More Photos: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

The new SONATA took some cues from the Lexus ES350.

a gross VW CC and Toyota Avalon merge.....now they are trying TOO hard.

@iskch: I figured it wouldn't be long before somebody used the old "Hyundai copied Lexus" line. LoL. In my opinion, the Sonata is probably the most original of the new Hyundai lineup and has a sharp look to it. I'm not sure I see any Lexus in here at all. I do, however, see a bit of VW's CC and maybe a little Jag in the back quarter, but otherwise, good design Hyundai. I'd buy one over an Accord anyday ;-)

Although it may share styling elements with other vehicles, it's still quite unique and will be easily recognized as a Sonata and not mistaken for something else.

Hey Iskch, it takes some cues from Lamborghini too ... they both have four tires.

I think the front end looks too mad.

The front looks like a Toyota Solara and the sides and back look like a taffy-pulled Elantra.

The only thing I have issue with is the armrest. That seam will make a mark going right up your arm.

Yeah, that front end has lost something in transition from concept to production. Blame it on the new pedestrian crash standards. It's making the front ends have to be more bulbous in appearance. It's taking away the ability to create a really sleek appearance. Who knew so many people were getting hit by cars?

It looks like Hyundai is finding it's feet - I really like this car. Their lineup is starting to remind me of Honda's in the early 90's; attractive, well-built vehicles that are affordable and a little more interesting than the competition.

It looks like Hyundai is beginning to do something that Mazda never could - creating a viable high-volume alternative to Honda and Toyota. Seems too early to tell, but good product is the best way to create demand in both the retail and resale markets. I'd consider this car for sure (if I didn't want to pay more for a Genesis).

It may look a bit like a CC mixed with an Avalon (+1 to who said that first), but at least that's better than a straight honda accord knock off, that the current sonata is.

I think it looks really good. The interior looks out of this world, and high quality interiors is what sells in this segment. I think they might have a winner, especially if it's priced right

Gracias fixxer. ....It reminds me of subaru , not in a necessarly direct way, but with its design language. im more interested to see where they go after this, its incomprehendable to think they could take it any more "out" there. which is a shame, cuz they may go back from breaking the mold, to blending in. I have this same gripe about the Jeep GC. The 2011(exterior) seems like it should have come after 2004, more then after the 05-08. its like a step down.

"...Hyundai is beginning to do something that Mazda never could - creating a viable high-volume alternative to Honda and Toyota."

Mazda's and your thinking's downfall on this point is that not everything needs to compete directly with the Accord, or Camry! I have an '03 6. I won't have another one because they left behind what attracted me to the car to begin with...the fact that it was not just another Honda, or Toyota.

If anything, it looks like a Toyota Solara. I don't think it's derivative in any way. It just uses some popular style elements from many brand. It's not innovative as a whole, but it certainly is alone in it's segment. (I don't consider the Volkswagen CC in it's segment because it starts $9k higher than the current Sonata)

zoomzoomn,

Everything needs to compete directly with the Accord and Camry if you plan on selling in volume. From a purist's standpoint, it's a shame, but when you compare the previous gen Mazda6 sales, they don't hold a candle to the amount of cars the others were selling.

That looks fantastic! Hyundai is really moving to the top of the class. '11 Sonata, Genesis, Equus... they have quite a serious lineup of sedans now!

so what your saying is that because the CC is 9 grand more, this cant look like it,.. lol

"By arumage on September 17, 2009 11:36 AM"

I disagree to at least some extent. I realize that car companies need to sell more cars to be profitable, but not all cars need be of the same recipe. The last gen Mazda 626 was about as bland and utility worthy as any car vying for Accord/Camry sales and it bombed because it left behind the distinctiveness of the 90's gen 626. The '03 got that back in spades only to at least partly give up some of it's character in the current car even if not only in size. The Altima sufferred the same fate coming off a truly wonderful first effort only to be left floundering in it's second generation because Nissan Abandoned distinctiveness for a mainstream approach. The third gen car fixed that. Likely at the expense of sales volume, but they again have a rather faithful following. That is important, too.

That said, this new Hyundai is considerably more distinctive than it's predecessor. The new Kia Optima should be a real looker as well. Honestly, they are taking a chance based on that fact, but I am glad for them that they are.

I agree with carguy. I like the side and back, but I don't like the front. The two ridges in the grille up through the hood are so weird to me.

Pretty aggressive for a family sedan. I don't find it all that attractive but some designs grow on you.

i like it especially the interior. i like the Volvo style HVAC control.

Love the interior! I can't wait for more details about it. The exterior... meh.

It's nice, but there's still something...Hyundai-y about it. Inside & out. Someone said trying too hard...and I have to agree.

Interior is a total Infinity/Lexus ripoff. But in a 23k car, thats a good thing.

Headlights are pretty original, even if the rest of the car looks a bit mazda6-camry-cc-esque...they need to put that front on the Genesis coupe and it would seal the deal!

I love how the lines of this car flow so nicely. The cut line for the trunk runs up the C pillar, over the roof, down the A pillar, along the hood, wraps down under the grille and back up the other side of the car in a continuous line.

The belt line flows nicely from the tip of the headlamps to the edge of the rear window and bottom of the C pillar.

The side body crease is like a water line from the front fender and integrates nicely into the upper line of the tail lamps.

The line that runs through the hood and into the grille looks like a small wave or a ripple on a lake ... very cool!

All the angles and lines compliment each other. Nothing is out of place.

This is a FANTASTIC looking car and I'm sure it will probably look even better in person ... especially if they produce it in a dark metallic sapphire blue and combine it with the saddle interior!

A move in the right direction. I like the panoramic or dual sunroof.

The interior is MUCH more noteworthy than the exterior. This car looks like a camry or ES350 wannabe. I dont even know if I really like it better than the current one. I cannot stand those slanted ES350 style headlamps one bit. I do not understand why people are acting like they've never seen anything like this before- check out the last ES350 and you will see its nothing new at all. Hyundai wants to be Toyota and unfortunately they are copying Toyota's styling. Why does this car have to look so Japanese? They need a bolder, more original design language. This car is a mesh of 6, camry and ES350 design cues and is like deja vu all over again.

Does anyone see the resemblance to the Cadillac CTS upper center stack? How about the Volvo climate control interface look-a-like. I kinda like the two tone steering wheel insert though. But the graphic of the car shooting through an image of a speedometer may look cheesy in person.

@93 aero

There is nothing in the Sonata design that resembles the Avalon.

As for the CC comment, it's ironic since the CC totally ripped off the CLS.

Plus, the Sonata roofline/C-pillar is much more like a rakish A6 or Azera than the CC or CLS, and the new XJ is very similar to the Sonata as well (gee, where are the negative comments about the XJ?).

As for the whole Solara thing - yeah, there might be a vague resemblance, but if one actually looks carefully at the designs, the Sonata is a much more radical design than the Solara.

Aside from the diff. shape of the headlights ("crab claw" vs. "cat-eyes"), the Sonata's headlamps are situated much more radically on the front SIDE fender rather than being situated at the hood/front (The Mazda 2's headlight is more similar to the Solara's than is the Sonata's).

Overall, while distinctive (and not bland like most mid-sized sedans on the market today), the design is a bit too busy for my taste w/ too many contrasting lines/curves.

Otoh, the 2011 Optima looks like it may be an absolute stunner.