The Hyundai Sonata is getting a big makeover for 2020 and when it arrives at dealerships, it will only be with front-wheel drive. However, it appears possible that at some point the car could be offered with all-wheel drive.
The company has never equipped its sedan with that functionality, but it could, because the new modular platform that underpins it, the N3, was designed to welcome multiple different vehicles types, including SUVs running with an AWD system. Technically, then, it would be feasible to adapt the Sonata.
Hyundai’s product director, Jae Young Kim, confirmed that the company was currently studying the possibility of adding more AWD-equipped models to its product offering in the United States, this is an interview with CNET Roadshow.
A future all-wheel-drive Sonata would give Hyundai a credible alternative to the Subaru Legacy and the Nissan Altima with that segment. As well, because it is new and cutting-edge, it could be compelling choice for buyers who would otherwise automatically go for an SUV because of its all-wheels traction.
The new 2020 Sonata is expected to arrive towards the end of 2019. The intervening months will give the company time to decide if it wants to introduce an AWD version for the 2020 model-year, or delay it until 2021 or 2022.
From the vantage point of consumers, of course, it’s “the sooner the better”. All-wheel-drive capability has become a top selling point for car buyers.
