Hyundai Sonata Prototype Points to a Second Facelift

Old Timer

Back in the older days of motoring, new cars were typically launched every 5-6 years, with an updated facelift slapped in between to keep things fresh. Times have changed, and competition has ramped up; the automotive industry is starting to treat cars like cellphones, with new models coming out every year just to stay relevant and keep up.

In some cases, brands are good at keeping the same older model, but doing just enough to facelift and update it over the years to keep buyers coming. Hyundai’s been doing just that with the Sonata, one of its best-selling and longest-running nameplates. It’s been on the market for quite some time now, but reports are coming out that another facelift is coming, not an all-new model.

Second Facelift

The Korean Car Blog just published a report about the latest sighting of the updated Hyundai Sonata test mule. The fresh and clear photos came from another channel called Healer TV, which posted a video explaining the subtle changes they noticed in the updated design. Korean Car Blog goes even deeper, claiming the photographed, camouflaged car is just another facelift of the current DN8 Sonata.

According to them, the telltale signs that it’s another facelift can be found by analyzing the photos closely. Based on the published photos, the camo car has the same doors, side windows, mirrors, and fastback roofline as the current model, and the publication claims an all-new car would have a completely reworked design (can’t argue with that logic). Another supporting fact the report uses is that the Sonata’s Kia sibling, the K5, is getting the same treatment: a facelift rather than an outright new car.

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Significant Changes

What we can also tell from the video and the photos is that the facelift is significant, with most of the car out of view. The report says that because the whole rear section is covered, we can expect new panels and designs there, as well as the rear doors. Another interesting point is that the final taillight design isn’t in place yet, as the photo shows the test car using small LED bulbs behind the mesh camo.

With the DN8 Sonata set for yet another update, it means that it’ll be on the market just that little bit longer, which is long enough considering it was first launched back in 2019. However, the next-generation Sonata is already being developed by Hyundai, according to the report, which means the facelift could just be a way to give them more time to properly develop the new car.