The 2015 Hyundai Sonata's styling may be toned down, but it remains a striking entry in a segment that has typically emphasized bland design.

First introduced in 1985, the Hyundai Sonata was a largely overlooked entry into the crowded midsize market, but that all changed with the launch of the 2011 sedan which quickly put to rest all those bad jokes and nasty reviews the Korean maker earned – often deservedly – during its early year in the U.S. market.

The sixth-generation Sonata broke the rather restrictive mold carmakers used when designing the midsized sedans. Instead of a drab, boxy silhouette, the recession-era Sonata was sleek, curvy and nicely proportioned. And it marked Hyundai’s coming of age as a serious global player – suddenly a serious challenger to top-rated Japanese brands such as Toyota and Nissan.

Now Hyundai is rolling out the Gen-7 Sonata for the 2015 model year, and while it has actually toned down the over-the-top styling that made the outgoing model a visual standout, the Korean carmaker intends to build on the value story that turned Sonata into a major hit for the company.

Overall, exterior styling of the new model is a touch more cautious than in the previous generation Sonata. If anything, it has followed the less (curves) is more philosophy of its Korean sibling, Kia. And perhaps that’s no surprise considering that Peter Schreyer, the man who almost singlehandedly reshaped Kia’s product line is now overseeing the design direction for both Korean brands.

Hyundai put an emphasis on fixing Sonata's weaknesses, such as its ride and handling.

Not a single body panel has been carried over from the outgoing sedan, says Hyundai, the maker suggesting its goal for the 2015 Sonata was to create the appearance of “an athlete in a well-tailored suit.” Perhaps, but it clearly won’t flag the attention of those who’ve not seen it before, not the way the old model did.

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Visually, the most distinctive feature is the new and larger trapezoidal grille that picks up the basic cues introduced on the newly redesigned Hyundai Genesis Sedan.

The interior of the 2015 Sonata also has undergone a major revamp and the new look suggests a more expensive car, certainly not the bargain basement entry that Hyundais once were.

The old version of the Sonata suffered from an overly cluttered center stack but while completely eliminated, the clutter has been reduced in the 2015 sedan, with the various controls now easier to reach and to use. Steering wheel controls for the audio system are now standard across all three trim levels. One quibble: the multi-information display in the gauge cluster, as well as the navigation and infotainment screen atop the center stack, are both a bit small to accomplish what they’re asked to do.

The interior of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is more upscale - and features plenty of space.

The new back seat is a particularly welcome change, especially for those who might actually want to fit a family – or a car pool – in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. It is about as close to the cavernous back seat of the Volkswagen Passat that we’ve seen in any other midsize model.

And it’s one of a number of shortfalls of the old Sonata that Hyundai set out to address with the 2015 remake. Another is an issue endemic to the maker’s entire line-up.   The new Sonata’s suspension has been completely reworked so that driving dynamics are much improved over the model it is replacing. The new suspension does a much better job of keeping the car planted through curves and on hills, and is much better at handling rough and uneven road surfaces.

The electric power steering on the new Sonata also was re-tooled to give the driver more feedback. It’s sharper and more responsive, helping to improve the handling. The Sonata also comes with solid brakes.

While styling was a major hallmark of the sixth-generation Sonata, another significant move was Hyundai’s decision to jettison its old six-cylinder powertrain. And the four-cylinder-only strategy is maintained with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.

The instrument panel of the 2015 Sonata is less cluttered - but the infotainment screen is small.

The base engine is a revised version of the 2.4-liter Theta II, which produces 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque.  A 2.0-liter engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger bumps that up to 245 horsepower and 260 lb-ft.  A six-speed transmission is standard with both engines and drivers can select sporty or comfort driving modes.

Fuel economy is estimated at 25 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway for the 2.4-liter engine and 23 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway for the turbo.

For the truly mileage-minded, another option for the Sonata is a turbocharged 1.6-liter Eco engine with 177 horsepower and 195 horsepower that gets 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

The 2-liter turbo has more than enough power but the base engine also delivers more than enough punch for day-to-day driving, at least for those who don’t need a sporty kick.

Hyundai isn’t yet ready to discuss plans for a hybrid model, so for that, stay tuned.

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The decision to go with the smaller engines was not just a matter of saving fuel – or simplifying factory complexity. It allowed Hyundai engineers to reshape the entire vehicle, one reason the cabin is so roomy.

As with the previous model, the 2015 Sonata will be offered only with four-cylinder engines.

As it has expanded its market share, Hyundai also has stressed new technology and the2015 Sonata features the latest iteration of the maker’s BlueLink connectivity system, which features a destination search powered by Google, maintenance alerts and a new Hyundai Assurance Car Care in-vehicle app.

Several other features normally found on more expensive passenger cars have also been added to the Sonata option list, including high beam assist, which automatically switches the headlights to lower intensity when oncoming traffic is detected,  LED daytime running lights and smart cruise control with full stop capability,

The Sonata also has a full-array of safety equipment, including a complete complement of airbags to protect front and rear passengers, electronic stability and brake controls.  Driver assistance features such as lane departure and blind spot detection warnings are optional, as is a back-up camera.

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Comfort and convenience features such as air conditioning and air filtration are standard but the panoramic sunroof, leather wrapped steering wheel and heated seats are optional.

Prices for the Sonata start at $21,150 for the base model with an automatic transmission, while different engine and equipment packages can raise the price to $33,525. Those figures exclude an $810 in destination fees automatically tacked on to every car.

The previous generation Hyundai Sonata was considered a terrific car despite its shortcomings. The 2015 Sonata is even better, and while not all its deficiencies have been corrected, it is now an even more formidable competitor in one of the toughest segments in the car business today.