1FstYota
Registered Member
Well since Hyundai was nice enough to get me a 2018 3.8 AWD ultimate loaner, I was able to get familiarized with it and give you a quick comparison between the 18 and 15 and what are some of the pros and cons if anyone is interested.
2018
Pros
+Chassis feels a bit tighter, suspension feels a bit more compliant than 15, but I did see that tire pressure was at 29 and I usually have mine at 34 to 36 psi.
+I like the 2018 model year 18in wheels, but this is personal preference.
+The 360-degree camera is awesome for parking in tight spaces and looking at the front curb so you don't scrape up the front.
+The new updated front end and rear end is nice but looks more like a Chrysler now. The front end has more chrome, but it’s not the satin chrome, this I don’t like because it seems like an afterthought when the rest of the car is satin chrome and you have this bright chrome bar in the front bumper.
Rear bumper lower valance looks great.
+LED active headlights are awesome; the light output is a lot crisper than the 15 HIDs, with better cutoff lines and the active up down left right is nice.
+Heads-up display font seems to be a bit different looks sharper as well, but this could be the aftermarket front windshield they put on when I got the car.
+Engine and trans combo def different, I like the 8 speed in the 18 it seems a bit more responsive, not A7 in dynamic mode responsive but a tad better than the 15.
+Lexicon seems to have a bit more bass in the 18 at the same Treble/mid/bass settings, there is also more volume adjustments and two settings for surround.
+sunglass holder creaking is gone.
Neutral
-The gauges are a bit different, they have analog fuel and temp gauges, it makes the dash a bit busier, the center screen is now revised looks sharper and more responsive, and more options for various settings. The gauges themselves are okay, I would rather the 15 tach and speedo and the new center screen.
-Android auto couldn't get it to work might be cause the missing maps SD card.
-Speaker grills are now chrome on the upper parts of the doors looks a bit fancier.
-Steering in normal seems revised, its takes a bit more effort now in normal mode, Sport mode feels the same.
-The new electronic shifter. It’s def a love or hate on this. I like how fluid it is to move it from R N to D or vice versa. But hate the awkwardness of pushing the P button to park, it doesn’t flow or feel natural. You can active the manual mode via the paddles, and it seems to stay that way, to engage it back to auto just slap the shifter to D again.
-Engine doesn’t have the same growl, I do have a K&N in my but it sounds a bit sportier in the 15 than 18. I did look at the intake setup and does appear to have the same resonance chambers and pipe setup. Maybe I just need to break it in for them a bit more.
Cons
-Already have the same squeaks and rattles, this car has a worse panoramic roof rattle than my car, and I hope they don’t introduce this when putting in the new seals.
-Same seals on the panoramic roof as well, no revisions here, like I expected this probably won’t change until Gen 3 G80 at this point.
These are probably the only negatives I have, otherwise its 95 percent the same as the 15 to me except the engine and trans updates which feels a tad better.
2018
Pros
+Chassis feels a bit tighter, suspension feels a bit more compliant than 15, but I did see that tire pressure was at 29 and I usually have mine at 34 to 36 psi.
+I like the 2018 model year 18in wheels, but this is personal preference.
+The 360-degree camera is awesome for parking in tight spaces and looking at the front curb so you don't scrape up the front.
+The new updated front end and rear end is nice but looks more like a Chrysler now. The front end has more chrome, but it’s not the satin chrome, this I don’t like because it seems like an afterthought when the rest of the car is satin chrome and you have this bright chrome bar in the front bumper.
Rear bumper lower valance looks great.
+LED active headlights are awesome; the light output is a lot crisper than the 15 HIDs, with better cutoff lines and the active up down left right is nice.
+Heads-up display font seems to be a bit different looks sharper as well, but this could be the aftermarket front windshield they put on when I got the car.
+Engine and trans combo def different, I like the 8 speed in the 18 it seems a bit more responsive, not A7 in dynamic mode responsive but a tad better than the 15.
+Lexicon seems to have a bit more bass in the 18 at the same Treble/mid/bass settings, there is also more volume adjustments and two settings for surround.
+sunglass holder creaking is gone.
Neutral
-The gauges are a bit different, they have analog fuel and temp gauges, it makes the dash a bit busier, the center screen is now revised looks sharper and more responsive, and more options for various settings. The gauges themselves are okay, I would rather the 15 tach and speedo and the new center screen.
-Android auto couldn't get it to work might be cause the missing maps SD card.
-Speaker grills are now chrome on the upper parts of the doors looks a bit fancier.
-Steering in normal seems revised, its takes a bit more effort now in normal mode, Sport mode feels the same.
-The new electronic shifter. It’s def a love or hate on this. I like how fluid it is to move it from R N to D or vice versa. But hate the awkwardness of pushing the P button to park, it doesn’t flow or feel natural. You can active the manual mode via the paddles, and it seems to stay that way, to engage it back to auto just slap the shifter to D again.
-Engine doesn’t have the same growl, I do have a K&N in my but it sounds a bit sportier in the 15 than 18. I did look at the intake setup and does appear to have the same resonance chambers and pipe setup. Maybe I just need to break it in for them a bit more.
Cons
-Already have the same squeaks and rattles, this car has a worse panoramic roof rattle than my car, and I hope they don’t introduce this when putting in the new seals.
-Same seals on the panoramic roof as well, no revisions here, like I expected this probably won’t change until Gen 3 G80 at this point.
These are probably the only negatives I have, otherwise its 95 percent the same as the 15 to me except the engine and trans updates which feels a tad better.
