2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line Review

It’s so hard to tell that the 2024 Sonata has been facelifted, because it looks all new.

In South Korea, the Sonata’s home market, the nameplate has fallen from #1 in sales to #9 with the new generation - so quite a ways.

Although a huge reason is the global shift in consumer preferences to SUVs, the reality is that the bold looks of the 8th generation Sonata haven’t taken off.

Enter this latest major facelift, which has seen an almost entirely radical design change in both exterior and interior design.

Thankfully though, or not for some, the really powerful 2.5L turbo-petrol 4-cylinder has remained for Australia and in fact means the Sonata is only available as the N-Line locally. 

In today’s review, we’re going to talk about why the Sonata N-Line is one of the best buys on the entire Australian new car market.

How much does the Sonata N-Line cost?

The latest facelift of the Hyundai Sonata N-Line enters the market with a revised price tag of $55,500 plus on-road costs, marking a subtle yet notable increase from its predecessor's $52,065. 

This uptick reflects a modern trend in the automotive industry where even minor updates come with a premium. It's worth noting that the Sonata N-Line's pricing remains simple, with no additional options except for color choices. 

Standard color is Serenity White, but for those desiring a splash of uniqueness, shades like Biophilic Ink and Ultimate Red add $595, while the distinct Aero Silver Matte demands an extra $1000.

Comparing the Competitors

• Toyota Camry: Traditionally, the Toyota Camry has been a stalwart competitor. Currently priced from $34,320 for the base model to $50,320 for the SL Hybrid variant, the Camry offers a range of options, albeit with a temporary pause in orders. Its blend of affordability and quality continues to make it a formidable rival in the sedan market.
• Skoda Octavia RS: For those leaning towards a more European flair, the Skoda Octavia RS stands out, especially with its starting price of $51,890 for the liftback and $53,090 for the wagon. The Octavia RS balances less dramatic styling with a very European feel.
• Mazda 6: With a price range from $36,140 to $55,535, the Mazda 6, available in both sedan and wagon configurations, offers a compelling alternative. It features a high-end turbo engine in its upper models, but feels dated in some areas.

What’s the interior and tech like of the Sonata N-Line?

Just like the exterior, the interior is very different from before.

First thing you’ll notice is the dual 12.3” displays, which have had a major upgrade in computational power and graphics performance. 

The result is very snappy screens with no lag, which also look great.

Although the infotainment display does have wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the fact there is no wireless - despite apparently being totally capable of it - is astounding. In 2024, Hyundai’s should come with wireless phone connectivity.

The digital instrument cluster has gone minimalist in design, although shows the exact same information as the pre-facelift.

The air conditioning controls have also changed, now another digital display however with no haptic feedback which can kind of suck when you’re driving.

Quality of the interior is astounding, at least on the surface. Touch around and there are soft-touch materials everywhere, the door closes with a solid ‘thunk’ and the end result is an immensely quiet interior.

Our review unit however had a rather bad rattle in the passenger door, which made playing music through the otherwise great Bose sound system came as an unexpected chore on the ears. This is something that would be covered by warranty.

The Alcantara and Nappa leather seats are amongst the best in the industry, providing plenty of support and adjustment. This is one of the most comfortable long-distance cars I’ve driven in a while.

It helps they are also heated and cooled, and the steering wheel also scores heating.

Not to mention the steering wheel is a beautiful leather unit, again changed to now match other new Hyundai models being released.

Connectivity is great, with two USB-C ports up front and a 12v socket. Along with a re-designed wireless charger to better accommodate larger phones.

Interestingly the shifter has been moved to the steering column, which has freed up some more space in the centre console. I didn’t love this at first, but actually I’ve come to appreciate just how much more space you get as a result.

Storage too is ideal, with large cupholders, multiple phone storage nooks in the centre, a large glovebox and centre armrest, and good-enough door bins.

In all the design has changed quite significantly at face value, but it still maintains one of the best overall ergonomics in the class.

What about the back seats of the Sonata N-Line?

The Sonata makes you question why you would ever need an SUV, where ride and handling dynamics are compromised by a higher centre of gravity.

At 5’10”, I have plenty of space behind my usual seating position, with loads of leg-room, toe-room and head-room.

You’ll also get access to some air vents, map pockets and 2 more USB-C ports. 

Better yet are the seats, which are the same Alcantara and Nappa leather as up-front, but the outboard seats are also heated and include integrated sun shades for the windows.

Did I mention the back has an automatic sun shade? It’s operated from the front, and is a luxury touch reserved for far more expensive vehicles.

Although the interior is a sea of black (and some red bits, I guess to signify sportiness?) it never gets too dark and drab thanks to the panoramic sunroof fitted as standard.

In all, you really appreciate the sheer amount of features and frankly quality in the interior of the Sonata N-Line.

How much can fit in the boot of the Sonata N-Line?

Firstly the boot is powered, meaning you press a button and it can open or close. Beyond totally unnecessary - but hey, you get it!

Boot space is fantastic at 510 litres, and there is also plenty of aperture to be able to fit in larger items.

You can drop the rear seats and then get even more room.

The Sonata will never be more practical than say as wagon bodied SUV like the Tucson, but it’s close enough that it shouldn’t matter.

What’s under the bonnet of the Sonata N-Line?

If you wanted changes to the drivetrain, you’re “s” out of luck.

Not that I care, because the drivetrain was what I loved most about the 8th gen Sonata anyway!

In Australia, Hyundai makes you’re life easier by giving you one choice - which is a 2.5-litre T-GDi turbo-petrol four-cylinder pushing out a very healthy 213kW of power and 422Nm of torque.

