The headlights are more than cosmetic. The small low-beams are not the blue-tinted xenon lamps, but halogen projector lamps that produce a uniformly bright pattern that's complemented by very bright high beams. Good headlamps are extremely important, especially on dark and stormy nights, and the Sonata's are excellent.

The Sonata's pull-type door handles feel solid and don't feel like they'll break when you need to pull open a door frozen shut. It unlocks easily via the keyless remote fob, of course, and the doors close with a solid thunk.