2020 Hyundai Sonata

 The best bang for your buck is the SEL trim that adds several comfort features and is also eligible for certain optional packages. This trim adds a hands-free power trunk, heated front seats, an 8-way power driver's seat, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, and heated exterior mirrors. It also adds some technological features such as HD radio, satellite radio, Blue Link telematics, and blind-spot monitoring. 

At some level, just about every safety and convenience feature is available on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata- Kelly Blue Book

The Hyundai Sonata is available in four trim levels namely SE, SEL, SEL Plus, and Limited. The Sonata carries a base price tag of $23,600 and it goes all the way up to $33,500 for the top-spec Limited trim. Two different engines are offered but only an FWD drivetrain is available. Hyundai has loaded plenty of comfort and safety features even on the base trim. 

As you go up the trim table, features keep on adding and so are the options. The Convenience package includes a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, a Digital Key, a leather steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, wireless device charging, and a second-row USB port for $1,200. This package is exclusive to the SEL trim. A panoramic sunroof can be added for $1,000.

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The engine provides good acceleration, both off the line and in mid-range passing- Kelly Blue Book

The Hyundai Sonata is christened with two different powerplants under the hood. The SE and SEL trim features a 2.5L inline-4 engine that produces a meager output of 191 hp and 181 ft-lbs of torque. A 1.6L turbo inline-4 engine is standard on the SEL Plus and Limited models. This engine generates 180 hp and 195 lb-ft. of torque. Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which is slick and executes lightning-fast shifts. 

The Sonata's handling is quite different. It's not as livelier as its rivals. The steering is agile and responsive, with quite a short turning radius and feedback. The suspension works like a charm, they absorb undulations on the road when they need to and stiffen up when you put the sedan into Sport mode. The large 18-inch wheels take away the riding comfort. Therefore, stick to the 16 or 17-inch wheels. Speed through corners and the sedan has minimal body roll. 

With the base engine equipped, the Sonata is quick enough to accelerate from 0-60 MPH in about 7.8 seconds with a quarter-mile time of 15.8 seconds while the top speed ranges up to 133 MPH. Even the 1.6L turbocharged engine takes almost the same time to complete both performance tests. With regards to braking performance, the brakes on the Sonata chip away at the speed with amazing effectiveness and bring the sedan to rest in 121 feet. 

Thanks to the responsive turbocharged engine, the Honda Accord is the quickest competition of the Sonata. The extra horsepower of the Toyota Camry pays no effect to its acceleration. On the other hand, the Nissan Altima houses a weak engine and hence, its acceleration is slower than the Sonata. 

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The Hyundai Sonata drinks less fuel to deliver a punchy performance. The base 2.5L engine returns 28 MPG in the city, 38 MPG on a highway, and 32 MPG combined. This engine\s efficiency is better than the optional engine. A fuel tank capacity of 14.8 gallons is fitted in the Sonata due to which it delivers 488 miles of combined range.

The 1.6L turbocharged engine in the SEL Plus and Limited trim is less efficient. It hosts a larger 15.9-gallon fuel tank but still, its EPA-estimated ratings are 1 MPG less than the base engine. However, its large tank translates for a better driving range of 500 miles. Therefore, fuel money-savers should opt for the base engine. 

With 34 MPG combined, the Toyota Camry has the best fuel economy in this segment. The Honda Accord's MPG figures are somewhat similar to the Sonata but it is slightly more efficient. The Nissan Altima has the lowest efficiency in this competition but its large fuel tank owes to the best driving range here. 

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Inside, the Sonata shines, with what appears to be one of the best cabins in the segment—at least on the top-trim- Automobile Magazine

The interior of the Hyundai Sonata looks stylish and functional while avoiding gimmickry. The material quality looks really good with a pleasing ratio of soft to hard surfaces. Despite the standard cloth upholstery, the front seats are comfortable and supportive. You can choose synthetic leather or genuine leather upholstery as an optional upgrade along with power-adjustable front seats with heated and ventilated functions. 

The steering gives great grip and has a good feel, overall making the driver’s seat an engaging and fun place to be in. At the back, the rear seatbacks have a good recline angle. In terms of passenger space, the Sonata feels amply accommodating. The cabin feels roomy until you have taller passengers in the back, then the sloping roofline feels like a hindrance. But an average-sized adult should do just fine at the back. 

Hyundai has probably the most ergonomic and user-friendly interface in its Blue Link infotainment system in the segment. It consists of an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 10.25-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. Both the screens support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 6-speaker is standard but a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system can only be found on the Limited trim. The touchscreen has no lag and the graphics are crisp and clear. 

