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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  Good for Tall Guy - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Steve - December 5 - 11:36 am

  Review for Sonata GLS with floor mats and Bluetooth options only. Im 66" and this is one of the only cars in this class that I can sit in and be able to fit my knee between the steering wheel and center console. Only other acceptable car was Nissan cube, but it didnt have armrests. Plenty of head room and my view outside front window is not blocked by roof. With driver seat back fully, still room for passenger legs in back. 4-cyl engine has adequate acceleration for commuter car. Auto Trans shifts smoothly. Has more road feel through steering wheel than my old Jeep Grand Cherokee, but not unacceptable.

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  The Best Car I Ever Owned - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By Roger Barwise - December 5 - 3:09 am

  Dont be put off by age or styling but pay attention to the way the car has been cared for and maintained. I bought this car in 2013 and its a 1999. I paid $2500 for it here in Korea where Im living now. It was in mint condition and needed nothing. In the 2 1/2 years in which I have driven this wonderful car daily it has performed like a champ. Its only a 4-banger and I left a Ford Taurus V-6 24-valve OHC in LA before moving to Korea and I like this car better. It is so comfortable and gets great mileage. The 4-cylinder 16-Valve OHC engine really does perform. I can cruise at 160 Km/Hr all day long if need be. I have only had one problem in all the miles that I have put on this car: it needed a new head gasket (a relatively cheap job in Korea). After that all has been fine. The car had 90,000 Kilometers on it when I bought it and, despite the high mileage, I have never had a more comfortable or reliable car. I love this car and, after all these years, it still looks mint. One thing I particularly like is the cloth seats and cozy, comfortable interior. The air conditioner is powerful and cold and the heater will burn your ears off in the winter. I drive hard and fast and this car cooperates wonderfully with me. But one must maintain any car religiously with oil and filter changes and inspections. One of the virtues of this car is that it is long, wide and low with a low center of gravity and excellent road-holding qualities in curves and driving through the mountainous terrain of Korea. It hugs the road like nothing else Ive ever driven. It is, far and away, the best handling car I have ever owned --and at 65 years old--this is my 29th car! No kidding. Ive owned English, German, Swedish, American, and Japanese cars but this one does take the cake as the best overall, but I have always had a soft spot for well-performing 4-door sedans. I highly recommend this car to anyone and bear in mind Im still driving this 17-year-old car daily!

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  loving it - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By mike and deb - December 4 - 6:00 pm

  We only have 1200 miles on it so far but we are loving it. Getting better mpg already than expected...35-36 hwy. So quiet inside and runs very smooth. Biggest bang for the buck. Would recommend this car to all our friends and family.

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  great choice - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By david durot - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I have always had smaller cars for fuel efficiency. I drive 80 miles round trip to work. I am so glad I bought this car,. It gets better millage than my mini and the suzuki sx4, and the comfort is so much better. It has so much pep, i didnt expect it with the 4 cyl. The ride is true comfort and interior is awesome. The exterior is what caught my eye originally and everyone else s too. what a great value. do your self a favor and buy this car

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  Dont judge a book by its cover - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By steveb18 - December 2 - 12:26 pm

  This was not exactly a case of love at first sight. I needed a car for a weekend trip, and sitting in the rental lot, the Sonata was a blocky, nondescript presence. Like most cars in this area at this time of year, it looked as if it had been driven through a salt mine. Happily, my first impression was completely off base. If you want a classy set of wheels at a reasonable price, then this is the car for you. The gas mileage is improbably good. I was actually snivelling a little when I had to turn the keys back in.

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  Buy1 - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By pleased - November 28 - 11:16 am

  Superb Quality and safety features. Great value.

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  Camry & Accord killer - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Marce_us05 - November 27 - 7:10 am

  Im 20 years old and my stepdad bought me a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, my mom has a 2008 Toyota Camry and my 19 year old brother has a 2008 Honda Accord sedan, It cant get any better, we compare our cars on a daily basis both their vehicles were 20,600 for the Accord and 21+ for the v6 Camry. My sonata was 17,000 dollars and with the GLS i get many more features like the standard Ipod jack, Bluetooth connectivity, XM radio, MPG gauge,( Camry has none of that) and semi auto ( accord doesnt have it) I love the fact that i got a car just as good if not better for 3,000+ dollars less with the best warranty

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  best car ever - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By brillo - November 26 - 1:46 pm

  had a 2002 camry le.this car is 10 times better to drive ,better ride ,better breaks.best car i ever had.most fun to drive

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  I hope mine is Not a lemon! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Guy T. Neff - November 24 - 6:10 am

  I purchased the car on 4/2/06. I drove it to Florida on 4/7. Enroute,the "ESC OFF" and the ABS warning lights came on,and the brake lights stopped working. I took the car to a Hyundai dealership in Gainesville. They replaced the brake lamp switch,and reassured me that it was the cause of the trouble. While on the way back home, I dicovered that not only does the "ESC OFF" light still come on, but the brake lights stay on, the cruise control wont set, and the Check Engine light is on! The car is now at the dealership that sold it to me,awaiting proper repairs. I hope that they will be able to correct the problems,or I will seek relief under the NYS Lemon Law.

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  Noise - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By joystick1 - November 23 - 8:14 pm

  Shortly after receiving my Sonata, I noticed a burning smell in my garage. Then I looked under the car and it was undercoated. I sent a letter certified to the CEO noting the undercoating and I stated the only reason a car is undercoated in this day and age is to either reduce noise or eliminate vibration. Since I vever received a response, I sent a copy via regular mail. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from a women but she had no clue of what I was trying to convey. (The sonata supposed to have 14 anti coression emersions, more protection than a M-Benz) She said that she would have to contact engineering and would get back to me. She never did.