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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  Compares well to two Maximas - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Fasteddie - May 22 - 3:53 am

  At 30K mi in 3 years, I have absolutely no complaints. The power/smoothness/quiet/comfortable ride & build quality have made the V6 Sonata a pleasure to own. The only repair so far has been the drivers sun visor, which was replaced under warranty, and Hyundai has a redesign that corrected the flaw. Hyundais 60K mi bumper to bumper warranty is much better than the competitions. The engine burns zero oil, and holds 6 quarts. I get 27-28 MPG hwy consistently, & 22.1 MPG on my 20 mi commute to work. My car is loaded, and a comparably equipped Camry would have cost me $36K. Mine was delivered for $19.2K. How can you beat the value? Id buy another Sonata in a heart beat!

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  Turned It In - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By jenks - May 19 - 10:17 pm

  Ive never owned a car before that needed so many visits to the shop for things that shouldnt be going wrong. Ive had to replace the tires and rims at least 3 times because the rims arent sturdy enough to handle New England pot holes. Its been for parts falling out of the dashboard numerous times, the dashboard itself has been replaced, the recall on the passenger seat airbag, cracking in leather (dashboard again), issue with key ignition sticking when you start it. I think this car was built during a non pay week, just before a scheduled vacation!! Now the Santa fe we bought at the same time... the exact opposite, it has so far been a joy to own!

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  I love my Sonata - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By jannyr - May 18 - 10:00 am

  If you really want a great moderate sized car...check out the Hyundai Sonata. I surfed the web for months trying to locate a car I might like to buy. I ended up with the Sonata as my first choice and took the step and purchased it. It truly is a wonderful car. It has the feel of luxury rides like a dream, and the mileage is great. If you are looking for a beautiful a medium sized car with lots of class. Go for it! Take a test drive. It also included a rebate, 10 yr. 100,000 mile & 6 yr. bumper to bumper warranty. Even the paint has a 5 yr warranty. dont delay Sonata is the #2 rated car in America!

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  a real buy - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By zigzags - May 18 - 10:00 am

  we got good gas mileage over 20 per gal city driving .Did not hear any engine noise others were talking about.the car is a real bargain right now with the 2000 rebate

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  My 6 months of research paid off! - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By dani24 - May 17 - 8:54 pm

  Best car Ive ever owned, by far. I dont put many miles on it, so I expect to have this car for a long time. Gas mileage = 20-23 MPG -- wish it were better. Drives very nicely and quiet. The only problems have been the side mirror motors sticking (they "release" after I work the switch for a minute), and the power antenna not always going down all the way (one or two soft starts of the car usually fixes this). And, paint chips a bit too easily (from door dings). Otherwise, fit & finish are great. The upgraded cloth seats are plush and comfy. Leather dash/steering has held up beautifully. And the car looks like a hybrid Mercedes C Class and a Jaguar. Ive received many compliments!

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  Eye Opening Car - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By SmilinSquid - May 13 - 11:16 pm

  I recently bought a 2007 Audi A4 for 30K dollars. Nice car and I love it. Went to the Hyundai dealer recently and bought a 2008 Limited Sonata for my recently widowed mother. WOW! The Sonata is a VERY nice vehicle! The fit and finish is impeccable, and the V6 has plenty of pep. The exterior lines and dual exhausts are quite attractive. The 5 year warranty and standard safety features, along with Hyundais vastly improved record for quality (JD Power reports) nearly sold the vehicle by themselves. Having driven it, I cant help but think I overpaid for my Audi! The leather seats, quality components and user- friendly controls are nearly on par with my A4. Hyundai hit this one out of the park!

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  Sonata Limited 2.0 PZEV - 2017 Hyundai Sonata
  By Barbie - May 12 - 7:12 pm

  I owned an Audi A4. I tested a BMW, like the way it rode but did not like the interior (for a female) controls too complicated. I tested the good old Camry XL, the materials and quality of everything that was Camry has deteriorated. Its not the same Camry I knew and owned in the past with very cheap materials. It felt like the old Toyota Tercels inside. I test drove an Accord for two hours. It does not handle bumps very well. If you have any issues with your spine, neck, hips this car was like driving a washing machine. The next day I had pain in my pelvis, which I never had before and spent a full day in bed on a heating pad.I test drove the Fusion, that car shook so violently, its just the way its made. Then I drove the Sonata Limited 2.0. It rides perfect, handles bumps like cushions. The inside is very nice, quiet. The layout of the instrumentation is so easy and logical I didnt even need to look at the book. It brakes great, I have cross traffic alert and all the bells and whistles on it. It was $30,000 and I leased it for 3 years for 14,000 including tax and tags. We drove this car out of state on a long trip and it drove and handled like a dream. There is not one thing I can say about this car thats negative. I wish I had test driven the Sonata 2.0 Limited before I tried the other cars. If you want a car that rides like a dream, gives you plenty of rear seat room, air conditioned front vented seats, good braking, great visibility, better headlights than the Audis expensive lights, this is the car for you. Seriously. I spent almost a year looking for cars. I had parked this car in a parking lot and when I came out, I went over to the Audi A6 that was the same size and looked exactly the same (except for the front grille) and thought it was my Sonata. Yes, its that good and half the price of the A6. I had test drove the A6 as well and I didnt like the heaviness of the car plus the complicated information system and the "Ipad" that sticks up from the dashboard blocking your view of the street. Everything about the Sonata was perfect. Im seriously considering leasing again when the 3 years are up. I recommend this car and test drive it against the Camry and youll see what Im talking about. The Limited Sonata has 17 inch wheels, the base has 16. I have the 17 inch wheels which are better than 16. The Audis have low profile tires, which means far less cushion on the road and a harder stiff ride. I have never driven a car so comfortable as the Sonata, so if your thinking of this car, especially if your a female or older, I highly recommend it. I get approx. 35 mpg mixed highway and local. I cant put in the amount in the chart below for some reason.

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  Great Car - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By timmy - May 11 - 6:13 pm

  Bought the car about 3 months ago, have over 6000 miles on it. Very comfortable, decent acceleration, average almost 32 mpg combined unless I am hard on it.

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  1 year review - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By James - May 11 - 5:10 am

  Review: 10 months, 10,000 miles, relatively heavy-footed and agressive driving style. If curb appeal is your thing, this is definitely your car. My metallic-beige LmtEd draws glowing comments (inside and out) everywhere it goes. Power and refinement remain excellent as well. In a recent 2000 mile trip I rarely cruised at below 80 MPH, often hit 100 effortlessly, and topped out at 120 for one memorable 45 minute stretch. Nitpicks: The handling is somewhat mushy. The car needs a performance handling option. The mileage could be better. I know, I drive too fast. The steering wheel stereo controls could incorporate MANY more features using only the same amount of buttons.

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  Great bang for the buck - 2018 Hyundai Sonata
  By Benjamin A. - May 10 - 6:15 pm

  As much as I want to say that my new car is great in every way... It isnt. But its extremely GOOD and very well priced. The interior materials use hard plastics in very unfortunate places (hurts to rest elbow or side of knee on door panel!), the seat bolsters arent big enough for slippery leather, and winter traction has been downright alarming. On the other hand, the stereo has absolutely fantastic sound, the car has a very comfortable suspension and steering, and while it is on the slow side, its great for cruising once youre up to speed. Fuel economy has also been better than expected. The place where it really shines though, is price. It was a full $4000 less than similarly outfitted midsize sedans. While it isnt the best car Ive ever owned, its not far off, and the value-for-money is outstanding.