Hyundai U.S. Oct. 2019 Sales Up 8.4%, YTD Up 3.3%, And the All-new 2020 Sonata Revealed!

A pretty good day in Hyundai world for sure!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – November 1, 2019

2020 Hyundai Sonata

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This morning Hyundai reported its October 2019 U.S. sales reached 57,094 vehicles, up 8.4 percent over the 52,653 sold in Oct. of 2018. From the release, this makes the 14th time in the last 15 reporting months the brand has achieved a monthly sales increase. Could the new 2019 Kona I just bought three weeks ago do all that?

2019 YTD U.S. sales of 563,450 are up 3.3 percent over the 545,445 sold through the same period a year ago.

Regarding the Sonata, Hyundai's more than 800 dealerships across North America will be more than happy to receive it.

2020 Hyundai Sonata Preview

On the same day Hyundai released its excellent sales results, they introduced their all-new 2020 Sonata at the 49th Miami International Auto Show. Production of the all-new 8th gen Sonata also starts today at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) with retail sales slated to begin later this month.

2020 Hyundai Sonata Exterior

The 2020 Sonata is the first sedan designed with Hyundai’s “Sensuous Sportiness” design language. Now that is a hell of a non-descriptive term. It is also the first model to be based on Hyundai’s new multiple vehicle platform with more rigidity and lower weight.

Its length (192.9 inches) and wheelbase (111.8 inches) have been increased - shorter overhangs - are up 1.8 and 1.4 inches respectively.

Up front is unique to the industry std. LED DRL light design that when on wraps around the headlamps but when off appears like a chrome bezel. It looks pretty damn cool. The new gloss black grill shape looks ok.

Out back, a new upside-down racetrack rear lamp design stands out.

2020 Hyundai Sonata Interior

Inside the all-new Sonata, you will find even larger displays and more modern layout.

To begin, an under dash and door trim LED Light pipe is a highlight. A new 4-spoke wheel with open bottom and higher door arm rests with an honest to goodness handhold provide a much-improved long-distance ergonomics proposition.

Regarding displays, a std. 4.2” and 8” driver and central infotainment color LCD are standard on the SE and SEL. The SEL can be optioned up to an all-new 12.3" LCD digital instrument cluster and 10.25" central infotainment LCD displays which is std. on the Limited.

Hyundai moved to a shifter-less push button design. Not a big fan… yet.

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2020 Hyundai Sonata Drivetrain

Under the hood, a mildly atkinsonized - on the low power cam(s), 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. of torque 2.5L uses both DI and MPFI - aka Toyota's D4S. The CR was raised to 13.0 from 11.3:1 providing a nice thermodynamic efficiency boost. This new motor design is attached to an all-new 8-speed AT. I do not have the ratio spreads yet either.

The combined EPA is expected to hit an incredible 33 mpg from the current Sonata's 29 mpg. More importnatly, the 2020 Camry's excellent LE/SE/XSE/XLEs 32 mpgUS appears to be toppled?

The other std. drivetrain, the 180 hp and 195 lb-ft. of torque 1.6L GDI-T and its expected 31 mpg combined rating looks to be an also ran?

Hyundai did not mention anything about the upcoming 2020 Sonata Hybrid but expect big numbers coming soon.

On the drivability front, the 2020 Sonata will have lower NVH than either the current Camry or Accord.

2020 Hyundai Sonata SmartSense Safety

Standard across all trims is the next generation of safety tech including Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA), Smart full speed radar CC (SCC), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines and a new birdseye view.

Optional or std on the SEL or Limited trims, Highway Drive Assist (HDA), Rear Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA-R), Blind-Spot Collison Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Blind Spot Monitor (BVM), Blind-Spot Monitor (BVM), and Auto High Beam Assist (HBA).

2020 Hyundai Sonata Convenience

Convenience features include a touch lock/unlock door handles vs the button embedded ones on the current Sonata. It is about time for this update!

The excellent Infiniti with Clarify system on the Limited trim has been replaced by a Bose Centerpoint system. We will have to "hear" about this.

And how about this thinking outside the box. If there are cars parked to close to you on both sides, hit a button on your FOB, the car will start up, pull out about 6 to 8’ ft, and you can get into your car. That is kick @$$.

Trims include the SE, SEL, SEL Plus, and Limited with the latter two using the 1.6L GDI-T.

Early conclusions? It looks great, has a ton of room, and the new 2.5L drivetrain’s 33 mpgUS combined and possibly 40 mpgUS highway rating appears to be a midsize segment killer! The 1.6L GDI-T? Well, at least the SEL can be equipped with the normally aspirated 2.5L.

2020 Hyundai Sonata

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Moving back to the October 2019 Sales Highlights, the Kona was picked up by 5,514 new owners – me being one of them, up 27.3 percent over the 4,330 sold in October of 2018. YTD sales of 60,652 are up 84.9 percent over the 32,795 sold through the same period of 2018. Remember that the Kona was first sold in late February of 2018 so that comparison is a bit cherry picked.

In total, October 2019 U.S. retail SUV sales incl. the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, and the all-new full-size Palisade finished at 28,547 vehicles, the best ever October and 60 percent of the brands retail volume compared with 50 percent in October 2018.

Bigger news was that Hyundai’s eco-friendly lineup performed well with total green vehicle sales up 64 percent, including Ioniq retail sales up 36 percent and Sonata HEV and PHEV up a combined 42 percent.

Ioniq achieved October 2019 U.S. Sales of 2,769 vehicles, up 147 percent with YTD sales of 16,915, up 32.9 percent over the 12,727 sold through the same period of 2018. I am really happy to see this as I am sure you are all as well!!!

The outgoing 7th gen Sonata was picked up by 6,062 new customers, down 16.6 percent below the 7,265 sold in October of 2018. YTD sales of 74,430 are down 15.6 percent below the 88,240 sold through the same period of 2018.

Hyundai’s fleet sales are now down to just 16% of total sales. A much healthier percentage than we have seen recently.

All-in, Hyundai had a healthy month and YTD sales result. A new Sonata with excellent specs including combined FE with the all-new 2.5L mated to the all-new 8-speed AT as icing on the cake creates a “I cannot wait” addition to the Flying H brand.

 

Hi Chris:

I found the ratios and only the final is slightly different.

1st - 4.717
2nd - 2.906
3rd - 1.864
4th - 1.423
5th - 1.224
6th - 1.0
7th - 0.79
8th - 0.635

Reverse - 3.239

Final - 3.320

The SEs 205/65R16 and SELs 215/55R17 yields a calculated 1.604 and 1,629 RPM @ 60 mph respectively. That is an excellent low RPM highway speed cruise for sure!!! The SEL Plus and Limited with the P235/45R18s are running at a still relaxed 1,617 RPM@60 mph! Boy do I wish the SEL Plus and Limited had that normally aspirated 2.5L.

Wayne

 

Hi Carcus:

I will ask about the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup again at this years LA Auto Show. It was still on the docket two years ago but I have not heard a peep in quite some time. I suspect it is gone.

Wayne

 

Hi Thunderstruck:

So true indeed!

I am wondering about consumer acceptance of the shift buttons vs lever. That has been tried for decades and it never seems to stick.

From this 1956 Chrysler Infomercial:

Apparently not.

Wayne

 

Shifting to neutral in a Prius is not as intuitive as I would expect - the joystick has to be held in that position for a second or two before neutral becomes selected. We have a few Prii in our fleet at work, if one were to get into a stuck accelerator condition, I wonder if a stressed driver would be able to figure it out in time.