Spy Photo: Hyundai Sonata Wagon Testing in the U.S.

@dougtheeng: It is just you, and probably a few other folks. The Venza does have swoopy exterior design features, but the height of the Venza makes a big difference in (my) perception of the styling.

Actually, I don't really like the looks of the rear of the Sonata wagon. The hatch is too drastically slanted, and the roof slants way too much at the rear. Those two slants will cost a lot in terms of actual cargo capacity.

Due to the small engines that will supposedly go into this wagon, I have to ask: Is this really a Sonata, or is it a slightly stretched Elantra?
After all, the base Sonata sedan has a 2.4 liter engine. Why would Hyundai put smaller engines in a wagon that will most likely haul more weight?

Don't assume Hyundai is driving this around LA. It could easily be owned by one the many other automakers with west coast design studios.

"Why would Hyundai put smaller engines in a wagon that will most likely haul more weight?"

Because Europeans favor efficiency and diesels more than Americans do. The i40 shares its platform with the Sonata, not the Elantra. I would love both Elantra (replacing the current Touring) and Sonata wagons here in the U.S. I just might trade my Mazda5 in on a Sonata wagon if they offered it here.

ed, the smaller engines are the ones it has in its home market. And the rear styling is similar to many other current wagons as well as past ones--the slanted backlight has been around since the late '70s at least, because it looks sleeker. It doesn't need to compromise total volume as much as you think, although it does limit the dimensions of the biggest single box you can carry. But even wagon fans are generally not using them to bring home refrigerators on a weekly basis.

My thoughts about the whinging about the US not getting the i40 wagon remain the same. Right now the US gets the i30 wagon (Elantra Touring). Which is more upright but will probably get the swoopier styling when it's redesigned (which should also bring much-needed powertrain improvements; the current one gets poorer fuel economy than the old Elantra with the same powertrain and the new Elantra blows it away--even the Sonata has much higher EPA highway ratings and only slightly worse EPA city). I don't see much room in the wagon marketplace for Hyundai to sell both the i30 and the i40. So which will sell more--a largish compact wagon selling in the high teens to low 20s or a mid-size wagon selling in the low-20s to $30K?

Build it and I will buy it.

I should say, sell it in the US market and I will buy it. It is already being built for markets with better tastes than ours.

Come on Hyundai, bring this here!

Given that the next-gen Elantra Touring is going to be a 5 door hatch and no longer a wagon, there seems to be room in the product range. Hyundai knows whether or not the current ET sells well; if yes, then they can build on that momentum with an i40 variant while the having the new Elantra hatch to take on the Focus hatch, 3, etc. Both customers addressed...

"Because Europeans favor efficiency and diesels more than Americans do."

ROFLMAO.....do you always drink Kool-Aid? The real reason Euros buy what they do is that they are taxed on the size of the engine their car has. The bigger the engine the more you have to pay in tax. Add to the fact that fuel costs (again because of taxes) are sky high..... This BS that they "prefer" smaller engines is just that....BS. Let them be free of some of the worlds highest tax rates and then see what they buy.

Europeans arent any more sophisticated in their car choices....they just are taxed into buying what their governments WANT them to buy....we are on that road as well.....Obama wants cars to get over 50 MPG by the mid 2020s.....

"Those two slants will cost a lot in terms of actual cargo capacity."

I agree.....wagons are supposed to be practical. Sloping the rear end hurts practicality, simple fact. If one is concerned about practicality why would one care about what a wagon looks like?

I am a fan of this, but not of the Euro engine lineup. If Hyundai offers this (or something close to it) in the U.S. I hope it will have the same engine offerings as the sedan. Only one of the Euro engines that's remotely intriguing is the turbodiesel. Full disclosure: I currently own a 2011 Sonata SE 2.0T.

