Driven: 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Is An Efficient Highway Cruiser

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is an efficient midsize sedan with sharp styling and a smooth ride. Sedans, however, don’t hold the appeal they once did as SUVs and crossovers continue to gain in popularity. Volkswagen is down to only the Jetta, while Ford, Lincoln, and Buick have kicked sedans entirely to the curb without a single option in their lineups. Hyundai is among those holding fast with the Sonata, Elantra, and Ioniq 6.

This year’s Sonata update gives it sporty styling that proves hybrids don’t have to look dull. It’s downright futuristic with a lightbar that runs across the length of the hood just above the grille. That grille is also new, along with larger air intakes that make for a bold first impression. Inside, upgrades include larger screen displays and a new layout for the center console. There’s an available head-up display that puts key information just below the driver’s line of sight, so you don’t have to look away from the road. The lineup also shuffles slightly with the elimination of the Hybrid Blue trim, leaving just the SEL or Limited. We spent some time with the Sonata Hybrid; here are our thoughts.

Exterior: A Fresh Look With A Futuristic Vibe

Kudos to Hyundai for making the Sonata a sedan that’s not boring. The updated exterior makes the Sonata striking with a longer hood and that single lamp above a larger grille. There are also wide-set headlights and big air intakes. The overall impression is one of a sporty sedan that’s thoroughly modern rather than a forgotten part of the Hyundai lineup.

In the back, Hyundai’s penchant for making everything look like an H once again shows up in the lights: It’s not obvious, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It’s reminiscent of what Hyundai did on the new Santa Fe, but far more subtle. We love the Santa Fe’s design, but it feels a bit like an episode of Sesame Street dedicated to the letter H, and we appreciate the lighter hand with the Sonata.

Interior: A Top-Notch Interior That Delivers Comfort And Quality

The Sonata has long had a fantastic interior, and it continues to do so for the 2024 model year. It’s upscale, surprisingly so for a car at this price point, which adds tremendously to its appeal. The base SEL Hybrid has dual automatic climate control, cloth seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat and four-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited Hybrid adds leather seating surfaces, ventilated front seats, rear sunshades, and a heated steering wheel.

Whichever you choose, it’s an attractive and comfortable interior. The front seats are roomy with minimal bolstering. There’s just enough to provide support and hold you snug in your seat without being too tight for longer trips. Headroom and legroom are good, with enough space for three people to sit comfortably in the rear seats. Unless you’re heading out for a road trip, those three adults will be perfectly fine as long as you don’t have NFL linebackers along for the ride. However, it falls short of both the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid on rear legroom if that’s your priority.

Cargo: A Spacious Trunk

If you are really focused on cargo room, then you’re going to want to look at a crossover or SUV. They not only offer more room, but also offer more flexibility since they can hold bulkier items than even the largest trunk. In terms of midsize sedans, the Sonata Hybrid is pretty spacious at 16.0 cubic feet. That’s more than the 15.1 cubic feet in the Toyota Camry Hybrid but short of the 16.7 cubic feet found in the Honda Accord Hybrid.

Technology: Larger Standard Screen Sizes

In the ever-evolving effort to keep us connected, screen sizes are getting bigger every year. It’s a tricky balance because larger screens make it easier to use infotainment systems, but they can be distracting and sometimes unsightly. There are some that span the full width of the dashboard and others that look like someone just stuck the screen on there, design be damned.

This year, the Sonata lineup includes a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. This is a setup that works beautifully with the two screens housed in a single display to unify the presentation. The system is easy to use with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, six-speaker audio, and front and rear USB ports. The Limited adds 12-speaker Bose audio, navigation, and a 12-inch color head-up display. The large screens as a standard feature ensure that both trims of the Sonata Hybrid look and feel premium.

Performance: Not The Most Engaging Driving Experience

Power for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid remains unchanged this year with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine and 39-kW electric motor paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. This delivers 192 combined system horsepower and is available with front-wheel drive only. It’s a perfectly fine engine that gets the Sonata Hybrid up to speed, but it’s not especially strong.

Shifts are smooth overall with good handling, but this car is focused on fuel economy and comfort. Performance falls a bit further down the list, which is okay if you have the same priority. If you want something with sporty handling, despite how it looks, that’s not how it drives. This is a smooth, easy-going sedan ideal for long commutes and road trips.

Fuel Efficiency: This Is Why You Buy The Hybrid

While the driving experience in the Sonata Hybrid isn’t tailored for enthusiasts, the upside is impressive fuel economy. The Limited and SEL both get an EPA-estimated 44/51/47 mpg city/highway/combined. Those are the same figures as last year, but last year there was one additional trim option. The Hybrid Blue was rated at 50/54/52 mpg city/high/combined and that trim is gone. So, fuel economy hasn’t exactly fallen, but your options are more limited.

It’s still good fuel economy, but losing the Hybrid Blue makes room for the competition to do better. The best fuel economy of the Toyota Camry is found in the LE trim which gets 51/53/52 mpg city/highway/combined. There’s also the Honda Accord Hybrid which delivers 51/44/48 mpg city/highway combined.

Drive Impressions: A Comfy Family Sedan

There are performance sedans, but that’s not the goal of the Sonata Hybrid. This is a fuel-efficient sedan with plenty of room for passengers, good amenities, and a smooth ride. It’s focused on keeping money in your wallet at the pump and ensuring that you arrive in comfort. It’s well-suited to the morning commute with a quiet ride that keeps the noise of traffic at bay and helps you reset after a busy day at the office. On the weekends, it’s great for family outings with enough room for the kids and whatever you need for a day’s adventure.

The engine has enough power to get up to highway speeds without complaint. It’s quiet and well-mannered with smooth shifts, but not aggressive. Mash the gas, and it responds, but it’s likely not going to outrun the guy next to you at a traffic light. Once up to highway speeds, there’s enough power for passing slower vehicles, but again, it is mild-mannered, so plan accordingly for lane changes in heavy traffic. Handling is easy-going with responsive steering that doesn’t tax the driver. This is a relaxing car to drive, whether on the highway or on twisting country roads.

Pricing and Verdict: A Great Value For The Price

Hyundai continues to do what it does best: It offers attractive vehicles with competitive pricing and surprisingly upscale interiors. It’s not that the Hyundai Sonata looks like a luxury car, but that it still looks more luxurious than you’d expect for the price. It has sharp exterior styling that makes it stand out from other sedans along with a nicely appointed interior loaded with standard amenities. From the look and feel of the materials used throughout the Sonata Hybrid to the large infotainment screen, this is an appealing sedan.

Pricing starts at $30,800 for the SEL Hybrid, not including the $1,150 destination fee, with the Limited Hybrid coming in at $37,200. Even at its most well-equipped, it’s less than $40K, which makes it easy on your wallet. Going with the SEL is an even better deal and puts it in reach for more modest budgets. Combined with fuel economy that makes rising gas prices easier to manage, the 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a great option for families in need of a new sedan.