Hyundai Sonata N Line Prepares for Second Update: New Lights and AWD Version
A prototype of the updated Hyundai Sonata N Line was spotted in South Korea. The body featured an AWD designation, but the release of an all-wheel-drive version has not yet been confirmed.
A test sedan of the Hyundai Sonata N Line was being transported on a tow truck with a modified rear section. Beneath the heavy camouflage, vertical rear lights are visible, replacing the horizontal elements of the current model. In design, they resemble the solutions used in the new Hyundai Avante and Tucson, unveiled in August 2025.
The front of the car has also been refined: the prototype received new bumpers and headlights. However, the horizontal light strip, Seamless Horizon Lamp, will likely be retained.
The key technical detail was the AWD inscription on the front fender. In the South Korean market, the Sonata N Line is currently sold only with front-wheel drive, a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 290 hp and 422 Nm of torque. However, the prototype may be intended for another market: for example, in the U.S., the Sonata already has an all-wheel-drive modification.
The current eighth generation of the Sonata was introduced in 2019, with the N Line version appearing in 2020. In 2023, the model underwent a major facelift. The new update is being prepared amid plans for a second facelift of the related Kia K5, expected next year.
Hyundai and Kia may abandon the planned generational change for sedans to assess the prospects of D-segment models. After this, the companies will either discontinue them or carry out a major upgrade.