Speaking of practicality, the Sonata has a trunk volume of 16 cubic feet, which is good for a midsize sedan.  It can easily fit in four luggage bags. The square-shaped trunk is an added advantage for storing bulky items. A hands-free trunk is standard from the SEL trim onwards. The loading lip is a bit high and therefore can be challenging to load heavier items into the trunk. The main cabin features of the Sonata are:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function leather, heated steering wheel 
• Power front heated & ventilated seats
• Cloth, synthetic leather & leather seats
• Color-adjustable ambient lighting
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Hands-free trunk
• Aluminum foot pedals
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 8 & 10.25-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• Navigation system
• Wireless device charging
• 12.3-inch digital driver's display

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Love it or not, it's hard to deny the Sonata looks more conventionally attractive than its rivals- MotorTrend

The Hyundai Sonata is a beautiful well-proportioned sedan that has stood the test of time pretty well since most of the sedans have moved onto edgier designs rather than the fluidic theme that Hyundai maintains. Hyundai’s cascading grille design blends into the lower fascia for an aggressive face while the base SE trim has a more conservative grille design. The headlights are LED on every single trim but the LED DRLs extend up to the hood of the car. In normal condition, it looks like a chrome trim but when the vehicle is on, it lights up that gives the front-end a stylish look.

Coming to the wheels, 16-inch alloys are standard but the SEL gets 17-inch alloys while the top two trims settle for 18-inch alloy wheels. Compared to its rivals, the Sonata's ground clearance is lower to increase the potential for speed and easy ingress and egress. It also boasts a wide wheelbase for a stable ride but still, its rear row lacks enough legroom. The rear design looks like nothing else on the road let alone a midsize sedan with a trunk that's bent to make a spoiler and LED taillights that cross the entire back. Down below, you get a single exhaust with two tips on all but the SE trim. 

The Honda Accord has high ground clearance, which is good for preventing the underbelly from being scraped. The Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima share the same wheelbase, which is shorter than the Sonata. However, the Camry's rear row is spacious, unlike the Sonata. Some main exterior highlights of the Sonata are:

• LED cornering headlights
• LED DRLs
• LED taillights
• Door courtesy lights
• Power & heated exterior mirrors
• Black grille
• Chrome window trim
• Body-colored door handles with chrome accents
• Rocker panel chrome accents
• Chrome exhaust tips
• 16, 17 & 18-inch alloy wheels

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Hyundai's SmartSense package of driver-assistance features is standard- CarAndDriver

Both NHTSA and IIHS treated the Hyundai Sonata nicely. It earned a perfect 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. This is the second-highest award by IIHS. It received 'Good' ratings in all six crash tests plus a 'Superior' rating for the front crash prevention and a 'Good' rating for its headlights. 

The Sonata comes with a plethora of standard safety and crashes mitigation features to keep you safe in the cabin and instill confidence that Hyundai got your back. As you move up the trim level, more driver aids add to the list. Moreover, the Sonata comes with a suite of nine airbags right out of the box. Some of the safety features are given below:

• Adaptive cruise control w/ stop & go
• Lane follow assist
• Auto high-beam assist
• Driver-attention warning
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Highway drive assist
• Head-up display
• 360-degree camera
• Front & rear parking assist
• Rear parking collision avoidance system
• Pedestrian detection 

2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is one of the sedans previously mentioned which sport an edgy design compared to the fluidic styling on the Sonata. The engine performance on these sedans is quite similar, however, in terms of economy, the Accord is unrivaled. The interiors are comfortable in both of the sedans but the rear seats are roomier in the Accord for the taller audience. The infotainment in the Sonata is top-notch but both the sedans earn the same safety ratings and features. 

2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry has a collection of powerful yet efficient engines and has excellent driving dynamics. But its on-road performance is equivalent to the Sonata. The Camry's interior feels roomier than the Sonata but the trunk volume offered is the least in this competition. The Camry's infotainment features are also less than the Sonata and it surely can't beat Hyundai's long warranty. Like the Sonata, the Camry also offers an extended list of safety features. 

2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima is the least powerful car in this competition and hence, its acceleration is also slower than the Sonata. Moreover, it is less efficient. However, the Altima's optional engine is more powerful. Inside, the Altima is equally spacious as the Sonata but the latter's cabin feels upscale and modern. The Altima's cargo room is slightly less and it also offers fewer standard features than the Sonata. However, the Altima ties lock with the Sonata in terms of safety. 

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata, much like the Honda Accord, is an all-rounder. Albeit a notch below the Accord, it surpasses most of the competition in driving dynamics, economy, and versatility. The Sonata’s infotainment that Hyundai calls the Blue Link has a flawless touchscreen and voice recognition. The transmission is smooth and predictable. If you’re looking for a great midsize sedan, the Hyundai Sonata is the perfect alternative to the Accord.