Comfort and room to roam used to be core elements for attracting buyers to midsize family sedans. But thanks to SUVs, that’s not enough these days. Now, luxury, tech integration, performance, fuel economy, and even all-wheel drive have become must have sedan ingredients. And one more, value. So, let’s see if the latest Hyundai Sonata gives us all a lesson in chemistry.

The seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan has been on the road since 2020, and as usually happens when vehicles approach the end of their lifecycle, this 2024 Sonata gets a makeover to keep the looks fresh and electronics current until an all-new one arrives.

Standard tech includes a crystal-clear 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Both are now combined into one wide curved housing similar to what we’ve seen from BMW and other luxury brands. This required a complete dash overhaul; a big interior change you can’t miss. Top Limited trim ups the game with navigation, leather seating, 12-speaker Bose premium sound, head-up display, and sunroof. It’s quite roomy inside, though maybe not quite as spacious or as comfy as some rivals with newer designs. On the other hand, rear seat legroom is very generous with long distance comfort.

There are three powertrain choices. The base front-wheel-drive SEL works with a 191-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. And for 2024, you can now add all-wheel drive to it for $1,500. The sporty N Line puts a turbocharger onto that 2.5 which boosts output to 290 horsepower, but it remains front-wheel-drive only, as does this Hybrid. The Hybrid is 2.0-liter I4 based with a 39-kW electric motor that combine for an output of 192 horsepower.

The real draw with the Hybrid is fuel economy of course, and the Government Ratings are 44 City, 51 Highway, and 47 Combined. We manage just 42.7 mpg of Regular in our driving loop, but that’s still slightly better than in our recent tests of both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid. And it earns a much better than average Energy Impact Score, using 6.3 barrels of oil yearly, with 3.1 tons of CO2 emissions.

The price for that great fuel economy was paid at our test track with a slow roll to 60 of 8.0-seconds. There was no sense of urgency off the line, and while the engine sounded like it was really working hard, numbers on the speedometer were slow to climb. That meter was reading only 89 mph after 16.0 seconds as we crossed the quarter-mile. On a much more positive note, the Sonata Hybrid’s true six-speed automatic transmission provides a much more enjoyable experience than competitor’s CVTs.

And the experience in our handling course was positive too; minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed. We didn’t experience much in the way of oversteer or understeer, and stability systems stayed out of the way. In our panic braking runs, the pedal was soft, and we could really hear the ABS working overtime, but stops were straight and fade free, averaging a fine 114 feet from 60 mph.

The Sonata has always attempted to set itself apart when it comes to exterior design. That meant an awkwardly shaped “Digital Pulse Cascading” grille when this gen debuted; we much prefer the more traditional and sportier take of this update. The rear fascia also gets revised, looking both sportier and more upscale at the same time, with wide H-themed lighting to accentuate the Sonata’s width.

Pricing starts with the SEL at $28,650; adding the hybrid powertrain boosts it to $31,950, Limited comes exclusively with the hybrid engine and tops the lineup at $38,350.

Hyundai’s long-time formula for success, delivering more for less and tacking on a longer warranty than rivals, has done a great job of getting them where they are today. The 2024 Hyundai Sonata’s high value, impressive powertrain options, which now include all-wheel drive, and better than average driving dynamics, will ensure they stay a major player in the midsize sedan segment for years to come.

The compact crossover remains the hottest segment in the auto biz, and continues to see new nameplates jumping into the mix, where they join the Chevrolet Equinox, which has helped define small SUVs for more than 20 years now. You know, that’s a lot of crossing the equator! So, let’s find out if a new fourth-generation Equinox is a night and day difference or not.

For most vehicles, regardless of segment, when it’s time for a new generation, they tend to look very similar to the prior one, just evolved to be more modern. Well, not so the Chevrolet Equinox where each generation’s design has been vastly different. And one could argue this 2025 version sees its biggest makeover yet.

Size-wise, the five-passenger Equinox has always straddled the line between compact and midsize crossovers, and that remains the case this time around. Even with an all-new platform, most dimensions are similar to before, with the exception of width which is up by 2.5 inches, helping it appear even more midsize than ever and the sharpest looking Equinox yet. RS is the sporty upgrade; it includes 19-inch wheels and black trim outside; flat-bottom steering wheel and RS logos inside. A new ACTIV off-road inspired model is also available. And just to clarify, the also-new Equinox EV is an entirely different vehicle on a separate platform.

All trims here in the ICE Equinox get an 11.0-inch gauge display and an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built in; both deliver great information and are intuitive to use, all part of the Equinox’s tech-heavy and, yes, cool looking interior vibe. What used to be called a shifter is now an “electronic transmission range selector.” In the Equinox, like many European cars, it’s now located on a steering wheel stalk, opening up more space for center console storage.

Front seats are adequately comfortable, while back seat passengers get additional headroom. Cargo space is wide and plentiful at 29.8 cubic-feet; expanding to 63.5 with the rear seatbacks folded.

It may look a lot different outside, but it beats with the same heart as before, a 1.5-liter I4 turbo engine rated at just 175 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel-drive units now work with a CVT, replacing last gen’s six-speed automatic; all-wheel-drive versions not only get an eight-speed automatic transmission upgrade but an additional 19 lb-ft of torque.

We were happy to have an AWD tester to take to our Mason Dixon test track, but the good thoughts didn’t last long, as there was not much power for getting off the line. It took us a long 8.9 seconds to hit 60 and 16.7 to run the quarter-mile, ending at 84 mph. Despite a lot of buzzy engine noise, it felt pretty smooth, as did the new eight-speed transmission, though gear changes happened slowly. The wider platform did make it very stable at speed.

That was apparent in our handling course too, where it really does exhibit a big, proper SUV feel. Though that also means a fair amount of body roll with a tendency to understeer. But, stability systems step in quickly to keep you safe as soon as even minor amounts of slip are detected. Panic braking from 60 mph was smooth, consistent, and short; 111 feet from 60 with only minor fade.

Standard Chevy Safety Assist includes Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist; an available Safety and Technology Package adds Surround Vision, Rear Camera Mirror, and Rear Pedestrian Alert.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings with all-wheel drive are 24 City, 29 Highway, and 26 Combined; we averaged a good 27.7 mpg of Regular. That’s an average Energy Impact Score, with use of 11.4 barrels of oil annually and 5.7 tons of CO2 emissions.

As before, the Equinox is very sensibly priced at $29,995 to start, with all-wheel drive a $2,000 option.

From the smaller Trax right up to the body-on-frame Suburban, Chevrolet has drastically revamped their entire SUV lineup in just a few short years with impressive results. The Equinox has always been a big seller and a great value. Without a doubt, the 2025 Equinox is much better looking, while also being more competitive than ever.