2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

　　

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　A midsize hybrid family sedan, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid combines high style with high technology. Plus, the car is an incredible value, and not just from price and efficiency perspectives. From generous warranty coverage and free scheduled maintenance to a lengthy trial period to the company's Blue Link remote connected services, the Sonata Hybrid makes a case for itself that the left hemisphere of your brain cannot refute.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$73/mo  for Sonata Hybrid Blue

　　Sonata Hybrid Blue

　　Blue 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A) - $27,750 MSRPSEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A) - $29,900 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A) (Most Popular) - $35,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　After an abbreviated 2020 model year, for which it was redesigned, the 2021 Sonata Hybrid rolls into the new year without any changes. What's different is the competitive landscape. With the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid discontinued, this Hyundai's only remaining direct competitors include the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, against which it acquits itself well. Interested? Check our Expert Rating to get our in-depth take on the 2021 Sonata Hybrid.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Sonata Hybrid drive? The Sonata Hybrid is adequate from a performance perspective. Acceleration feels good off the line but tapers off once you're rolling. Essentially, it feels zippy around town but may take some planning to pass cars at freeway speeds. In zzdcar testing, our Sonata Hybrid test car covered 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds. That's about as quick as the Camry Hybrid but a little slower than the Honda Accord Hybrid.

　　Around turns, the Sonata Hybrid feels balanced and controlled. It's also easy to drive around town. The six-speed automatic transmission is quicker to downshift than the continuously variable transmissions in the Accord Hybrid and Camry Hybrid. In general, the Sonata Hybrid drives a lot like a regular car, which could be a high point for some buyers. The brakes also feel pretty natural without any of the hybrid weirdness that can stem from blending regenerative and regular braking processes.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sonata Hybrid? The Sonata Hybrid is a pretty comfortable car, but it isn't perfect. The front seats have a nice shape to them, but we found the padding a bit stiff, which can reduce your comfort on long trips. The outboard rear seats are nice and cushy, but the middle seat is stiff and uncomfortable.

　　Ride comfort is a high point and strikes a good balance between being compliant and controlled. The Sonata Hybrid's suspension absorbs impacts well without being overly floaty or soft when you take on curvy roads. The climate control system blows strong and cold at its max and is very effective at regulating cabin temperature in auto mode.

　　Surprisingly, road and wind noise is higher than average. It's not bothersome or loud, but you know that it's there. There's some engine noise at freeway speeds as well.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Sonata Hybrid's interior is intuitive to learn. The center stack controls are easily reachable for both driver and front passenger. The sharp and responsive 10.25-inch infotainment screen (in the SEL trim level) is also easy to read and use.

　　There's plenty of interior room for front occupants, and rear-seat legroom is among the best in the segment. Most drivers will find that it is easy to settle into a comfortable driving position due to the decent range of adjustments that come from the seat and steering wheel. Visibility is good to the front and sides. But rear visibility is a little impeded because of the thick rear window pillars, sloping rear roofline and high rear deck.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Sonata Hybrid is loaded with tech and everything works pretty well. It leads the segment in infotainment screen size and response. It also has a segment-first solar panel roof that charges the hybrid battery when the car's moving or parked. Smartphone pairing and integration are excellent for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and they work with the wide-screen format. The screen is also great when using the available surround-view camera system while parking. The voice controls work well with natural speech commands for radio, navigation and phone.

　　The advanced driving aids suite is comprehensive, and the aids work well in concert. The warning sensors can be sensitive but never annoying. The instrument panel features unique sideview cameras when merging into the left or right lane.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? There's a good amount of storage in the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. It's easy to load things into the cargo area. The trunk is deep and broad, has a wide opening, and the hybrid battery doesn't intrude too much. Having rear-seat access levers in the cargo area is a plus.

　　Inside, there's plenty of storage to keep small items. The center console area alone has plenty of spaces for multiple phones, electronic passes and other items. The console itself is about 5.5 inches deep, and the cupholders are sizable enough for larger cups and bottles. As for installing child safety seats, there's plenty of room in the rear for even a rear-facing seat. The lower car seat anchors are somewhat buried in the upholstery, so installation can be a little tedious.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Sonata Hybrid SEL, our test car, has an EPA estimate of 47 mpg (45 city/51 highway). That's right about what the other top-performing midsize hybrid sedans get. A trim-matching Camry XLE is rated at 46 mpg, while the Accord is at 48 mpg. All comparable. We averaged 47.1 mpg during our mixed-driving evaluation route, which indicates the EPA's estimates seem to be spot-on.

　　Hyundai also offers an optional solar panel for the Sonata Hybrid. It covers the length of the roof between the windshield and the rear glass. It directly charges both the 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack, and Hyundai says the solar panel can potentially power about 2 miles of extra driving per day. Toyota offered a solar roof on the Prius in the early part of the last decade, so it's not an all-new idea, but the Prius' panel could only power the climate control system.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Sonata Hybrid a good value? The Sonata Hybrid delivers on Hyundai's strong value proposition, giving you a lot of features for your money. The Limited trim level, which is the model we tested, validates its top-level price with exclusive features such as a solar panel roof and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Warranty coverage is also fantastic, as Hyundai provides a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-year powertrain warranty.

　　The interior and exterior build quality looks pretty good too. The assembly is precise, though Honda and Mazda manage to do interiors a bit nicer. Perhaps it's the dominant gray interior texturing that still looks a little cheap.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　Whether you enjoy squeezing the most miles from every gallon of gasoline or having a hybrid that's enjoyable to drive on curvier roads, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a willing partner. It's big on visual appeal too. It looks sporty, sophisticated and futuristic at the same time. It's a head-turner in a fairly vanilla segment.

　　

Which Sonata Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

Of the Sonata Hybrid’s three trim levels, we recommend the SEL. The base Blue trim saves you a couple thousand dollars and is more fuel-efficient, and the upscale Limited trim grants access to numerous exclusive features and technologies. Yet the Sonata Hybrid SEL is the sweet spot, delivering appearance, comfort and convenience upgrades at a reasonable price.

　　

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid models

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a five-passenger midsize sedan that is available in three trim levels: Blue, SEL and Limited.

　　Blue

　　The base Sonata Hybrid is nicely equipped with features that include:

　　A 192-horsepower hybrid powertrain Six-speed automatic transmission 16-inch aluminum wheels LED headlights Hands-free trunklid Cloth seats Keyless ignition and entry Dual-zone automatic climate control 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with satellite and HD radio Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Blue Link connected services Six-speaker audio systemAll 2021 Sonata Hybrids also come with:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Hyundai and the car in front) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle in its lane) Rear-passenger reminder system Drowsy driver monitorSEL

　　The midlevel trim adds several desirable upgrades, such as:

　　17-inch aluminum wheels Hyundai digital key functionality (an app that lets you use your Android phone as a key) Leather-wrapped steering wheel Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats and side mirrors Wireless charging pad 12-speaker Bose audio systemLimited

　　This top-of-the-line trim adds plenty of luxury, technology and safety features that include:

　　Front and rear parking sensors Roof-mounted solar panel Rain-sensing wipers Leather upholstery Ventilated front seats Auto-dimming rearview mirror Heated steering wheel Head-up display 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display 10.25-inch touchscreen Navigation system Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sonata Hybrid and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Blind-Spot View Monitor (supplements blind-spot monitor with camera views of the blind spots on each side of the car Highway Driving Assist (enhanced lane-keeping assist functionality) Rear collision mitigation

　　

2021 Sonata Hybrid Highlights

Trim: BlueSELLimitedBlue

　　

Base MSRP	$27,750
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	52 MPG
Cost to Drive	$73/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles