However, the Sonata’s wheelbase sits at 2,840 mm (111.8 inches) compared to the 2,720 mm (107 inches) of the i30 Sedan / Elantra and when hustled through corners, it feels significantly larger than the specs would suggest. Stretching 4,900 mm long (192.9 inches), 1,860 mm wide (73.2 inches), and standing 1,445 mm (56.8 inches) tall, the Sonata N Line isn’t significantly larger than the i30 Sedan / Elantra, which itself is 4,650 mm long (183 inches), 1,825 mm wide (71.8 inches), and 1,430 mm tall (56.2 inches). Turn-in is sharp and direct and as long as you drive with smooth throttle inputs, the lack of an LSD isn’t of concern. The aforementioned 19-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in Continental Premium Contact 6 tires that are 245 mm wide both front and rear. The Sonata N Line also handles surprisingly well. It adds some nice drama to the car, although we suspect it may go unnoticed by most buyers. It even has the N Power Shift function of the i30 N, designed to increase the throttle opening during upshifts in Sport and Sport+ driving modes, pushing your head back into the headrest on each gear change. It has good low-speed manners and provides quick and smooth changes through all ratios. It can feel a little floaty over crests but it remains taut enough to give you good feedback.Īs with other Hyundai models, the car’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is a real treat. It has been equipped with monotube dampers and is beautifully refined in all driving conditions. This new approach to the suspension setup has worked wonders as the Sonata N Line walks an ideal line between comfort and sportiness. The tune developed overseas was then signed off by Hyundai Australia before sales of the Sonata commenced. With the new Sonata N Line, Hyundai Australia was involved in the early development of the model, providing its input to Hyundai HQ on what would be required to achieve the “flavor” of a tune developed specifically for the Aussie market. Typically, Hyundai models sold in Australia are given a unique suspension tune to suit local roads. Of course, the Sonata N Line hasn’t been developed in the same performance vain as the i30 N and this is particularly evident when you drive it in normal mode. ![]() mpg) during our week with the car, driving it relatively gently in urban areas and along inner-city roads. mpg) over the combined cycle, we averaged 11.2 l/100 km (21 U.S. All of this power comes at the cost of fuel consumption and while Hyundai Australia claims you can get 8.1 l/100 km (29 U.S. We didn’t have the chance to do any timed runs but that sounds about right – as long as you can get traction, that is. Hyundai says it will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds. Interestingly, though, torque steer is less prevalent than it is in the i30 N. The lack of an LSD has a similar effect if you stamp on the throttle a little too hard while exiting a corner. Step on the brake, floor the throttle, proceed to release the brake and all of those 285 horses will be dumped through one of the front wheels, spinning it through the first two gears without a second thought. This is no more evident when you’re using the launch control function in the Sport+ setting which disables the traction control. Make no mistake, the Sonata N Line can be quite the lairy beast. What I wasn’t expecting was for one of the front tires to immediately lose traction, leaving a thick black mark on the tarmac behind me. Soon after jumping into the driver’s seat for the very first time, I switched the powertrain into the Sport+ mode and hit the throttle. It’s hardly a surprise then that it struggles to put its power to the ground. Yep, that means the Sonata N Line has an open differential. ![]() Like the i30 N, the Sonata N Line is front-wheel drive but unlike its sibling, it doesn’t have an electronic limited-slip differential. However, these figures mean that the Sonata N line has more power than Hyundai’s ever-popular i30 N hot hatch with its 276 hp (206 kW) and 289 lb-ft (392 Nm). Figures of 285 hp (213 kW) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) of torque may not seem like all that much in an age of premium sedans with well over 600 hp. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this engine is one of the stand-out features of the driving experience.
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