Hyundai’s All-New Sonata has received the Middle East Car of the Year Award in the best mid-sized sedan category, beating its rival the Honda Accord. This was the second regional award win for the model in the past four months, with Saudi Auto hailing the model as their car of the year in August.
Taking place at Raffles Hotel Dubai, the Middle East Car of the Year Award (MECOTY) is in its second year and is fast becoming one of the most prestigious, with each category judged by 12 highly regarded automotive journalists from across the Middle East. Collectively, the judging panel is made up some of the most seasoned automotive journalists in the region. Their opinions are the most sought after in the Middle East, thus making it the most unbiased, credible and prestigious award of its kind.
Commenting on the recognition of the All-New Sonata, Jin (James) Kim Vice President and Head of operations for Hyundai Africa and Middle East said: “Our success in the 2015 MECOTY Awards is a direct result of the company’s dedication to building vehicles of superior quality to its competitors, in line with our ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction. The All-New Sonata is one of our bestselling Middle East models with 28,500 units sold in 2014 alone. Therefore, we are honoured that it has been recognised and we believe that it will instill confidence in our customers in the quality of Hyundai models in the market.”
The seventh generation model offers a more refined look than its predecessor, through a new Fluidic Sculpture design language, stiffer body structure, enhanced ride & handling, reduced noise, vibration and harshness and more convenience features. No longer reserved for luxury cars, advanced safety technologies such as Front & Rear Parking Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Smart Cruise Control are all available in this midsize sedan. Furthermore, the Sonata’s smart trunk gives owners a convenient, hands-free way to open the trunk, while keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground; putting items away is easier and more convenient. The owner simply needs to approach the Sonata’s trunk with the key fob in a purse or pocket and wait three seconds. The trunk will automatically open, making it easy to place items inside when hands are full. Sonata truly democratizes the premium design and convenient technology of the Genesis sedan for the mid-size class.
The verdict of MECOTY judges builds on the All-New Sonata success story. In 2015 alone, the model has been recognised internationally as the 2016 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award as being one of the safest models when collisions occur and it received the top mark in the midsize sedan category in Auto Pacific’s 19th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards for its outstanding quality. Moreover, the accolades don’t stop there with world renowned family magazine Edmonds naming the model as one of the best family cars, thanks to its roomy cabin space and intuitive technology.