#NYIAS: STUD or DUD — Does The All-new Hyundai Sonata's Design Have The JUICE To Unseat The Honda Accord?

#NYIAS: STUD or DUD — Does The All-new Hyundai Sonata's Design Have The JUICE To Unseat The Honda Accord?
You know the old-school saying, "While the cat's away, the mice will play." That sort of applies here.

While the majority of the motoring press is head's down covering the 2019 Geneva Motor Show (GIMSSWISS), Hyundai decided to try and slip one past, well, nearly everyone.

Revealing the all-new Hyundai Sonata before its 2019 New York Auto Show (NYIAS) unveil, the company released some images yesterday. A bit of a perplexing public relations move but perhaps Hyundai has its reasons?

To me there's only one really good question about this vehicle right off the bat: Does its design have the JUICE to unseat the very popular Honda Accord?

What say you, Spies?




















wilfredwilfred - 3/6/2019 1:22:20 AM
+12 Boost
Shame on Hyundai for blatantly copying Accord/Civic taillights design... Hyundai is a much more capable company than this! This is something I expected from a Chinese knock-off 20 years ago.


dlindlin - 3/6/2019 10:50:21 AM
+4 Boost
Funnily I'd rather take a Chinese knock-off that stays closer to the original than a Korean Frankenstein


dlindlin - 3/6/2019 2:01:49 AM
+8 Boost
Add Volvo to that tail-light
Interior is knock-off of Lexus ES


cidflekkencidflekken - 3/6/2019 2:16:26 AM
+12 Boost
DRLs that run up the hood? Awful. Horribly designed duck tail. Interior looks clean but that Honda-imitated push button gear select is just unsightly.


runninglogan1runninglogan1 - 3/6/2019 2:17:33 AM
-1 Boost
Very nice design - both inside and out! Should do much better in the market than the current version.


skytopskytop - 3/6/2019 4:34:22 AM
+11 Boost
The Honda Civic rear light treatment is blatant plagiarizing.


TruthyTruthy - 3/6/2019 7:28:16 AM
+1 Boost
There is a lot of Ford Fusion in the front 3/4 and the greenhouse. So if you still want a Fusion and Ford discontinues it, this is where to go.


MDarringerMDarringer - 3/6/2019 8:27:40 AM
-2 Boost
1. This is a very attractive car.
2. It will not unseat the Accord.
3. Despite how good it is, it will be a tough sell in crossover central.
4. Why the Civic ass end?


countguycountguy - 3/6/2019 8:50:01 AM
+9 Boost
LMAO, NO! The rear end is a rip off of the civic and the front is a deformed rip of an Audi. As usual will do well with customers who can't get something better.


222max222max - 3/6/2019 12:06:32 PM
-1 Boost
You really think the average customer is going to give a flying crap about it "ripping off" styling cues from other cars? That's the kind of stuff that matters to car geeks on an internet forum, not people down on planet earth who are shopping for an decent looking and affordable sedan.


TruthyTruthy - 3/6/2019 9:54:28 AM
0 Boost
I agree it is attractive and look forward to seeing it in person. The Sonata has been a good car and the previous generation model had other manufacturers to be more aggressive with their mainstream sedans.


222max222max - 3/6/2019 10:27:35 AM
+1 Boost
I like it.


SuperCarEnthusiastSuperCarEnthusiast - 3/6/2019 12:13:50 PM
0 Boost
The new Sonata kind of looks l8ke a Maserati Ghibli sedan. It of course looks fabulous! Wonder about the options that will be available for it like: AWD, V6, 10 speed automatic, etc...


TruthyTruthy - 3/6/2019 12:36:01 PM
+1 Boost
No V6 nor awd.


AutoAficionadoAutoAficionado - 3/6/2019 1:24:32 PM
+11 Boost
Had two in the past. First car had electrical issues, second car had engine problems. Dealer replaced head under warranty. For these reason I would never buy a Hyundai product again.


jtz7jtz7 - 3/6/2019 7:35:30 PM
-5 Boost
I think it looks good. I like the Ford Fusion/Messarti front and Civic backend. Nice combo. Only thing that doesnt make sense is why design the Sonata to look better than the entire Genesis line up? Shouldn't this design should had been for Genesis brand?


llaroollaroo - 3/6/2019 8:04:03 PM
+11 Boost
THE RIP OFF IS FROM MY A5 SPORTBACK - SIDE PROFILE FOR SURE BUT THEN IT GOES DOWN HILLL


llaroollaroo - 3/6/2019 8:06:12 PM
+8 Boost
this is the problem when you lack design pedigree, every iteration of the car has no resemblance to the last, it can have a totally different name, Sonata means nothing. Evolution in design matters


snowboard7snowboard7 - 3/6/2019 11:43:52 PM
+11 Boost
Look like a bastard child from Lexus, Honda and Volvo. Enough said.


TruthyTruthy - 3/7/2019 11:28:01 AM
0 Boost
Actually, this Sonata adheres closely to the La fil Rouge concept from last year's Geneva auto show, save for the front end.


jtz7jtz7 - 3/8/2019 6:34:47 PM
-6 Boost
So I see we still need corrective lenses.

Audi Grilles:Mitsubishi, Lexus and Mazda but only the Hyundai would ne the copycat allowing the Fusion to get away with it.

If the 2020 Polestar had a Hyundai badge It too would had been accused of copying the Civic's tail lights. But because it isnt Korean it can get away with it.




jtz7jtz7 - 3/8/2019 8:58:51 PM
-6 Boost
No one is going to bring up the look alike with the Audi grilles of the Lancer, 2009 Tundra and VW Iroc concept.


mini22mini22 - 3/9/2019 1:37:35 PM
-1 Boost
I think it is an attractive car and more attractive on the outside than the Accord. Interior is on par with Honda(at least from the pictures). True they took the taillight design from the Civic. However it is more elegant in this design than the Civic's. If Hyundai undercuts the Accord in price and has similar driving dynamics it might cut into Accord sales. But unseat it..I doubt it.
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC