These are independent designs by Kolesa and have not been endorsed by Hyundai.
If recent reports are to be believed, Hyundai will redesign the Sonata for the 2023 model year after apparently putting the blame on the car’s bold styling for its poor sales figures. Despite this, the current model has just been rendered in rugged off-road guise and we think it actually looks quite cool.
Hyundai doesn’t sell the existing Sonata as an Estate which is a shame. It could also look to broaden the appeal of such a variant with a lifted, more rugged version to act as a more affordable alternative to cars like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class All-Terrain.
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These renderings show the Sonata with a jacked-up ride height that boosts its ground clearance over the existing sedan. In addition, the designers at Kolesa have rendered it with flared black plastic front and rear wheel arches for that rugged effect. The car also features a revised front bumper with black and silver trim, a black rear bumper, and silver trim on the more pronounced side skirts.
A set of striking wheels have also been fitted to the Sonata, as has a unique rear diffuser that could double as a skid plate.
Considering the market’s continued shift towards SUVs and crossovers, it seems unlikely that Hyundai would decide to develop and build an estate version of the Sonata, let alone a rugged estate. After all, its SUVs such as the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, and Palisade are selling well and cater to the needs of those who want something more practical and high-riding than the Sonata.
