With nearly 3 million sedans sold in the U.S. last year, Hyundai continues to update its popular midsize model, the Sonata. For 2024, it got a massive revision, giving it a sleek, modern feel on the outside. However, it also made certain the interior space kept pace with the exterior look.
Hyundai’s consistent primping of the Sonata works, as it’s one of America’s top five best-selling midsize sedans. This year’s changes include a completely updated front end featuring what the automaker calls a “Seamless Horizon Lamp.” It’s a decorative item but works, giving the sedan a futuristic vibe.
It looks balanced and feels more expensive than its window sticker, which ranges from $28,650 to $38,350, including the $1,150 destination charge. So, if you want something with an upscale feel at a mainstream price, focus on the new Sonata.
Let’s look at what the fully loaded Hyundai Sonata offers.
Options behind the wheel of the new Sonata
Hyundai elected to simplify the new Sonata for 2024, reducing the number of trim packages from five to three: the SEL, N Line, and Limited. Within those are two powertrain options for the SEL and just one each for the N Line and Limited.
With the SEL, buyers may choose from a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, putting out 191 horsepower, which offers more than enough power to get around town and not feel like you’ll get chased off a freeway. The peppy base engine boasts 28 mpg combined. However, if you’d like to keep that power but see the fuel economy rise, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder hybrid at 192 hp is available.
The total output of the hybrid system is 192 hp, and the combined fuel economy rating is impressive at 47 mpg. If you decide to move up to the better-appointed Limited trim, the 2.5-liter hybrid becomes the only choice.
However, if less than 200 ponies are insufficient, Hyundai caters to your inner speed demon with the N Line trim and its 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder, which develops 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai made its HTRAC all-wheel drive (AWD) part of the Sonata line for the first time in 2024. AWD is an option on the SEL line. It’s not available on the high-end Limited model or sporty N Line.
Cool outside, cooler inside
The exterior revamp gives the Sonata a modern aesthetic, but the changeover inside is something to behold. The new look aims to cater to today’s (read: technology-reliant) lifestyle. While all versions of the Sonata feature a 12.3-inch gauge cluster for the driver and a 12.3-inch touchscreen to handle infotainment functions, if you want the best the Sonata has to offer, you’ll need to move up to the N Line or Limited models.
Moving up to these packages gives you Hyundai’s Digital Key 2 Touch, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, charging, Hyundai Bluelink+, and Hyundai Pay. The Digital Key 2 Touch allows driving without the vehicle key, and the driver can assign a temporary key to others with smartphones so they can drive.
Hyundai’s Bluelink+ allows you to remotely start the Sonata, lock and unlock the doors, and activate the climate control from your smartphone with no monthly fee. With Hyundai Pay, drivers can conveniently pay for parking using credit card info stored in the system. Soon, that will be expanded to allow users to pay at affiliated parking lots and garages through Parkopedia, plus paying at gas stations and other retailers, which is right around the corner.
Bose engineers tuned the improved 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound System with new CenterPoint 360 technology to deliver a rich and immersive listening experience in every seat.
Making everyone safer
Going faster — or farther, if the hybrid — whets the appetite for certain, but with bigger vehicles taking up more space on U.S. roads, making the Sonata safer has been a priority if the standard safety technology list is any indication.
The 2024 Sonata comes equipped with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5, Rear Cross-traffic Collision-avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Safe Exit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
Also available are navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist to help relieve driver stress.
Remote Smart Parking Assist enables the user to enter and exit parking spots by remotely reversing and forwarding with the smart key from outside the vehicle. Rear Occupant Alert helps determine whether an infant is left unattended in the Sonata and provides a notification.
See what other Sonata trim levels offer, or see 2024 Hyundai Sonata models for sale near you.