With two grandchildren already here and more to come, I assume, a wagon would make sense. The choices are few in Canada as in south of the border. Even my wife is willing to accept a wagon as our next vehicle. But, its got to be sporty and I won't accept a 4 cylinder engine struggling to maintain 120 km/ph. I'd prefer another couple of cylinders. Bring on the wagons!

Aren't those large rims for a base wagon?

Either way - I'd love an 2012 A6 avant. If Audi doesn't get good sense about importing cars they already make, I'd love this down market possibility.

We looked at all the available wagons in the US and we really don't have good options. The CTS, A4, 328i, MS3 and WRX lack a practical cargo space (seats up). The Jetta sport wagon is spacious, but lacks luxury and performs just OK. The MB E350 drives worse than most luxury SUVs, hence, rather get one of those.

Really I want a 550i/535i wagon (not AWD) or an A6/S6 Avant, but as those companies have recently abandoned the wagon market for their mid-size cars, this is no longer an option.

Frustrating - looks like many wagon fans have developed as the companies have pulled the cars from the market.

At $4/gallon the 19city/29hwy for an A6 avant makes a lot of sense. I think in the EU it can tow 4400lbs (more than a BMW X3), lots of space and performs like a sport sedan...

@dougtheeng

The look says "Venza" to me too.

Just get rid of the ugly D pillar, add enough steel to the C pillar to make the roof strong and make it a 5 door hatchback. That should improve the rearward visibility, stability in side winds, drag coefficient and weight over the wagon, while it will still allow improved utility compared to the sedan. If you want to pile up cargo to the roof, buy a van/CUV/SUV truck.

Love the wagon, would be a great next car as I simply won't buy an SUV or crossover for my daily driving. Please just pair a proper manual transmission with the 2.0T motor.

Putting aside that the i40 wagon is based on the HED-2 concept which came out years BEFORE the Venza, the rear window panel and D pillar of the i40 is completely diff. from that of the Venza.

Otoh, it does look similar to a lot of other Euro wagons.

I'd bet Americans would be pretty willing to buy a turbodiesel in a car like this. Fuel economy is BIG here. We've been forced into driving 4-cylinders and compacts because of outragous fuel costs so why not make lemonade out of lemons and give us a decent, good looking wagon with awesome fuel economy!!!

The i30 is available as both a 5-door hatch or a longer wagon/touring--I haven't seen anything definitive that the Elantra Touring will change from one style to the other, although it would make sense if they want to offer a Sonata wagon. And it would fit better with Hyundai's original, quickly-abandoned pitch of the Elantra Touring as a Golf competitor.

I'd have to see more pics - not really loving it from this one angle.

As for cargo capacity, wagons need to be better than the equivalent sedan - they do not need to be cargo vans in capacity or appearance.

I like wagons...dont get me wrong....but why not use the shape in the most effective manner? Soft lines are fine but a sloping rear end like this is not a wagon...it is a hatchback. My 95 Escort wagon was extremely nice looking and practical. (and before the trolls come out, the mid 90s Escort wagons were hailed in magazines as very nice looking and sold like crazy)...I really loved that little car. It was perfect for me at the time and got over 40 MPG on the hwy without fail. (5sp) If anybody came out with a small wagon and it did not have 300 hp there would be trolls on here screaming that it was unsafe and slow. Wagons are a niche player at best now.....just the way it is.

You people are funny this looks nothing like the Venza what so ever. It is based off the Sonata and uses a slightly smaller wheelbase than the US Sonata. If it does come here, and it seriously needs to, I am sure it will utilize the same powertrains as the US market Sonata.

"The i30 is available as both a 5-door hatch or a longer wagon/touring--I haven't seen anything definitive that the Elantra Touring will change from one style to the other, although it would make sense if they want to offer a Sonata wagon."

Straight from Krafcik-

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/06/2013-hyundai-elantra-touring-going-five-door-leaving-the-wagon/

I guess I get it, if they're chasing volume. The logic makes more sense if this i40 makes it stateside. I really like the size of the current ET and just wish it had the latest Elantra powertrain.