Overview & Reviews

The Hyundai Sonata is a comfortable and likable midsize sedan that proves Hyundai can build cars that are not just easy on the pocketbook, but easy to live with as well. Like most vehicles in the midsize sedan class, the Sonata offers front-wheel drive, numerous safety features and a choice of trim levels that include sporty and plush variants. Setting the Sonata apart, however, is Hyundai's lower pricing and outstanding warranty coverage.

For the most part, the Sonata has kept getting better. The current model, in particular, is the most competitive to date. In addition to the strong value proposition, this Hyundai adds a few things previously not seen in this conservative nameplate -- namely, daring styling and sporty driving dynamics. Newer pre-owned Sonatas are also a solid choice, but models prior to 2006 remain a risky used-car proposition.

Current Hyundai Sonata
Although it's classified as a full-size family sedan by the EPA, the Hyundai Sonata still competes in the midsize segment. It's available in GLS, SE and Limited trim levels. Even the base car comes well equipped, while the SE features sporty suspension tuning and the Limited pampers its passengers with more luxurious features.

The standard engine on every Sonata trim level is a 2.4-liter direct-injected inline four-cylinder rated at 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-exhaust SE with the same engine makes 192 hp and 181 lb-ft. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine generating 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque is available on SE and Limited models. All Sonatas come with a six-speed automatic as standard.

Whether serving family car or commuter car duty, the Hyundai Sonata is a nice place to be thanks to its spacious cabin, comfortable seating, solid build quality and quiet highway ride. In reviews we've found that the Sonata provides spirited acceleration as well as responsive handling, with a slightly firm but still comfortable ride. Fuel mileage is also impressive, with 30 mpg being a realistic number for conservative drivers in mixed conditions. Our only notable gripes concern the relative lack of rear seat headroom for adults and a somewhat rough ride for the SE model. Overall the Sonata is rather impressive and deserves serious consideration from those shopping for a family sedan.

Used Hyundai Sonata Models
The current Hyundai Sonata represents the fifth generation in the car's lineage, and was introduced in the 2011 model year. That following year, the Sonata picked up the Blue Link telematics service and a higher-resolution navigation system display. A manual transmission was available for the Sonata GLS for these first two years, but was discontinued after that.

These Sonatas produced prior to 2014 differ in a number of minor ways. Styling was ever so slightly different, while they lack standard driver-selectable steering effort and the availability of certain features like xenon headlights and a blind-spot monitoring system. Also, the 2.4-liter engine made 198 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque (200 hp and 186 lb-ft for the SE) versus the current car's somewhat lower ratings.

The previous, fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata was produced from 2006-'10 and is really the only other version worth considering as a used Sonata. Initially, three trim levels were offered: GL, GLS and LX. The sophomore year saw a shuffling of the trim levels to the current format. Most notably, the sporty SE version debuted, wearing 17-inch alloy wheels and foglights.

Originally, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder produced 162 hp and was standard on the GL and GLS trims. A five-speed manual was standard (GL only for 2006) and a four-speed automatic was optional with this engine. Optional on the GLS and standard on the LX, SE and Limited was a 235-hp version of the 3.3-liter V6, matched to a five-speed automatic transmission. For 2008, the four-cylinder became standard on all trim levels and the V6 became optional. That year also saw a few more standard features added to the SE and Limited trims.

The biggest changes occurred in 2009 when engine outputs were increased (175 hp for the inline-4 and 249 hp for the V6) and the interior was spiffed up with a new dash and higher-quality materials. There were also two notable additions to the features lists -- a standard auxiliary audio jack and an optional touchscreen navigation system.

Prior to that, the cabin had respectable build and materials quality along with a precise feel to the controls. But it wasn't nearly as top-notch and had odd placement of the audio and climate controls -- the former was placed too high and the latter too low. Beyond that, the spacious cabin remained unchanged, and although the exterior had a few nips here and tucks there, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between Sonatas of this generation.

At the time, we found that the fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata prioritized ride comfort over precise handling. It smothered bumps well and delivered a luscious highway ride, but with its significant body roll and vague steering, it wasn't particularly fun to drive.

Power from the efficient four-cylinder engine was competitive, and although the V6 wasn't quite as potent as those in rival sedans, it still got the job done while returning good fuel economy. Inside, soft, high-quality plastics were plentiful, and the overall design was eye-pleasing.

Pre-2006 Sonatas remain a risky used-car proposition even though depreciation means they can be found at a bargain-basement price. Only in recent years have we seen the kind of build quality and structural integrity that might portend long-term durability.

Nevertheless, the previous (third) generation Hyundai Sonata was originally introduced for 1999 with a vastly improved appearance, far better engines and significant improvements made in noise and ride quality versus its lamentable predecessors. The base car featured a 138-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder and the GLS had a 159-hp 2.5-liter V6. These numbers may be different from what you'll find elsewhere, since Hyundai misstated its horsepower ratings prior to 2002, giving the Sonata 11 more horses than it actually had. As such, you'd be best to stick with Sonatas from 2002 or later, which were characterized by even nicer styling, a better interior and a legitimately more potent V6.

The second-generation Sonata was introduced for 1995 and offered improved fit and finish compared to its predecessor, but that's not saying much. It now had dual airbags, but no more power under the hood. For instance, the V6 only produced 5 more horses than the four-cylinder. For 1997, the Sonata was restyled dramatically, but not necessarily for the better. All in all, we'd avoid this car.

The same goes for the original Hyundai Sonata, first launched in 1989 to give Hyundai a player in the midsize family sedan game. Aggressively priced but sloppily built and saddled with weak, unrefined powertrains, the boxy first-generation Sonata did little to change the public's perception of Hyundai cars as cheap in more ways than price.

