I have a 23 Tucson hybrid and just bought a 24 Sonata SEL Convenience.
Most of these issues aren’t really issues per se, and are either mild annoyances in the grand scheme of things, and things that are only discovered with ownership, i.e., not discoverable on a 15 min test drive.
Honestly, the Sonata would be perfectly fine if I didn’t have another Hyundai to compare it to.
I complained about the shifter in the Sonata when I first got it 5 days ago, but at this point it’s whatever. Not great, not terrible, just different.
My real gripe is about the stupid key fob. Why the hell is the panic button on the main surface, and the trunk button is on the side? You’d think you’d put the most used buttons in places of easy access. Also, why are we moving backwards and getting LARGER key fobs with less buttons? I have a case on my Tucson key, it’s STILL smaller. In all reality, the buttons aren’t that big a deal as it never leaves my pocket, but why is it so big! And they couldn’t figure out how to store the backup key IN the fob like every other fob with a backup key? In my many years of driving vehicles with fobs and backup keys, I’ve used it once, purely to see how it worked, but now I have weird anxiety that I’m all of a sudden going to need it now that I don’t carry it.
The instrument cluster has an absolute lack of options and information.
Not that there are NO options; it’s just the options suck. Why can’t I have a digital speedometer and the classic gauge look? Why can’t I have the speed limit dot at the same time? Why can’t I see instant fuel economy (yes I know it’s not accurate) and the car display at the same time? Or a digital speedometer in the middle of the dash? All things that are possible on the Tucson. And stop loading the map on the side of the screen! Are people in unfamiliar areas THAT OFTEN that a map is constantly required? Why do I have to swipe it away? Just stay away! (That goes for the other options as well; I don’t need a clock, the weather, or whatever else constantly on the screen; I’d much rather have radio/song information!)
I could understand if I was asking for things that don’t exist/have never existed, but all these things are possible on my 1-year-older vehicle!
My 24 Elantra can do all these things on the dash. You should try fooling around with settings because I can definitely have classic gauges with a digital speedo in the middle, and I see live fuel economy as a blue bar bottom of the screen, as well as two other pages that show economy data.
I agree with most of your complaints. I have a 24 Tucson and am glad I bought it instead of waiting for the 25s; there is nothing I like about the 25s over the 24s. Sonata is the same; I had a 22 Sonata N-Line and liked it a whole lot more than the 24s. I feel like they went from classy designs to cheesy. The key fobs follow the same trend.
@carhero
I do absolutely love the logo on the steering wheel. 4 dots (H in Morse code, honestly I wonder how many people made that connection) instead of the normal H.
I’ve been thinking about the 2024 Sonata, and this is helpful in making the choice. Thank you for posting this. I agree that the instrument and entertainment screen needs way more customization options.
You’re not wrong—I share some of your observations, and that’s part of the reason I chose to buy a low mileage '22 instead. I love the look of the '24, but some of the functionality is just whack.
Japheth said: @Smith
Why buy something where right off the bat you have complaints? Now that’s stupid…
I’d ask if you’re high or just ignorant, but we know the answer is ‘both’.
How the hell am I supposed to know how the instrument cluster and dash in general work without messing in-depth with it?
No one is EVER 100% happy with ANYTHING they purchase. There is always SOMETHING. Now, whether that something is large enough to actually complain about is a different story.
Remember that part where in the title I put ‘rant, feel free to scroll on’? Yeah, you definitely should have paid attention to that advice.
@Smith
That’s a you problem… again, why would you buy something you fully don’t understand? Did you bother to ask questions or mess around with any of the features at all?
Japheth said: @Smith
That’s a you problem… again, why would you buy something you fully don’t understand? Did you bother to ask questions or mess around with any of the features at all?
Yes, because EVERYONE sits in the showroom and reads the manual cover to cover. Then sits in the car and fiddles with all the settings.
Clearly that mistake is on me.
Just like it was a mistake to not ignore your particular brand of stupid. And your parents’ mistake for having you in the first place.