We've seen some photos of the new Sonata from Korea since its introduction there recently, but when you see it in person, it is truly striking. The design language was described by product planning director Scott Margason as "Fluidic Sculpture."

While most of the Sonata's competitors have been growing steadily from one generation to the next, Hyundai has decided that the current model is large enough. Overall dimensions of the new YF Sonata are virtually the same as that of the model it is replacing. The biggest difference is in overall length (where it is less than an inch longer) and the wheelbase, which has grown by 2.6 inches to 110 inches. In spite of that sloping greenhouse, the YF only loses 0.4 inches of rear headroom as compared to the current model. This was achieved through a combination of scooping out the rear headliner and lowering the seat cushion slightly. We sat in the back and although the seating position is marginally lower than before, it didn't strike us as uncomfortably so. We'll have to judge it in more detail at a later date.