User Reviews:

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  Love this car - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By earthwormjim - December 28 - 7:38 am

  I switched over from a Toyota Corolla 2001 to a Hyundai Sonata 2011 GLS. I love it. When I drive down the freeway at 80 MPH it is a smooth ride. The engine appears great and everything about this car seems like it will last me a while. I am tall (63) which is why I needed a larger car. I have been very pleased. Also, I am the type to drive a car for 300,000 miles. I hope it will last me that long or even longer.

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  Smooth, quiet, powerful - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By kww - December 27 - 5:06 am

  This car is very smooth and quiet. While no sports car, it is more powerful than my previous two cars, a Taurus SHO, and a Maxima SE. The interior is very well done, the seats are extremely comfortable, and the stereo is excellent. Should be an outstanding interstate cruiser. Am averaging 25mpg in a mix of driving. The nav unit works quite well(after the original faulty unit was cheerfully replaced by the dealer). Very affordable with the rebate($3000). Outstanding value.

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  Waste of Money!!! - 2000 Hyundai Sonata
  By Amanda - December 24 - 7:33 pm

  I bought this car from my brother less than a year age, it doesnt even have 80,000 miles on it yet and the sub-frame has rotted out and has become undrivable. I dont understand how a car company can get away with using material that can get rotted out so quickly and pose a hazard to the peoples safety like that. I have had older cars that did not have these problems. On top of that I am having transmissions problems with it as well and my power window motor is fried. If I knew then what I know now I would have not bought the piece of junk. Hyundai should be ashamed and I am glad that I did not get in an accident with my children in the car due to this problem.

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  So Far, Very Good - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By camilio - December 23 - 12:42 am

  I was a Camry guy for years, having two in a row I kept for 9 years. After I started having problems with the brakes (and all the press), I decided it was time for a change. After 3.5 years (I bought the car in August of 2010), and 60,000+ miles, the car has done very well. The only problem was the battery did fail prematurely, but no other issues. The car is a beauty, I only paid 18K for it (base model), has great pickup, and handles a lot better than my Camry ever did!

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  06 Sonata is a winner - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By baltimorerider - December 21 - 7:36 pm

  Sold off my old Camry XLE V6, and got an LX V6 Sonta. It has every feature you find in higher priced cars, but sells for under 25K with better warranty. No more toyota for me. I also tested the 05 camry SE V6, and toyota dropped the ball; that car simply doesnt handle well even with the ESC. I looked at Avalon, and its much better but the price is 10K more.

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  What a Value - 2016 Hyundai Sonata
  By Brian - December 21 - 6:41 pm

  I bought a 2016 SE to replace my totaled 2013 Outback. I have had the car for 3 weeks and have 1500 miles on it. So far it has been great. I was initially attracted to the car due to the value. I received 5k off MSRP and was out the door for less than $20k. The only other midsize car that I could have gotten for a similar price was a VW Jetta and the Hyundai beat it in almost every way. In no way do I feel I compromised by not going with a more expensive midsize sedan (Accord, Camry, etc). The only feature that we did not get in this car that we wanted was heated seats (3k more to get the trim/options just to get the heating seats). Everything else we were looking for was included in the SE. 7 inch entertainment system with bluetooth/android auto, steering wheel controls, keyless entry, alloy wheels, and the best warranty out there. The car drives very smooth and was completely comfortable on a 800 mile road trip. I cruised at 80 with no issues and returned over 35 mpg on the trip with about 50 miles of heavy city driving thrown in. Car is quiet and smooth. The entertainment system is very responsive. The bluetooth syncs faster than any other car I have used. Rear seats have more space than the outback (we have very large car seats that fit just fine). Hopefully it proves to be reliable.

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  Great car, poor dealer customer service - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By jbartz - December 18 - 7:54 pm

  Great car overall. Chrome around the grill is bubbling but dealer wont cover b/c the car is 1000 miles over warranty for paint/trim - although its very apparent it has been that way awhile.

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  Sold on a Hyundai Sonata - 2010 Hyundai Sonata
  By Sonata Convert - December 18 - 6:10 pm

  Ive driven Toyotas all my life and theyve served me well. I thought Id never buy anything different (except maybe upgrade to a Lexus one day). This time around, I considered less expensive alternatives given the economy and all. I test drove the Hyundai Sonata GLS and it felt very similar to a Camry inside and out. The kicker for me was the price--I paid over $3K less for my Sonata than the lowest quote for a Camry. I remember Hyundais quality/reliability issues when the entered the US market in the 80s. But the 10year/100k warranty comforted me enough to make the switch. Of course, the Hyundai brand does not get the same respect as Toyota/Honda. But that might change soon.

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  Great Value - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By michael - December 17 - 1:48 pm

  My wife and I have had this car for two years. My two children have had older Sonatas and we all would buy another. Drives and feels like a more expensive car. Had a BMW and think this is a much better car considering the price difference. Have never had it back in the shop for anything. Never did like the exterior, but the new models are very nice.

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  Solid Car - Great Looking & Good Value - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By turtle_girl - December 16 - 12:06 am

  Have taken the car on a 700 mile road trip averaged 35 mpg and had a smooth ride. Never ever would have thought I would purchase a Hyundai in this lifetime but boy have they come a long way. Solid build, great look, and one pleased owner. Direct line 4 makes a difference good go power. Engine shifts smooth with the 6 speed trans and just hits 3000 RPM at 80 miles per hour (amazing). If you thinking about one, you honestly cant go wrong.