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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  Sonata Limited - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By doug130 - January 19 - 4:03 pm

  Have 6000 miles .....just great around car..looks good...rides good...by far best value in this car segment. Have owned many hondas....the sonata is hands down a better value with same quality

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  sub-frame rust - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By leon - January 15 - 9:54 am

  within first 18 months, had transmision problems which took 7 months to correct under warrenty. sfter 96000 miles, 8yrs old, entire sub-frame rusted out. refused to cover under warranty, even though cause of rusting is due to manufacture defect.tatally unsafe, when rusting of sub-frame appears, control and steering of vehicle is next to impossible. someone will be killed before Hyundai opens it eyes.

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  1 Year FollowUp - NY/NJ Driver (mixed hw/city) - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By kososs - January 15 - 12:43 am

  I am at my 1 year mark and ~ 15K miles. I have noticed no deterioration in performance. Have not been in shop other than 3 oil changes with my mechanic (I was told not to go by the book for oil changes, I am using synthetic and change every 4.5K instead of books 7.5K). I drive to work in a carpool, drive my 4 year old to day care and take it weekend shopping. No problems with inertia front or back. No problem with seat fabric or plastics.

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  Test drive b4 you buy anything under 30K - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By VERY CLOSE - January 11 - 7:33 pm

  This car is a compromise between price and perfection. Unbelievably closer to perfection considering the price. In terms of the cost-savings per deveation from perfection, the Sonata shines. I adjusted the cost of the following cars for each "defect" that needed improvement(Test Drive Rating)/ (Value Rating)..VolvoS40 1/2, HyundaiSonata 2/1, HondaAccord 3/3, ToyotaCamary 4/2, MitsubishiGalant 5/4, Mazda6 5/5, FordFusion 5/5, & NissanAltima/(felt cheap). S40 had fewer deductions, cost much more. Camary cost slightly more & had a horrible door armrest, losing more points than Sonotas cruise/radio buttons on the steering wheel. Insurance savers on Sonata - etched glass & alarm - standard.

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  Practical comparision - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By easycheez - January 10 - 10:42 pm

  We needed a new family sedan. Researching new car w/3 criteria: price, roominess, and MPG. After comparing compact sedans, the Elantra was 1st pick due to MPG. We drove the Sonata, too. The price difference was enough to consider mid-size due to roominess. It was a toss up between the Sonata and the Ford Fusion. The scales tipped to favor the Sonata vs Fusion by: price, roominess, MPG, and the best warranty. Weve driven our Sonata from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and back. Average MPG hwy: 34.7 @ 75MPH. Average city/mixed MPG 27.8 @ 43 MPH ave; close to EPA rating. Only bad thing I can say about this car is road noise gets noticeable around 45 MPH and blind spots thru back window.

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  So far, so good - 2007 Hyundai Sonata
  By ericd - January 9 - 3:46 pm

  So far so good on a 2007 Sonata Limited. Very comfortable, quiet, smooth ride. Had a 2003 Sonata GLS . . . the 2007 is obviously a big improvement. Hyundai is offering some decent incentives: price at invoice, $1500 rebate, $500 loyal customer rebate and 2.9% financing. Service at the dealership was very very good.

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  A WONDERFUL CAR TO OWN & DRIVE - 2003 Hyundai Sonata
  By J.R.K. - January 9 - 10:00 am

  atention to fit and finish is evident throughout..smoothness of performance and adequate power is always there..economy from day one is meeting e.p.a.... between the beautiful style and features that are packed into this vehicle and backed up by the very generous warranty the future owners should have full confidence in purchasing this vehicle...

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  Great car, no complaints - 2015 Hyundai Sonata
  By Paul Cocke - January 8 - 10:40 am

