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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  Great Car! - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By lr2 - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I recently bought the LX after shopping around for a while, and absolutely love this car. The ride is smooth and quiet. The shiftronic is great for getting out in traffic, it also ads a sporty feel which I like. People are floored by the looks and the features in this car. I was looking at the Passat, Accord, and Camry, but I payed alot less and have a better looking car.

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  All I can say is WOW - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By mike91326 - March 4 - 10:00 am

  We recently purchased a 2003 Hyundai Sonata LX with package 7 and I cannot believe how much car you get for the money. While we were out shopping we decided to look at a Camry at our dealers ToyotaÂ’s store which was across the street from their Hyundai store. We found that a Camry XLS equipped like our Sonata LX would have cost almost $7,000 more. I know about HyundaiÂ’s past, but that was then and this is now. As fun and reliable as my 2001 Elantra has been, I could never justify spending $7,000 more for a comparable car.

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  Not bad..just needs a few tweeks - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By rdlnva - March 3 - 3:46 pm

  I bought new over a year ago and its been very reliable. Comfort ok but base model without lumbar adjustment i find myself moving around alot on a long trip. Gas mileage is good for this size car and so is power. Road noise is on the higher side though. Trans likes to hunt for the right gear alot. Now the Suspension really needs work here. Its was too soft and noisy. I know its a family car but I feel like driving a city bus around corners and the strut noise reminds me of a 20yo american car with bad shocks. Waiting on new design model coming out so hopefully that will kill the few issues. Overall not a bad car for the money!

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  Good so far - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By Gb - March 2 - 4:13 am

  So far the car is running great. I initially had some clanking noise when putting in "drive" but this has gone away now. Car is roomy and the interior does not look cheesy. The automatic air quality system is great. the trunk is roomy too. So far I am satisfied with the car.

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  3rd Hyundai - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By tcy1 - February 28 - 7:33 am

  I have had my car for 4 weeks and have logged over 2500 miles. The first thing to all of you with the pull to the left,It can be corrected by moving the frame. Mine is now fixed and runs as straight as an arrow. Anyhow this car is freakin awesome. The turbo is quick,smooth,and great on gas and this a truly great thing at $3.39 a gallon. The bluetooth is the best invention since sliced bread! XM standard! Who would have thought you could have so much for so little. This is our third Hyundai and wont be our last.

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  Nice car! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By willyut - February 27 - 2:48 am

  Was in the market for a fuel economical car and saw this little beauty sitting at the Chevy dealer. Traded in my 1996 gas guzzler Suburban for it. Wasnt sure about the brand Hyundai at first...so far Im impressed. The car is really sporty for a sedan and just has this clean & crisp feeling to it. It has plenty of gadgets to play with: blue-tooth, blue-link, radio with USB stick plugin, LCD display, etc. The automatic shifting in this car is a little weird but I think thats because its a 4 banger and it tries to keep you in lower gears so you have power. As for the power this thing GETS UP AND GOES! I thought getting on the highway was going to be a joke...I easily zoom past others!

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  Hyundai owner - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By hyundaiowner - February 26 - 7:30 pm

  I find the car fun to drive

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  Much like the cla-250 except done right - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Steve - February 22 - 1:21 pm

  There is a lot to like about this car. The ECO borrows a lot from the Mercedes CLA 250 which I also own. E.g. the trunk lid design is almost the same. I could trade in my benz for the ECO sonata,and probably not miss a thing. Pros: well designed, well executed car, a lot of common sense and standard options. 8 way automatic driver seat, quiet drive. A lot of torque, available all the way from 1500 rpm to 5K RPM. Same torque and torque curve as the CLA. (198 foot pounds) . Good fuel economy, takes regular gas. The standard tires are Michelin Energys now. Dual, scroll turbos, so no noticeable turbo lag. Smooth and fast shifting 7 speed dual clutch auto tranny. Again, similar to the cla 250, except the Hyundai is faster and smoother shifting. Nice standard telematics package with excellent iphone and android integration. Cons: The turbo is not covered untder the 100K powertrain warranty. This may be a reason for folks who want to keep the car post the b2b warranty to stick with the 2.4L engine ( ie the non-eco sonata). If the turbo goes, and you are out of warranty, it is an expensive repair. The car perhaps a tiny bit underpowered. No spare tire. More frequent oil changes needed (5k vs 7.5K). The turbo engine is more finicky than the 2.4 inline 4 engine, so fully synthetic oil is highly recommended. I wish the BSD side mirror was standard on the ECO. The lumbar support is not hgt adjustable. Service wise, Hyundai is trying to take a page from Mercedes, and bundle a long list of "check this and inspect that" with the oil changes, and charge you a ton of money. Mercedes has alternating A and B services, costing $200 and $400. (Effectively a glorified oil change. Looking at the service printout for the A service, they do not even bother to pretend they did anything other than changing the oil and the filter). Hyundai is trying to get you to have your service done at the dealer, and charge similar jacked up fees by bundling a long list of super-overpriced checks and inspections. They are trying to make it sound like they are doing all this work, to justify charging you a couple of 100 $ for an oil change. E.g.: they will change your wiper blades for 3x what it would cost you to do it yourself. If you buy into the concept, you can get some discount off their insanely priced maintenance. They have a service leaflet, you may want to peruse while you are at the dealer. I do all my own maintenance, following the users manual recommended service intervals and items, keeping detailed logs, and receipts. Do not be intimidated by a salesperson telling you that they will not honor the warranty unless you opt into their maintenance racket. By law they cannot force you to do your maintenance there. Update: I had a failed battery at 5K. The dealer service was total amateur hour. They admitted the battery was bad as they could see it draining down to nothing in 24 hours with no load on it. But they insisted the battery was fine, as their tester did not show a problem. Kept looking for a parasitic drain, despite of the fact that there was not one when monitoring the 2 battery terminals. They kept the car for a week, and wanted to give it back unfixed (no loaner) but ended up replacing the battery in the end after I yelled at them. 2 things I dislike about the car: the jack point markers can not be seen unless you neel down and bend way down to look for them. When need to change tires in the rain this is needlessly painful. It is hard to get at the drain plug and oil filter. Have to remove a panel with a bunch of bolts to get at them.

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  Former Toyota Owner - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By HappyCamper - February 21 - 10:43 pm

  Ive always driven a Toyota - my first car was a 1970 Toyota Spider and Ive driven Corollas and Camrys. Have always been pleased with the combination of reliability, features and price. When time came to look for a new vehicle, I decided to look at several - the Sonata, Camry, Accord and Fusion. Based on the dealer experience, features and price, I made the switch to Hyundai. Ive been extremely pleased with the car thus far. If the long term reliability matches my expectations, Ill probably get another Hyundai when my wife is ready to trade in her Camry next year. Have had the car for about 30 days and havent experienced any problems thus far.

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  Great Car - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Bill - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I have about 900 miles and cant be pleased more. I get about 35 hwy and 27 city. Im sure those figures will improve. Interior is very nice, more upscale than your typical car in this segment.