First impressions aren’t everything. Take the 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, for example. It looks great, it’s the best-looking midsize sedan on the market, and its interior is both gorgeous and functionally impressive. Then you drive the Sonata Hybrid. While it’s not bad by any means, it’s less impressive than its sharp—if not visually stunning—competitors.
Hyundai has given the Sonata a facelift for the 2024 model year with the same sleek lines seen here. A single curved panel housing a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and infotainment screen highlights the Sonata’s redesigned interior, while the big mechanical update is the availability of all-wheel drive for gas-powered models, except the sporty N-Line, and this hybrid.
| Brief Specifications | 2024 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid |
| Machine | 2.0 Liter Four Cylinder Hybrid |
| Output | 192 Horsepower / 151 Pound-Feet |
| Efficiency | 44 MPG City / 51 Highway / 47 Combined |
| Price / As Tested | Rp. 31,950/Rp. 38,820 |
| For sale | Now |
That means a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 51-hp electric motor will arrive in 2024. Both will be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, unlike the systems in the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which don’t use a conventional transmission. That may sound like a good thing, but compared to its Japanese rivals, the Sonata’s hybrid system feels a bit underwhelming.
The transition between electric and gas power in the Sonata is so clunky that you wish you were driving a conventional car with an internal combustion engine. In the Accord and Camry, the opposite is true. Both are so smooth, you don't realize they're hybrids.
Pros: Attractive Looks, Stunning Interior, Enhanced Technology
At least the Sonata offers the same fuel economy as its competitors, 47 miles per gallon combined. Its highway rating of 51 mpg is also very good, likely helped by its conventional automatic transmission. Its range of six hundred and twenty miles on a full tank is impressive by any standard. And aside from the powertrain’s awkwardness, the Sonata Hybrid is a joy to drive. It rides smoothly, though it does float a bit over bumps. Its handling isn’t as sharp as the new Camry and especially the Accord, but for the average person—not a car enthusiast—it should be more than fine.
The interior of the top-of-the-line Limited trim is simply stunning. It looks and feels high-quality, and in an era where many cars rely too heavily on infotainment systems to control essential vehicle functions, the Sonata is simply stunning.
Most importantly, there are actual buttons, knobs, and switches for the essential vehicle functions. There’s not much in the way of configuration with a digital gauge cluster, but the graphics are clear and sharply designed. Plus, it’s nice to be in a reasonably priced car with an interior that isn’t trimmed in a dreary black or gray!
Cons: Complicated Hybrid system, So-so driving dynamics, Expensive Limited trim
While the Limited’s $38,350 suggested retail price is fairly comparable to its competitors, it’s still more expensive than the SEL Convenience’s $31,950 price tag. The Limited adds niceties like a heated steering wheel, cooled seats, leather trim, and Hyundai’s excellent Highway Driving Assist system (one of the best on the market). However, the SEL Convenience seems to be more than adequately equipped, which limits the Limited’s appeal.
The Sonata Hybrid is a good car and should provide a reasonable ride for most people. It just has to compete with two very old names, the Accord and the Camry, which in its latest version is the best it has ever been. The Sonata has to be more than good-looking to reach the top of this class, though looks don't hurt.
Chris Perkins / Motor1
