Cars.Com Finds The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid A Refreshing Comfortable Cruiser

In the past five or six years, it has been a constant that when an automotive magazine or website looks at a general-market mid-size, they invariably recommend the hybrid model. It has actually driven Toyota to make its entire 2025 mid-size lineup hybrid and Honda to have its top trim levels be hybrids. Hyundai still offers a comprehensive lineup of conventional gas-powered Sonata models. Still, the hybrid does make quite a good case for itself, as Cars.com discovered when it reviewed the 2024 Sonata Hybrid Limited. This Dick Smith Hyundai post gives you the highlights.

New Clothes

The entire 2024 Sonata lineup received a significant restyling inside and out, bringing more than a few enhanced features as well. Most noticeable is the new front-end styling. Gone is the squashed look that emphasized the Sonata’s low-wide nature, particularly compared to crossovers. In its place is an electrified-inspired appearance dominated by a full-width LED light bar across the leading edge of the hood with a lower trapezoidal grille. Light clusters are almost hidden within the side intakes. A similar wide LED light treatment is at the rear, with two vertical light elements at each end forming a subtle H. 

A New Inside As Well

The interior is new as well. Most noticeable is the long, dark housing for the 12.3-inch touchscreen and similar-sized digital gauge cluster. From there, the dash is divided horizontally by a recessed area that conceals the climate control vents with haptic controls for the climate and other systems, as well as both a volume and tuning knob. The latter drew praise from the Cars.com editor as it is lacking on the Camry and Accord. 

In other news, this new dash features standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ across the model line. The previous Sonata interior had the quirk of the large-screen interiors not having wireless smartphone connection, while the smaller screens did. That is no more. 

Power and Efficiency

Under the hood of the Sonata Hybrid is a 2.0-liter inline-4 combined with a 39kW (51 hp) motor for a combined 192 horsepower. Unlike many hybrids with a CVT, the Sonata enjoys the conventional driving characteristics of a 6-speed automatic transmission. At times, the Sonata can be both electrically or gas engine-driven. As Cars.com describes it, “…this Hyundai is a showcase of refinement; you’ll hardly be able to tell it’s a hybrid. The powertrain transitions from electric operation to gasoline power with barely a shudder, and the electric power fills in the gaps of the gasoline engine…” As for the ride, they summarize it this way: “The Sonata Hybrid isn’t trying to be a sports sedan, which pays dividends in its ride comfort and drivability.”

Of course, efficiency is the calling card of a hybrid, and the Sonata shines with an EPA-estimated mileage of 44 in the city and 51 on the highway, with a combined figure of 47. The combined figure for a non-hybrid Sonata is 29. Cars.com noted that the trip computer was a bit on the pessimistic side, reading an average of 41.8, but after about 200 miles, a fill-up of just 4.37 gallons calculated to 46.1 mpg. They also took note of the over 600 miles of driving range on the read-out after the tank was filled, suggesting that passengers will require a stop before the Sonata does.

Cars.com sums up its Sonata experience compared to its Toyota and Honda competition by stating, “What all of this means is that what’s right for you may not come down to size, fuel economy or price, but rather to smaller details, like how the vehicles drive and how you interact with their controls. Either way, the updated 2024 Sonata deserves a spot in the conversation alongside the ubiquitous Camry and Accord, because this Hyundai combines good fuel economy with great ride comfort and easy-to-use technology.” If that sounds like the sedan for you, the place to check it out for yourself is Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, NC