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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  Previous Toyota and Honda owner - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By albad - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Overall, this is a very good car. Good acceleration although a little slow to start. Very smooth and comfortable. Generally quiet. Looks great. Ive owned a Toyota Camry and a Honda Prelude in the past. As far as I can tell, this car is about as good as those cars but $5000 less. I refuse to pay extra for the Honda and Toyota name even though I was happy with those cars. I did a lot of research and its true that Hyundai are much better cars now. Very few regrets so far. The way I look at it, Hyundais are a steal right now because theyre reliable but because they havent caught on with the public yet, their prices arent ridiculous.

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  2011 stunning Black on Black limited - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Heather - November 22 - 5:00 am

  Absolutely the most beautiful car I ever had. I cannot believe the drive, smooth and powerful

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  the best choice ive ever made! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By joe c - November 21 - 11:33 pm

  what a beautiful car! it looks so good, and wherever i go i get a great compliment. hyundai has changed forever. my perception has changed forever. this car blew my mind, and it looks so much better than my previous 03 accord, and it costed me 4 grand less than my previous accord. its roomier, and the overall exterior is so much appealing than my accord!

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  well worth the money - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By value buyer - November 21 - 12:56 am

  Sonata beats other cars in its class when it comes to the performance/price ratio.

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  Very good car...but not perfect - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Henry - November 19 - 2:43 am

  With one exception, this has been a great car. The drivers side seat (non-powered but adjustable)has a squeak that has not been "repairable" after the third visit. The seat is comfortable, but squeaks at stops and starts. It can get rather annoying. Otherwise the car has been all that I could ask for, especially at the price.

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  Very happy with this car! - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By wdlp65 - November 18 - 5:33 am

  I just bought this car last week, and I have to say it has to be one of the coolest cars Ive ever owned! You cannot believe all of the features you can get on this car, all for under $25,000 dollars! Took it to the hand car wash and the man at the window looked in the camera screen and said "you own the Audi?" Wow! The car looks great and runs even better, what a great car and a great deal.

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  Love it. except for the shimmy - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By JD - November 17 - 9:03 am

  I love so many things about my new Sonata, but i am really puzzled by the violent shimmy I experience when I open the rear window while driving at highway speeds. It is scary and i wonder if others have experienced this crazy behavior and what I might do about it. Seems to me that this should not happen with such a nice car in every other respect. Any opinions or suggestions? JD

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  Phenomenal bang for the buck! - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By Sedan Lover - November 16 - 10:00 am

  The Sonata is truly a steal at under $20,000. The leather in the LX is supple, the faux-wood trim looks anything but fake and the automatic climate control with air (I believe polen) filter is a nice feature for lazy drivers such as myself. The car rides smooth and feels solid with just the slightest understeer at higher speeds. The child safety features are wonderful. They made putting my dughters car seat in a breeze!

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  02 sONATA - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By PLEASED - November 13 - 10:00 am

  The four cylinder engine was supriseing at expressway speeds. fully loaded, Myself, 210lbs, son, 285lbs, wife 200 lbs. plus luggage Through the hills of Kentucky and Tenn. The car never bogged down from 80-85mph. very supriseing. The car was reasonably confortable, and handeled well at all speeds. It also looks good. I had thought about buying a 6 cyl, but can see no reason to do so. I averaged 30 mpg. from Ohio to the gulf coast. Its well worth the money. The warrenty is a giant bonus.

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  Better than most - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By J. Carson - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I shopped for other similiar vehicals and couldnt get the extras that I wanted at the price I wanted until I found the Hyundai. You get a lot more car for your money with this car.