Hyundai just pulled the wraps off a mid-cycle update for its long-running full-size sedan, and the changes go well past a new bumper and fresh paint. The Korean-market flagship now wears a more aggressive face, hides a massive single-screen dashboard, and even lets you dim the roof with the tap of a button. If it sounds like Genesis territory, that’s because it is, just without the Genesis badge.
- Sharper “Shark Nose” front end with a slimmer LED light bar and a longer hood
- New 17-inch Pleos Connect touchscreen running Android Automotive OS
- First-ever Smart Vision Roof that toggles between clear and opaque glass
A Sharper Face With a Familiar Silhouette
The Grandeur turns 40 this year, having been around since 1986, making it one of the oldest nameplates in the company’s portfolio. For the 2027 model year, designers leaned into the heritage rather than away from it. The facelift includes an elongated hood, an emphasized “Shark Nose” front fascia, a new mesh grille, bezel-free “horizon lamps,” and fresh side elements on the front fenders, while the sedan stretches to 5,050 mm long, adding 15 mm over its predecessor.
The thinner light elements and a longer front end give the car a sharper, more modern look, while details like the C-pillar opera glass and frameless doors carry over from the original 1986 model. Out back, the full-width LED taillight bar slims down further and folds in the turn signals. A new shade called Artistic Burgundy, available in pearl or matte, joins the palette and pairs with a matching cabin theme.
A Cabin That Could Wear a Genesis Badge
Open the door and the change hits you right away. The centerpiece is a 17-inch touchscreen that replaces both the previous 12.3-inch infotainment display and the separate 10.25-inch climate panel, running Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect software built on Android. A slimmer digital instrument cluster sits further back on the dash. The infotainment hardware is shared with Europe’s new Ioniq 3, but the Grandeur gets the bigger canvas.
Hyundai didn’t ditch every button. Physical controls sit at the bottom of the touchscreen so drivers can hit key functions by muscle memory, which should keep the touchscreen backlash crowd happy. Less traditional are the air vents. Hyundai went with electric climate vents controlled from the touchscreen for both volume and direction, a call made mostly for style since the vents are now hidden from view on the redesigned dashboard.
Material upgrades match the screen real estate. Interior trim includes quilted upholstery, knot piping, and real wood and metal accents, all available in a new Artisan Burgundy colourway. The door trims feature a “couch pattern” with soft indirect lighting, mimicking the calm of a high-end lounge. Owners planning to keep theirs pristine will probably book a Hyundai service appointment more often just to protect those finishes.
That Roof Trick and What Powers It
One of the headline features won’t be visible until you look up. The 2027 Grandeur is Hyundai’s first production model with a Smart Vision Roof, a panoramic panel that switches electrically between transparent and opaque states. The film-based system can even split the roof into zones so front and rear passengers can choose their own level of sunshine.
Under the hood, expect familiar hardware. The pre-facelift car offered three options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter GDi making 198 PS, a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid with a combined 230 PS, and a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 300 PS and 359 Nm, all available in FWD or AWD. Those are expected to carry over unchanged. An electronically controlled suspension that reads the road ahead helps keep the ride smooth.
Why U.S. Buyers Are Stuck Window Shopping
This is where things sting for American sedan fans. The Grandeur was sold in the U.S. and Canada as the Azera until Hyundai gave up on the segment. It now reigns as Korea’s best-selling sedan and the country’s second-best-selling vehicle of any kind, trailing only the Sorento SUV. Stateside, the math never worked. Despite lining up well with U.S. luxury sedan tastes, the Grandeur is unlikely to return because Azera sales fell hard, dropping from 7,232 units in 2014 to 3,060 in 2017.
That leaves shoppers here looking at the Genesis G80 or G90 if they want a similar experience from the same parent company. The pre-facelift Grandeur started at 37,980,000 won in South Korea, which works out to roughly $25,700 at current exchange rates, making it a screaming bargain next to anything Genesis sells here.
The Sedan Americans Will Keep Watching From Afar
Big sedans aren’t dead, they’ve just moved to other ZIP codes. The 2027 Grandeur shows Hyundai still knows how to build a proper three-box flagship, with technology and materials that rival the German benchmarks and the brand’s own luxury arm. American fans may not get to park one in their driveway, but the spec sheet is worth a closer look anyway, if only to see where Hyundai’s design language is heading next.
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