Considering the fact that C-segment crossovers are getting most of the attention lately, D-segment cars aren’t a popular choice for prospective buyers.

That being said, D-segment sedans are still considered more ‘premium’, as they are built with a longer wheelbase and slightly wider dimensions overall. Plus, these models also get the latest powertrain and chassis developments.

This much is true with the eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata, a new offering set to revolutionise expectations for this class of products. And it does this while looking absolutely stunning.

Let’s take a look at the technical improvements Hyundai has made to the latest iteration of their flagship sedan.

First things first: the design. This is the best place to start with because a car’s design immediately gives you an idea of how you feel about it. We all want to drive good-looking cars because it makes us feel good about ourselves.

Hyundai went above and beyond this time by ditching the ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ philosophy of the yesteryears for a ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design.

The result? An absolutely gorgeous Sonata unlike anything else you’d see on the road today.

There’s just so much to appreciate in the design. Take the headlights as an example. They’re fully LED, but you’ll notice a chrome strip running alongside them, which continues all the way to the bonnet.

When the car is switched on, this chrome strip becomes the vehicle’s Daytime Running Light (DRL). The effect is unique, as the light fades out as it transitions towards the windscreen before returning to its ‘chrome effect’.

But that’s just one small part of the new design. The other aspect is Hyundai’s new Parametric Jewels design concept, which can be observed in the little details of the car.

You’ll find intricate ‘jewelled’ surfaces along the car’s flanks, on the caps of the car’s rims and throughout the knobs of the interior. Though this might be considered a minor detail, it does an excellent job of elevating the feel of the vehicle, albeit in very subtle ways.

Overall, the new Sonata sports a premium 4-door coupé look despite being a D-segment sedan. It’s still a very large and practical vehicle with a large base of 2840mm, a width of 1860mm and an overall length of 4900mm and 510 litres of boot space.

Appearances aside, the car’s features are also made to impress. If there’s one thing Hyundai is known for, it’s giving customers more features than they’re accustomed to.

The new Sonata gives you loads of equipment, including a 12.3” digital instrument cluster, an 8” infotainment unit with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a Wireless Qi charging dock, a heads-up display, a panoramic sunroof and a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory function, just to name a few.

There are two innovations in the new Sonata, which are the Wireless Qi Charger and the Blindspot Monitor. The former has a system that detects when the phone is getting too warm and redirects air through its ventilation ports to cool it down.

The Blindspot Monitor, on the other hand, displays a wide-angle camera feed to the digital instrument cluster whenever the signals are engaged. It really is quite a cool feature, and it helps drivers get the information they need without much eye movement and distraction.

Next, let’s talk about the new engine. On paper, it may seem just like any other 2.5-litre 4-pot. But in truth, this is the first of Hyundai’s latest ‘Smartstream’ powertrains.

These engines make extensive use of aluminium in their construction and also employ the world’s first Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology. CVVD controls the length of time the valves stay open to reduce compression resistance when driving economically.

When more power is required, the intake valve is closed at the beginning of the compression stroke to maximise the amount of air used for the explosion. This enhances torque to improve acceleration.

To put it simply, the Smartstream G2.5 engine has 4% better performance, 5% better fuel efficiency and 12% better emissions.

Although passive safety isn’t quite a big selling point to many drivers today, it is definitely worth thinking about – especially if you’re family-oriented.

We’ve covered this before in a separate article, but it’s such an important part of any car that it’s worth mentioning time and again.

The all-new Sonata’s platform increases the amount of high-strength steel used in its construction versus those from previous generations.

Deployed not only on the pillars but along parts of the floor as well, the additional strength and load path structures allow the car to excel at the ‘small overlap front test crash test’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The new chassis design also minimises the tendency for the car to spin in the event of a collision, and this delivers best-in-class safety.

This article is powered by DS&F. For more automotive updates, follow DS&F on Facebook and Instagram.