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-   -   What do you think of Hyundai's new design language? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/228538-what-do-you-think-hyundais-new-design-language-7.html)

Must add: This design is deliberate to polarize buyers. The Hyundai-Kia strategy seems to be:
1. Polarizing looks for Hyundai cars & SUVs as general acceptance is growing (in the US and India)
2. To appeal to a wider audience, the Kia family of cars and SUVs have more conventional designs for what is mechanically the same car under the skin

There are a few exceptions like the Kia Stinger though.

Voted for I don't like it.

Hyundai were big on over-styling with their fluidic design language, and then they became more neutral with the previous generation model – almost Audi-sque looks. But now the latest designs I feel, are over the top and gimmicky. It may look cool and youthful now but will age faster. In comparison the KIA models look have a bit more class and flair.

The rear is all straight lines. Like it a lot.

But as soon as you move around to the front its all round and bulbous. Makes it totally uneasy on the eyes.

I don't like it.

I like thier intention to stand out from the competition, and I think they achieve that. They were ugly and copy cats in 2000's, went overboard and overdid it in 2010's (I liked the Elantra and previous generation Creta though) and became totally oddball in 2020. Their designs age rapidly.

Even with a disclaimer like 'design is subjective', I have only one view about Hyundai's designs. I have never liked them.

In India, ever since the Santro, Hyundai has always had a weird streak to its designs. One only needed to compare the Santro with its contemporary the Daewoo Matiz to realise the importance of aesthetics as well as the genius of Giorgetto Giugiaro. In a Hyundai, there's always some chink that stops the eye from flowing easily over the design.

Of course, in their early years they merely ripped off significant design elements from almost every major car manufacturer in the world and then merged it with their own terrible aesthetic sense. Remember the Elantra that had the front of a Mercedes-Benz E Class and the back of a Jaguar?

As they became more mainstream and toned down the quirkiness a bit - at one point they even had some understated European designs, they at the same time also dialled up the features list, and in a market like India, one can rarely go wrong with that. So now, even if they are hitting 'wacky' out of the park, the masses aren't going to get offended as they have bought into the overall brand strengths and they pretty much get a well-appointed living room in every car.

As it stands today, I would definitely rate Kia's designs more mature, contemporary, elegant and proportionate, and if that's how they want to differentiate their brands, they sure are going in the right direction - making Hyundai even more unpalatable.

I am not a big fan of Hyundai's latest designs either, but I'm surprised not many have pointed at the 2020 Sonata sold here in North America! No offences meant, but i find the really really hideous and doesn't sync with the front end of the car at all. The Palisade though is on the other extreme end and is a really good looking car in person no doubt.

But i think Hyundai/Kia really deserve a pat in the back - How many car companies update their car portfolios as frequently as the Koreans? The answer is none!

Quirky design or not you really gotta give it to them, their hard work has definitely been their key to success. Here's something some lazy car companies in India can learn from them - regularly update your existing portfolio, keep launching newer generation after newer generation products and the cash registers will definitely keep ticking over. After all most customers at least aspire to get the latest and newest bling in the market.

I liked the new generation designs for sedans and hatchbacks from Hyundai. New i20 and Verna appears to me as a modern elegant designs. The same cannot be said about the SUVs though. Both Creta and Palisade is nowhere close to their Kia counterparts.

The next gen 2021 Tucson was a surprise since Hyundai aligned it more towards the Verna/i20 face rather than the Creta/Palisade face. That makes me think Hyundai is aware of the mistake they did with their SUV design language and may fix the designs of Creta and Palisade during the facelifts by aligning it towards their sedan/hatch faces.

You've got it the other way around. :)

Their sedans are mostly still based on the old design language - whereas newer products like the SUVs are following the new 'Sensuous Sportiness' designs. Sedans will slowly follow suit.

For example - Below is the new i30 sedan / Elantra N Line. I am struggling to find any relation between any of the lines seen on this car. :deadhorse



The beautiful old i30N fastback for comparison -

As much as I love Kia's designs, I hate Hyundai's current design language. Ugly, horrible are some words which I have used while referring them.

I loved how the previous gen Creta and i20 looked. The current ones, not so much.

To me, their designs have been too busy and unaesthetic. It's like, they are trying too hard and overdoing it.

They are making use of the latest technology in lighting and sheet metal, but appear to have lost the design direction on the way.

I did like the 2021 Tucson. But the rear gets too busy there too.

In order to stand out, they have been churning out polarising designs, one after another.

As the figures suggest, it hasn't affected their sales. But, they would have been much higher had the designs been better.

To name a few, in my opinion, Mazda, Kia and our own Tata have got their design language right. Hyundai, Mahindra still believe polarising is the way to go.

The next gen Tucson does not seem to have that ugly face of Creta and Palisade.I am not talking about the facelift that was launched in India, but the 2021 Tucson. Hence the hope. Your argument makes sense too. May be all sedans will follow suit.

I feel that Hyundai are actually trying to do something different. I believe that it's a big step away from the cliched designs we are used to seeing. I don't like all the designs of Hyundai but the grand i10 NIOS as well as Verna look proportionate IMHO. According to me KIA is still the top player when it comes to design and I think this is something that can be a big distinguisher between the couins. Kia being more contemporary and Hyundai being bold .

I absolutely hate the large grills on all their new versions. But the rear and the side profile is still better than the competitors in my opinion.
I would be neutral, but the large awkward grills on the front make me negative on this.

Voted neutral.
Most people buy Hyundai cars because of features and value for money on the stuff they pack inside their cars.
Between Hyundai (radical design) and Kia ( more conservative design), they are poised to capture a chunk of the market.
It's a good strategy.

You're right. The way grills are growing, I wouldn't be surprised if the bumper is 'all grill' on newer cars. What's with this 'showpiece/showcase' obsession, anyways!

Voted Neutral

They have come up with incredible designs, but have experimented too often. They get away because, their models don't stay that long. 3 years and they come up with a new one.