The Hyundai Sonata Turns 30

It may have only been on our roads for a few years under the Sonata name, but Hyundai’s midsize sedan has been sold in its home market since 1985; it now celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

The very first Sonata was an anonymous squared-out sedan (sold here under the Stellar moniker) that featured RWD; it was the first Korean vehicle to sell more than a million units in its home market. Over the next generations, the car followed in its rival’s wake, adopting front-wheel drive. Did you know that the second generation was built in Bromont, QC? In 1991, the Sonata was the first car to receive Hyundai’s new logo. The Sonata then went on to become a mainstay in the brand’s lineup, becoming more luxurious and gaining more equipment with each generation.

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The most recent Sonata –which is now in its seventh generation– is by far the most advanced yet; it’s now more than capable of standing up in a comparison with its segment’s leaders. Overall, Hyundai says it has sold 7.3 million Sonatas since 1985; of this number, more than 3 million found buyers in North America.