Hyundai’s 2024 Sonata contributes attention-grabbing design, good value, and great fuel economy to the competitive midsize sedan market.
Sonata’s concise five-model lineup has a specific version to target each type of driver, like the five major food groups.
There’s the SEL with a 191-horsepower four-cylinder engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. The EPA fuel economy rating is 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.
New for 2024, the SEL is available with all-wheel drive (SEL AWD; 25/34 mpg). All other models are front-drive only.
The sporty N Line model gets a 290-horsepower turbo four engine (23/32 mpg).
There is also a 192-horsepower Sonata Hybrid, available in SEL and Limited trim levels (HEV SEL, HEV Limited; 44 mpg city, 51 mpg highway).
A plentiful supply of standard features beginning with the base model reinforces Sonata’s value, and Hyundai’s generous warranty can be factored in. Pricing starts at $28,650.
I drove the Sonata HEV Limited, whose standard features above and beyond the many offered on the SEL trim include ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, dynamic voice recognition, rear side-window shades, a panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Upholstery-prioritizing people take note: The SEL has cloth seats; the Limited’s are leather.
Sonata’s hybrid system isn’t the most sophisticated to ever touch pavement, but it’s nowhere near rough. In any case, the cabin’s high levels of comfort and quiet are ever-present.
Sonata Hybrid Limited’s interior is elegant and tech-filled, but cozy and friendly at the same time. A panoramic curved display incorporates the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Navigation, and USB ports are along for the ride. Multiple stowage spaces are at your service.
With the gear selector moved to the steering column this year, the center console gained some space and filled it with a “wrist rest” extension to the padded armrest.
The cabin is roomy enough to provide rear seat passengers with a decent standard of living. A good 16 cubic feet of trunk space handles cargo duty well, and can be expanded if necessary by folding the 60/40 split rear seats.
Sonata Hybrid’s fuel gauge earned my respect when it hadn’t moved an angstrom after a week of driving. My kind of fuel economy.
2024 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID LIMITED
Base price, including destination charge: $38,350
Price as driven: $38,560
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
