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 My SE! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By melibrarian - December 13 - 8:43 am

  Picked up my new Sonata SE a week ago and really love my car. NO rattles or noises to report. Driving it is so much fun as it hugs the curves and handles very well. Cant agree with others who say the acceleration leaves something to be desired; I find it zips along just fine, thank you. Yes, the low profile tires give a slightly bumpy ride and the horn is in dire need of a testosterone infusion. Lots of interior room, a very important factor since Im a large person, and comfortable seating in the front and rear. I optioned out of the navigation/moonroof package and dont regret it a bit. I havent enjoyed driving this much since getting my learners permit 30 years ago.

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  Simply a great value - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By M Heider - December 10 - 10:33 am

  Blown away by the overall look and feel of this car which cost $19,700.00 My friend has a G35 and I still cant figure out why anyone would pay twice the price for more horse power and a nav system. Just a great overall value for a driver who is financially smart without a need to impress.

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  Must Buy - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By Drew - December 9 - 10:53 am

  This car is the the most underated vehicle in the market. A must buy if you are looking at 4-door sedans. It has everything you need at a fraction of the cost, plus a great warranty. One word to describe this car...... SMART!

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  safty issue - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By walter37 - December 8 - 9:40 pm

  driver side floor maps are constantly getting tangled up with gas and break pedals the hooks installed cant keep them in place. Passengers side does the same but not a safety concern.

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  Good Car - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Punumscott - December 8 - 8:00 am

  A solid performer. 14,000 miles and no real problems. Have experienced same minor issues mentioned by other owners such as squeaky dash/window and unusual/rough gear changing with auto transmission. Handling is a little loose and suspension is a little rough and noisy. Random feature on infinity sound system has an irritating software flaw that causes it to play the same songs over and over again. On the positive side system sounds great.

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  Great Car, too bad there have been so many recalls - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Mary - December 7 - 11:44 pm

  I bought this car 1 month ago with about 85,000 on it for $11,999. I love how it feels and the acceleration and braking are exceptional. I bought one with Black Interior/Exterior color. It has a very sharp look and it definitely makes you look twice. The black Exterior is metallic and sparkles. I do notice a fair amount of light scratches in the paint but it is only noticeable if you are looking very closely at it. I like the heated seats and the Satelite radio. The stereo system is okay, have heard better thou. There is a considerable amount of rattling noise from the passenger door and the passenger seat has more vibration from the road then it should. I have to re-adjust the seat to stop it from rattlein. I live where the roads are rough and the cars suspension does not ride well on them. Im going to replace the tires with ones that are not high performance. I hope that will soften the ride. My car has had 8 recalls and the last one was in April and has yet to be repaired by the dealer. They are waiting from Hyundai on instructions on what to replace. It is the STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM recall. The power assist could fail without warning and make it hard to steer the car. If you buy one of these cars make sure all recalls have been taken care of. Which one should do with any car they buy but exceptionally the Sonata. My car is one of the cars that was assembled in Alabamba. A large number of engines have metallic metal shavings in the engine that can cause it to seize up. I had mine checked and they say it is not affected but still warranty the engine up to 125,000 miles or 10 years. I love this car but do wish I would have checked for the recalls before I bought it.

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  Some good and compromised quality issues - 2013 Hyundai Sonata
  By abjee - December 6 - 8:54 pm

  I own a Hyundai Sonata 2013 Limited and have put 18 K miles on it. Hyundai Sonata is a solid car overall with a powerful engine, great design and several added features for a lower price. It also has very good safety ratings (which hopefully will not be tested while I am on the road). But to gain on these aspects, there are some compromises made by the company in making this car, which are pretty glaring and somewhat annoying.

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  Super Buy - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Stan - December 5 - 9:10 am

  Compared to Toyota Camry, the Sonata LX is a super buy. Has all the added feature of the Camry at a much lower price.

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  Best vehicle for the money. - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By SAMSON - December 4 - 5:43 pm

  I recently bought my vehicle and other than having a slight noise on the window while its going up and down I must say Im quite satisfied for now.

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  FANTASTIC CAR! ZIPPY & GOOD LOOKIN - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Dan - December 3 - 11:16 am

  What a lot of car for the price! With incentives, this car came down to about 13,500! Feels like a luxury car, and drives like a sports car! I love it! It looks sporty too. Like a Jaguar, at a fraction of the cost. Hyundai knows what its doing!