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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  First Day - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By Lumbermoto - August 26 - 4:03 pm

  I took delivery of my Sonata SE this afternoon and I am really impressed so far. For years Ive wanted a 4 cylinder with a 5 spd that was fun & value packed for a reasonable price, a la Hondas of years past. I had heard about the big rebates and called a dealer for a quote. They had the car I wanted in NC. The dealership sent drivers to get it and bring it back to Atlanta. Then they installed black leather and delivered it to my office for free. The paper work was as agreed, so no drama there. They threw in tires for life (sweet!) and I got it for less than 18 grand out the door which is just unreal. This car has so much value packed in it. Super nice & safe.

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  A good value but at what price? - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By CADixon999 - August 24 - 11:43 pm

  Overall, my 2009 Sonata GLS has been a dependable car for a very good price. I, like many others, have the dash/windshield creaking problem. This did not fully develop until around one year of ownership. The noise is present with every movement of the car (light acceleration, braking, undulation) not just over speed bumps or potholes. Call me OCD but it is so annoying, that I am about to dump the car at a loss. The dealer did try to fix the problem by re-seating the windshield but the noise is even worse after their "fix". If you can live with sub-par build quality and rattles, then the Sonata is a good deal. I am going back to a REAL foreign car like Honda or Toyota!

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  Great Car! - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Robert Demick - August 21 - 4:56 am

  Went to a local auto show to look at buying a Camry, Accord, Altima, or Malibu. I kept going back to look at the Sonata vs the other cars and concluded it was every bit as well built for thousands less. I did some more research and bought the Sonata. If all the cars were the same price I still would have picked the Sonata. The fact that it was thousands less was just a bonus and it has a warranty that the others wont even attempt to compete with. The car drives very nice and is very comfortable and quiet. The 4 cyl. engine delivers more than adequate performance and on a recent highway trip I got over 35 mpg. Great Car!

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  nifty car - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By markopolo40 - August 20 - 6:20 pm

  Got the new GLS V6 a few a days ago. We also own a 2003 model. The two cars are not really comparable as the whole concept got big improvements. mix of accord, camry and a bit of audi feeling (interior). Engine power is much greater, ride is very smooth, noise even further reduced and all important safety features are standard. price vs feature/quality is probably one of the best ratios out there. The seats could use some improvements and the mirrors should be collapsable. I drive about 30K miles a year and I think the car will prove a reliable and enjoyable workhorse. Too bad Hyundai doesnt offer a navigation system to top it of.

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  Sonata Shortcomings - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By John - August 20 - 2:00 pm

  Gas mileage is suspect. While local driving is OK, highway mileage is low. Ive gotten 25 MPG when driving on Interstates at the posted speed limits. When I asked about the mileage, I was told that the tests were done with 91 octane, which is not mentioned on the window sticker. It is in the owners manual, but one does not see that until he/she is the owner. Frankly, I was disappointed that I can only get the low end of the mileage range with the recommended octane gas--87 octane. I dont believe the warranty lives up to the hype. If it does, why do I need to pay $1593 for additional warranty coverage?

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  Great Warranty, but needed it too often! - 2001 Hyundai Sonata
  By talie - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because of the price and the warranty and those were the reasons I liked it. Until sensors started going out, the airbag light was on, rotors went bad, and I had to have it hauled to the dealer too often for my liking. Dealer was great, they repaired it nicely and really stood by the car, but it hasnt been as reliable as I need a car to be. Its at the dealer now. ANOTHER sensor went out at 53,000 miles. This is the last time Im doing this. As soon as I get it back from the repair shop Im trading in before the warranty expires because this particular car really needed the warranty to make it worth keeping.

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  Real Head Turner! - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Kajun Girl - August 16 - 5:46 pm

  I just bought my Sonata SE yesterday. After test driving more than 20 vehicles, this was the most comfortable and easy to handle, plus the price was AWESOME and the features were unmatched! I have gotten so many compliments on the sporty style of it too, plus is has so much cabin space! Its a real head turner on the road!

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  A Hyundai Hooner - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Kris C. - August 16 - 1:20 pm

  After having many cars spanning many years (Im a car junkie), I can say that I enjoy this Sonata. PROS: The design is great. The ride is comfortable. The steering is smooth and effortless. The engine is quiet and moderately powerful. The HVAC performs flawlessly. It feels as though there is a stop-neutral feature (I personally like this, but one has to remember to give the pc a second to engage before throttling). The engine idles smoothly and the transmission shifts perfectly (despite the fact that it has an electronic throttle module (and likely a TCM elsewhere) placed right at the front of the engine for all of the radiant radiator heat to blow on it, will see how that device holds up over time). Tire and rim sizes are perfect (that doesnt always happen). The interior visibility is good with the exception of the rear window (I use blind spot mirrors so I dont look back there nor do I turn my head to look out windows when lane changing, it isnt necessary). When braking, I really enjoy that the transmission gears down, finally creeping up to a stop, I have had to only put forth minimal effort when braking. CONS: I have only had the car a very short time so my input is biased (I love this new car) and questionable and any rating regarding reliability isnt valid. I cant say enough how much I hate plastic components bolted onto a hot metal engine, that said, I dislike the plastic intake manifold. The Electronic Throttle Module is located at the front of the engine, uncovered, unprotected from radiant heat and water/particles from the grill (I had a Volvo and plenty of Fords with that darned ETM... There is body roll when cornering, but that is to be expected with most mid-class mid-size sedans.

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  best car we ever had - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By lella - August 14 - 2:00 am

  nothing has gone wrong with this auto since we bought it.

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  Worth a look. - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By Unexpectedly nice - August 12 - 9:03 am

  Received this car as a rental for a week inplace of my Cadillac(what! no devilles for rent!,lol). When i got in this car i noticed it was quite decent. It was fully loaded but did not have leather(Hyundais leather is cheap and rubbery anyway). This car accelerates, brakes and handles well, had a robust V6, sunroof, good sound system. For what? $18-19k, and thats without any discounts. I must note this car does have questionable high-speed handeling.