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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  my 2002 sonata experience - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By rashaun - October 18 - 11:34 pm

  I have owned the car for 5 years. First let me tell you for the first 60,000 miles zero problems as long as a kept up the maint. After tho power steering pressure hose burst 560.00, ignition crank sensor failed 600.00. During this time many interior and exterior pieces started coming loose and generally looking bad. struts now bad too. 75,000 miles the timing belt fails and destroys the engine to the point where it needs a rebuild. Id ditch the car after 60k, its resale value is so low its not worth the repairs. now have a year old toyota and a six thousand dollar paper weight.

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  I Love My Car - 2002 Hyundai Sonata
  By Stevie - October 18 - 5:30 pm

  I love my car. I have had things go wrong with it: replacing four window regulators, one speed input sensor, one speed output sensor, one oxygen sensor, but other than that, this car has been great in the near six years I have owned it. I love it more than the Plymouth I had before (for 14 years). It has such a comfortable interior that I can drive it for long periods of time and not get tired or sore. When I first got it in 2001, it was a big head turner and people would come up to me and go, "Thats a Hyundai?!" They thought it was a Jaquar, BMW or a Mercedes. Mine is black with black/gray interior and it looks sophisticated. Still looks like new because I take good care of it.

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  Best Buy in its class - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By DF - October 17 - 12:06 pm

  By far the best car and best buy in its class. Others do not come close in style, comfort and performance. As soon as I test drove this car, I knew it was the car for me. The interior feels sporty and luxurious and the exterior lines are impressive. I was pleasantly surprised with the feel of the engine - quick and smooth. It really feels like the car is floating along the road. I still cant believe the base model comes with so many features. My only complaint is the sight lines from the rear view mirror. Its difficult to see behind you.

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  My story - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By alliecat3 - October 16 - 2:54 pm

  I have had my Sonata for almost four years now, with a little over 33,000 mileage. After 8 months of having it, I needed a new transmission. Now I need a new engine. I feel like I ended up with a lemon. No one wants to hear it and service tries to shift the blame to me some how. I have all my invoices of oil changes, brakes, etc. So I have done my part. I loved my car. When you buy something new you want the new engine, the new transmission and so on. You are paying for that. As in anything there can be a circumstance where this vehicle was not assembled correctly. But no one will own up to it. I dread thinking of what will be next.

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  Sonata Satisfaction - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Michael Murphy - October 14 - 4:03 pm

  Excellent quality, modern style, and practicality combined with a very fair price makes me a happy owner.

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  Disappointed owner - 2012 Hyundai Sonata
  By uncle_bob13 - October 14 - 10:56 am

  Sonata drives OK but the interior looks and feels cheap. My major problem with Hyundai is its customer service. 3 days ago I decided to go shopping. I left my car in the parking lot. When I returned, I found a major fracture in the windshield (20 "). I drove to Hyundai dealer. Their service guy looked at it, couldnt find any chips, so he took a pencil and traced the fracture and concluded that it was caused by a stone hitting the windshield. I told him that it happened in the parking lot but he wouldnt believe me. Right, Im trying to rip Hyundai off for $200. They dont have any trust in their customer. So much for Hyundai for me. As soon as I pay it off, Ill trade it in for a Camry.

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  car stalled and engine is seized... - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By trishv - October 14 - 7:46 am

  never received recall. car stalled at stop sign.. engine seized

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  Excellent choice - 2008 Hyundai Sonata
  By Gary S - October 14 - 7:20 am

  I am thrilled with my new sonata. The 6 is a great engine, the car drives very Nice on the highway and is very powerful. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel and I love the free (for 3 months) satellite radio. I think this is one of the nicest looking sedans on the road today. I have the silver with Gray leather interior and it looks terrific. I am a Canadian and purchased the car from towne Hyundai in Buffalo NY and they were great to deal with. The prices I showed them from Edmunds really helped me get a good deal. No problems importing the car into Canada either. I saved well over $10,000 on this vehicle compared to Canadian prices. (thanks to the par value of our currency!).

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  Great Midsize Sedan Comfy Ride for Empty Nester - 2017 Hyundai Sonata
  By Lady Tiffany - October 13 - 10:21 pm

  I have previously owned: 1979 Delta 88 Oldsmobile, 1988 Cutlass Sierra, 1999 Honda CRV 2WD, 2009 Mazda Madza 3 (rehabbed and still drive) 2012 Ford Fusion SE (traded in for this car). I like a sporty feel car but without the necessary high octane gas and manual shift equipment. As I am approaching 50 and my son is well out of the home, I have slowly navigated towards the mid-size sedans. My main reasons are more accessories to compensate for my short-comings as I get older and more comfort. (I spent nearly 2k on shocks, struts, alignment, breaks, tires and wheels for the Mazda - My 67 year old mom drives it now.) I traded in my 2012 Ford Fusion with 127k miles with an excellent interstate ride and suspension system. Fast forward to today. So Hyundai had a really nice rebate...up to 6k on the Sonata thru 5/31/2017 and I was upside down on my Fusion...by a lot. Needed a comparable larger sedan to help me compensate. I work for Enterprise so I can really ride a plethora of vehicles to try out car types. (well really anyone can...and its worth it...especially if youre looking for a major upgrade in some way). I rented the Hyundai Santa Fe and although it was nice...this standard SUV was really too much for my needs at this point in life. I thought I wanted the Hyundai Tucson crossover instead. But it would have been a less comfortable payment. In walks the Hyundai Sonata that Ive sold time and time again as a rental and thought...meh...Hyundai (remember its mediocre start). Man! Have they come along way baby. I am the owner of a new Hyundai 2017 Sonata Sport with the Value Package. Talk about taste of luxury and bells and whistles. It may not have the market mind-share of Lexus, Mercedes, BMW or the like. But it definitely has some luxury touches. Rear view camera helps me back up. Boy oh boy does it help especially since this empty nester must wear glasses for my astymatism and for close reading. The navi screen is awesome. Great that I can plug and play my phone into the Android phone option. All the necessary buttons for making phone calls, volume and other necessities it all compiled in a simplistic area. I feel confident as a woman driving along and even out of town. Push to start is amazing and Im getting more and more use to it...and how about that auto trunk open feature. Sound system is great. Ride is comfortable on the interstate and even though its a long car...it does not feel bulky in traffic congestion. Seats are great for my full-figure frame...part leather and cloth. Oh did I mention the sun-roof. Large enough to let some sun and air in without messin up my do. For the first time I opted for Silver which is a kind of plain color but the black and chrome silver accents make it look more luxurious. At this point I am completely satisfied and completely convinced I got the better deal for midsize cars on the market right now. Assistance manuals are comprehensive and I will have to probably take about 3 months to learn all my car can do. Im so looking for it. Me and my mom and best friend are going to have some sweet travels in the vehicle, Lord willing.

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  Watch out Accord - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Car Doc - October 13 - 3:53 pm

  This car is fantastic! Wall to wall airbags, antilock breaks, stability control, power everything. Best car yet!