The stylish esthetic continues inside, where eloquent design and flawless ergonomics show attention to detail. Consider the door armrest; you can grab it anywhere to shut the door, not just in one spot. Or consider the air-conditioning vents, with their fine, graceful look that are positioned above two simple climate control knobs augmented by four toggle switches and five buttons. Similarly, the automatic transmission is actuated by four simple buttons that are easy to actuate by feel. And kudos for the simple toggle switch for the heated/ventilated front seats; it’s a sensibly easy-to-use design.
A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster greets the driver, and offers a wealth of information, as well as the ultimate in blind spot monitoring. Activate your turn signal and a camera on the side of the vehicle activates in the direction you’re turning, showing what’s in your blind spot. The image is shown on the instrument cluster, where it’s easy to view quickly. And unlike Honda LaneWatch, which does the same thing but only on one side, Hyundai’s system has cameras on both sides of the car. But since it only comes on when you use your turn signal, most people will never be aware of this function.
Complimenting all of this is a sizable a sleek 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an intuitive user interface that’s blessedly simple to use thanks to the fact that’s it’s not over-designed, a common problem with most systems. As you’d expect, the Sonata is offered with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, three USB ports and wireless charging. The ambience is enhanced by many upscale touches, such as soft leatherette padding, rear window sun shades, matte chrome switchgear and piano black trim intersperse among the hard-plastic trim.