  A few months ago, I bought a new 2015 Sonata Limited 2.0T. Hyundai moved from the Sport 2.0 with the Ultimate package to the Limited 2.0T. Not sure of the difference between the two but both have a lot of features. The Limited 2.0T I bought has the turbo paired with a four-cylinder engine (245 hp), leather, heated and cooled seats, panoramic sunroof, navigation, great sound system and a bunch of safety features, including rearview backup camera, smart cruise, blind spot warning, lane departure warning and a cool brake hold button that in stopped traffic lets you keep it in drive and take your foot off the gas pedal. I traded in a 2009 Sonata Limited V6 (which never had any problems – just did the regular maintenance and drove it to 108,000 miles before trading in and got another 100,000-mile Hyundai warranty). I test drove a lot of cars and SUVs and narrowed my final list down to the Sonata, Ford Fusion with turbo and AWD and the Suburu Legacy V6 with AWD. I have a 40-mile roundtrip commute on highways through the Cascade Mountains in rainy Washington State. I really wanted AWD because of the weather here but the Fusion and Legacy dealerships simply would not negotiate much of a deal with me. Also, the Sonata Limited 2.0T included many more features and, at least to my eye, the build quality appears really good. I was able to negotiate with several Hyundai dealerships and get good deals on both a substantially discounted new 2015 Sonata and above-Edmunds price on my trade-in. (Note in negotiating: get pre-approved for a loan then make dealerships compete on the price of the car; don’t get too picky on a color as that reduces your ability to negotiate. I made three different dealerships compete – via phone and email – on a price and worked the last one down another $1,000 from a price with incentives already $7,000 below MSRP. Then in the finance office I told them I was pre-approved and they actually got a loan via Hyundai at an even lower rate than my already very low rate). I love Hyundai’s long warranties but watch out for dealer options in the dealership finance office. Why do you need any extended warranties when the regular one is so good? One dealer option in particular, a high-tech service to track your car if stolen, is sometimes included in your contract. It sometimes is as high as $750 or $1,000! They told me it would lower my car insurance. Check with your auto insurance (my auto insurance covers my cars if stolen – no need for it). So far I love the Sonata. The steering is much, much better than my 2009 Sonata. It has three driving modes: Sport, Regular and Eco. The car really gets sporty in Sport and that’s a good time to use the paddle shifters. Eco is for saving gas. I drive mostly in the Regular setting. I liked the extra power of my V6 so was attracted to the turbo, which appears to be a very good engine with some notable differences. The V6 engine really was pretty fast, and could take off quickly. The turbo is not at all in the class of a V6 in starting out from a stop but in the mid-range speeds pulls very well, which is what I was interested in anyway in highway driving. I am getting about 32 mpg highway and about 26 to 27 combined, better than my V6. If you do much highway driving the smart cruise works well and is a great feature. The blind-spot detection has already saved me from an accident. The lane departure warning is annoying and you can turn it off. The cabin is large. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and weigh 260 pounds and am very comfortable (the front seats lower). The pull-down sunscreens for the back seats have been a huge hit with kids trying to take a nap. The navigation system is good. Very few beefs: the trunk is large but the trunk opening is narrow; I wish the audio/radio had a mute (maybe I just haven’t found it yet) and visibility is slightly obscured to the rear but the rearview camera helps with that. I don’t like the flashy chrome along the sides (tacky) but like the overall slightly Genesis look much better than the fluidic sculpture design of the previous model. The car is comfortable, very quiet, no rattles or squeaks and so far very enjoyable, with no problems. It does not have AWD and does not drive as well as the Fusion (though much better than the Legacy) but I overall am very happy with my purchase.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By Hugh G. Rection - January 3 - 1:55 pm

  I purchased this car used with 58000 miles on it. The Carfax report said that it had been a rental in its previous life. Despite that, this car looks great, drives great and even with a V6 is good with fuel economy. I have since put 12,000 miles on the car and have had no problems. Just put on some new tires and have been diligent with the oil changes. I hope this car performs for another 30,000 or so. Then it should be about time to buy a new Hyundai.(Ill get the warranty next time:)

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  BAD Choice - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By New Owner - January 1 - 4:46 pm

  I bought this car, after reading all the good things about it online, Plus good features and support. But after owning it from last 3 months, i feel it was a bad, Bad, BAD decision and i should have gone for Camry. The Vehicle has very high inside noise (No aerodynamics at all), Cold start is really really BAD and noisy. At just 5000 miles, it has started to have some vibration noise, Passenger side air bag OFF sign remains off even when person of 100+ LB sits on it, suspension is not very helpful in rough roads, sometime you literally feel like pushing engine to the full capacity, Driving is no fun, AM radio is not very clear. Never gonna buy anything from Hyundai EVER.