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 new 2011 Sonata Limited - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By Carl - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Beautiful car. Just bought it but 4 days later, Air conditioning failed, here in Florida, not a good thing. Took back to dealership today and they had to order a part. High pressure A/C line got a leak.

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  Suprised - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By New Hyundai Buyer - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I have really been surprised and happy with my purchase. I bought the 2011 Hyundai Sonata limited version. I was hesitant to buy it because I dont like the look of other sonatas but i saw this and liked it. I traded in my Yukon for this to save on gas and that has paid off Big time!! I am averaging 32 mpg in the city! Ride is smooth and I receive so many compliments on my car. People think its a Mercedes or Lexus at quick glance. I am very pleased with this purchase.

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  Surprised Owner!!!! - 2005 Hyundai Sonata
  By Mr USC - January 8 - 9:13 am

  I was thrust into the car market by a car thief. I had some fast research! This car has exceeded my expectations! I challenge you to find the quality and value for a new car with all the features - Leather seats, front & side airbags, sunroof, V6, luxury interior trimmings, outstanding warranty program, road service, special rear view mirror and just pure value that the Sonata offers! Good Luck! If you are in the market for a mid-size sedan (Toyota Camry or Honda Accords or Civic) my personal recommendation is to take a Sonata V6 for a test drive, then use the money you just saved to take your new car for a cruise up the coast!

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  love it - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By maryann - January 8 - 5:40 am

  great car! Hyundai has done a wonderful job making an affordable family sedan.

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  Great Value...Great Ride - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By Johnny_Bravo - January 7 - 2:36 pm

  Just purchased vehicle a week ago and already have over 500 miles on it. Drives great...ride is smooth and acceleration is more than adequate..shifting is very smooth. Took it on trip and it gave me 27.5 mpg driving between 75 - 80 mph. Not bad! Avg mpg in the city 20 - 22 mpg. I traded my gas guzzling 06 Nissan Titan Crew Cab and dont regret it. I dont miss the power and the ride is much more comfortable. The high safety rating is a plus for my 1 yr old son :) I would recommend this car or any Hyundai to anyone. My wife drives a 08 Santa Fe and we are also very satisfied with both our vehicles.

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  Great Car..You cant ask for more - 2009 Hyundai Sonata
  By rmiller - January 6 - 4:20 am

  Had to trade my 02 Celica and did a lot of research.Found my Sonata w/30k miles and cant believe what a great car it is. Im 54 and have owned about 20 cars, foreign and domestic and love this one. First trip was 200 miles thru a blizzard and it soldiered right thru,nary a twitch. The four cylinder engine has plenty of power and gets close to 40 mpg. Electronic stability control, supportive seats, satellite radio, plenty of airbags, smooth/quiet ride and lots of room. What more can you ask for? My friends who own Accords and Camrys were stunned...especially when they found out how much more they spent.

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  More than expected - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Tony - January 4 - 5:40 pm

  Driving is excellent, great accelaration. Car was a showroom car, with euro body kit and 20inch rims. Seats are comfortable, dash board is nicely done. Woodgrain gives it a nice touch of luxury feel. Getting compliment from friends and co-workers about the look of the car. Most are suprise its a Hyundai.

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  LA Zoomin! - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By oliman06 - January 4 - 3:43 pm

  Coming from a BMW automobile, the driving dynamics of this car simply does not compare, but as far as fit and finish, features and horsepower, this car trumps many cars in and out of its class. 274hp, sexy lines and spacious trunk. The dealership experience at Keyes Hyundai in Van Nuys, California was a sigh of relief for me... sleazy tactics but they did have an "add on" cost on top of the sticker price but I was able to get the deal I want without the headache.

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  Love my car. - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By Jim K. - January 3 - 8:27 am

  This car is totally awesome. Love every bit of it.

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  Hyundai Lease Problems/ Shady Business Practices - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Mark H. - January 3 - 8:24 am

  Consumers, I am reaching out to you pertaining to lease issues I am having with a 2015 Hyundai Sonata as it pertains to shady business practices by Hyundai. I wanted to bring various items to your attention in effort to help warn other consumers of what they could face when leasing or buying through any Hyundai dealership. Since Ive leased my car back in October of 2014, I have had to have two tires replaced and a third tire now has two patches in it. I have had one windshield crack from something hitting it on an highway, and when I tried to get it replaced under a warranty sold to me by a dealership, they tried to void it by not allowing me to bring in my car soon enough for the warranty to cover it. By the time the dealership accepted my appointment, the crack spider-ed out, which voided the warranty. I had to e-mail Hyundai Consumer Affairs to get them involved. They ended up sending me $500 to cover the cost of my deductible to fix the repair. Currently, my car is at the dealership getting repaired because I am now facing problems with my second windshield as well as another major problem that I will talk about later. Overnight last week, the windshield cracked within the glass itself by the radio antenna. I believe it had to due with the sudden change between the hot and cold weather. When I contacted a person with Hyundai Consumer Affairs, he informed me today that Hyundai is ordering the glass for my car, but is only willing to pay half of the amount. The glass would cost $750 so they would cover $375 and they want me to cover the other half. The rep told me that his area manager looked at the pictures and said the glass isnt defective, but he couldnt provide the rep nor myself a reason as to why its not defective. I told the rep that his manager needs to provide me with a proper and professional response as to why its not defective and to inform his boss that I am not at fault for the glass cracking, and its clear that its defective. The rep looked at the pictures sent from the dealership and could tell it wasnt my fault as well as the dealers manager. The rep also informed me that they have this same problem with windshields with other Hyundai models, but not the Sonata. I told him, that alone means it could happen to the Sonata if its happening with other models. In addition, if the company did not feel that it wasnt defective nor were they at fault, then they wouldnt be offering to pay for half of the cost for the windshield repair. I told the rep to tell his boss that the company needs to cover the full cost of the defective glass as well as provide me with a better explanation other than, "its not defective." Please also note, I did not give permission for Hyundai to order and replace the glass at a cost to me. Its something that they chose to do on their own terms. Furthermore, if they are wiling to cover up to $375 for the repair, then why cant I bring in an outside company like I did the first time and Hyundai pay for the repair? I dont understand why Im being forced to go through Hyundai and for the windshield to cost $750. In addition, my Bluetooth system has gone out and I had to reset it twice for it to work. Also, the car was advertised to get 37 mpg on the highway and it only averages 27.7 mpg. Finally, the biggest problem I am facing and warning consumers is that my car has had several little misfires that have turned into bigger concerns. The little misfires cause the car to give a burst of acceleration while driving. However, the bigger concern is that when I have been stopped in morning or rush-hour traffic coming off the highway or being on the highway, the car randomly shakes, revs up, and tries to accelerate while the car is stopped and the brake is applied. There has been no set pattern of occurrence. Every time this has happened and the car has been taken to a dealership, I get told that the dealership could not duplicate the situation and to bring it in if it does it again or as its happening. Ive contacted the BBB about all of this. They have sought out a manufacturing rep from Hyundai for mediation. The mediation has not taken place yet, but I was told by a BBB rep that the Hyundai rep said all that they will do is to honor my "New Car" Warranty, which protects the car up to 5 years and 60,000 miles. Its a basic warranty that you can get with the car and the company must honor if its purchased. Hyundai is not offering to help me, except to honor a warranty that they must honor in the first place which does nothing for me in this case. The danger is whats happening with the car. Its life-threatening to myself as a driver, any passengers riding with me, as well as drivers around my vehicle. It seems to be that in order for Hyundai to take a costumers safety seriously, something dramatic must happen first. Otherwise, they offer no help nor support.