All of that power is sent through to an eight-speed dual-clutch (wet-clutch) transmission, co-developed with their luxury brand Genesis and performance brand ‘N’.

That power is sent through to the front-wheels through an open differential.

Fuel economy is claimed at 8.1 L/100km on the combined cycle of urban and highway driving, but around town, expect around 10-12L/100km depending on how you drive. Highway efficiency is rather shocking though, and I was able to manage 6.2 L/100km which is fantastic.

How does the Sonata N-Line drive?

The first thing you notice when pottering around in the Hyundai Sonata N-Line is that this sedan is quite clearly an important model for Hyundai.

Of all their models available in Australia, the Sonata feels most like a luxury German competitor in how it drives.

The solidness of the Sonata is immediately present, as is the sheer quietness of the interior. Hyundai have clearly benchmarked Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) from far more expensive competitors like the BMW 3 Series.

Stab the throttle, though, and this is where you’ll find most car journalists whinging. That’s because the Sonata has so much power and torque going through to the front wheels that it starts to torque steer quite hard.

Most cars with this much power and torque will implement an LSD, or limited-slip differential, which better modulates power versus the cheaper open-differential that the Sonata has.

Personally though, I love it. It gives an older-school, analogue feel - like a hot hatch from the mid-2000’s.

Except the Sonata N-Line is way faster, and we timed the 0-100km/h sprint in just 6.2 seconds which is absurdly quick for a front-wheel drive premium sedan.

Suspension tuning is also just right. When taken through back roads and twisties, the ride is firm but reassuring, with almost no body roll and tonnes of mechanical grip (again, despite the lack of LSD).

Up Saucey Corner, the Sonata barely flinched, though understeer was certainly present across the second hairpin.

But when you’re not driving the Sonata at 10/10ths, it is so smooth and refined. In fact, the only bad thing about how the Sonata drives was the rattle in the passenger door and the over-zealous speed warning, which wouldn’t shut up.

You can turn it off, but you have to do it Every. Damn. Time!

Still, I’d rather have the active safety than not because the adaptive cruise control works perfectly and the lane centring does a decent job at hooking you up in the lane - making longer commutes easy.

The Sonata is a joy to drive, and I’m already itching to book in another press car just to have something so well balanced again. Well done, Hyundai!

Is the Sonata N-Line Safe?

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line, while lacking an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating, compensates with a comprehensive array of safety features. These include:

• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
• Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA1.5)
• High Beam Assist (HBA)
• Lane Keeping Assist - Line (LKA-Line)
• Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
• Manual Speed Limit assist (MSLA)
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist - Reverse (PCA-R)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
• Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) - logic type
• Safe Exit Assist (SEA)
• Smart Cruise control (SCC) with Stop and Go
• Surround View Monitor (SVM) with 3D view function

One notable feature is the Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, designed to enforce speed limits but can be intrusive with frequent alerts and requires multiple steps to disable. 

The Sonata N-Line is equipped with six airbags, including dual front, front side, and full-length curtain airbags, but lacks driver’s knee and front-centre airbags. 

Despite the absence of a formal safety rating, the Sonata N-Line's array of active safety features demonstrates Hyundai's commitment to safety, though it leaves some room for improvement in passive safety and user experience.

What are the specs and features of the Sonata N-Line?

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line is loaded with features:

Key Features:

• Hyundai SmartSense™
• Electronic parking brake
• LED ambient mood lighting w/64 colours
• 19” alloy wheels with a new design (NEW)
• Head up display (HUD)
• Space saver spare wheel
• Electro-chromatic Mirror (ECM)
• Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
• Acoustic laminated front glass
• Dynamic Welcome Lighting (Front/Rear)
• Shift By Wire (SBW) steering column mounted
• LED dual projector headlights & LED DRL’s
• Suede & Nappa leather-appointed seats - dark grey
• LED seamless horizon positioning lamp
• Leather-appointed & heated steering wheel
• LED combination tail-lights
• Driver seat - power adjustable - 12 way
• Auto dusk sensing headlights
• Passenger seat - power adjustable - 4 way
• 12.3” curved multimedia system
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Wired Apple Carplay & Android Auto
• Heated rear outboard seats
• Bluelink® connected car service
• Climate control - dual zone (touch type panel)
• Over The Air (OTA) software updates
• Rear air vents
• Wireless phone charger
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• BOSE™ premium audio system - 12 speakers
• Power rear sunshade
• 12.3" curved instrument cluster
• Smart Power Boot-lid - hands-free opening

How much does the Sonata N-Line cost to run?

The Sonata N-Line comes with a 5-Year, Unlimited Kilometer Warranty.

Servicing is every 12 months (or 10,000kms) and costs $350 per service.

Lifetime Service Plan Pricing (2.5 T-GDi):

• Service Interval (12 mths to 60 mths): $350 (incl. GST) every 10,000 km.

Hyundai iCare:

• Lifetime Service Plan.
• 5 Year Unlimited Km Warranty.
• 5 Year Hyundai Bluelink™ subscription.
• Complimentary Roadside Assist for 12 months on new vehicles.
• 1,500km complimentary first service.

What’s CarSauce’s take on the Sonata N-Line?

Hyundai have taken what was already a great value Sedan, and improved in many areas to make it more appealing to more people.

The Sonata N-Line is truly one of the best all-rounders I’ve ever driven. It’s comfortable and fun to drive and is priced reasonably considering its extensive feature set.

My plea to you is if you are considering buying an SUV for your family, definitely consider a sedan like the Sonata - it does provide the best of all worlds in most cases.

But also Hyundai, and I know you’re reading this, get rid of that bloody speed alert!