2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai continues to offer sedans even when the market no longer wants them.
That is not exactly true. There is a market for sedans. There is a customer base that would prefer them over SUVs. Not just for fuel economy and size reasons. There is a feeling of just driving a sedan that offers more control of the road.
That is why Hyundai revised the 2024 Sonata sedan with a new look and interior. That is also why they continue to offer a hybrid driveline for this model for more efficiency overall.
The revised Sonata starts with a new front end. Hyundai combined a current design element – the LED light strip across the front end, along with lower mounted LED projector headlamp units and a large lower grille. The LED taillight units were also changed for a cleaner look, along with a black center panel between them.
With these changes, the roofline remained the same. The new front and rear ends create an even sleeker look overall. The Limited Hybrid tester adds a set of 17-inch alloy wheels and a few nice touches seen on the Sonata’s body.
The big news for 2024 is the interior. A new instrument panel now features Hyundai’s flat panel with two 12.3-inch screens. The digital instrument cluster on the left is customizable with the information you need. This is also complimented by a head-up display to keep your eyes on the road. The other screen is for infotainment and the Surround View Monitor. The latter gives you a 360-degree look around the Sonata.
The transmission is actuated by a knob at the end of a rigid stalk on the bottom left of the steering column. It frees up space for storage on the center console, including a wireless device charging pad. A new three-spoke steering wheel finishes up the enhanced look of the Sonata’s cockpit.
Seating for five is available in leather on our Limited Hybrid tester. The front seats are actually softer and more comfortable with a decent amount of support. There are power adjustments for rake, recline, height, and lumbar support. Rear seat room is excellent with great leg room and good head room for six-footers. A wide opening trunk offers 15.6 cubic feet of space.
The Hybrid driveline starts with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine attached to a 39-kilowatt electric motor gaining energy from a 270-volt lithium-ion battery pack. Combined, this driveline puts out 192 horsepower. While most hybrid systems use a continuously variable transmission to deliver power to the wheels, Hyundai uses a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission instead.
Performance is fine and it has no qualms accelerating with the electric motor’s instant torque adding that extra push in lane changes and freeway ramps. Cruising is smooth on the highway with this hybrid driveline. With the torque converter transmission, we found shifts to be very smooth. As for fuel economy, we turned an average of 47.4 MPG.
The ride quality is very good with a solid drive on all surfaces. Handling is on soft side with some roll and lean. In all, the steering system offers a good turning radius with a bit of softness at the wheel. However, it feels soft when on-center and found the Lane Keeping Assist to help a bit within the lane. However, we found the braking system to be very powerful in stopping the Sonata Hybrid. Pedal feel is solid, devoid of regenerative braking delay found on some hybrids.
The 2024 Hyundai Sonata lineup is available in four trim levels. Two of which are hybrids. Pricing starts at $27,500. Our Limited Hybrid tester came with a sticker price of $38,560.
Just like sedans themselves, it is becoming harder to find one with a hybrid driveline. Aside from the Hyundai Sonata, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord still offer hybrids in this segment.
With a new look inside and out, the 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid continues to stand out in this crowd. It combines an efficient and solid driveline with the latest technology into a very nice package. The Sonata is definitely something worth looking at if you are in the market for a mid-size family sedan.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
