2024 Hyundai Sonata gets awd, fresher looks

The Hyundai Sonata is fully freshened for the 2024 model year with new styling and an upgraded interior. And for first time, it will offer buyers all-wheel drive when equipped with the base 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine.

Awd availability is also a first for any Hyundai sedan. Company officials said they wanted the midsize "sports family sedan" to attract buyers who live where inclement weather is a concern, especially as the car market starts to stabilize.

The Sonata plays in a competitive segment, despite Americans' preference for crossovers and SUVs. Through August, its U.S. sales topped 33,940.

It's possible Hyundai will discontinue the Sonata after the current generation runs its course and the automaker invests more heavily in the Ioniq series of electric vehicles.

For 2024, the powertrain lineup mostly carries over, but the 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder offering has been dropped in favor of efficiency and drawing more attention to the hybrid, which retains the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 192 hp. The N Line is still powered by a 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

Exterior changes include a low hood and widened front end with a horizontal lightbar stretching all the way across, much like the design of the 2024 Kona subcompact crossover. The headlights are now hidden in the bumpers. The front also has a reshaped grille and flat Hyundai badge.

The rear is simplified with an H design LED taillight bar that resembles the design on the redesigned Santa Fe midsize crossover. The sports car-like roofline is accentuated by a black spoiler-shaped trunk lid edge.

The N Line gets "younger, fresher" updates, including a new front and rear bumper, larger air intakes on the front, a trim-exclusive honeycomb grille pattern, badging on the fenders and 19-inch wheels. A spoiler garnish and a dual-tip muffler also are new.

Inside, the layout has been reconfigured, including moving the gear shifter to the steering wheel column to free up room on the center console, which now has a palm rest. The steering wheel also is new.

Technology is upgraded to include dual 12.3-inch screens — one behind the wheel and one in the center console — as well as a 6.6-inch LCD HVAC control panel. An ambient lighting strip decorates the dash under the center screen.

Gasoline-powered Sonatas will go on sale in December, and the hybrid will follow early next year. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.