which I believe is the right move, it will have an association, so anything helps.
And no, not even the Genesis has got me to consider a Hyundai luxury. Not yet. Equus could've done the trick, if only they'd fix the looks first, oh well...
IMO, no.