2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review
2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Comfortable and handsome cabin with simple controls
- solid acceleration
- lengthy warranty
- costs less than comparably equipped rivals.
Cons
- Fuel economy falls short of other hybrid midsize sedans
- odd braking response
- tight rear-seat headroom.
What’s new
Base versions of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid get a rearview camera, a touchscreen audio interface and HD radio as standard. Alongside that, the Limited trim level loses its heated rear seats.
Edmunds says
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has all the elements of a desirable and fuel-efficient hybrid family sedan, though its EPA fuel economy ratings are lower than most competitors in this class.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 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 $3.90 per gallon for regular unleaded in Illinois.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Illinois
$129/mo for Sonata Hybrid Base
Sonata Hybrid Base
vs
$194/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
Midsize sedans are some of the most popular and practical cars on the road. Commuters and families alike seek them out for their interior space, ride comfort and respectable fuel economy. If you add a hybrid powertrain to that mix and deliver truly stellar fuel economy numbers, then an already desirable family car like the Hyundai Sonata should be even more appealing. That's the thinking behind the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and indeed, there's plenty to like about this hybrid midsize sedan.
To start, the hybrid Sonata has a particularly attractive interior for a midsize sedan, and it's furnished with high-quality materials. Standard equipment is a bit more generous than in similarly priced competitors, and if you can do without leather upholstery and a navigation system, the base Sonata Hybrid arguably has everything you need. Performance is also a strength of Hyundai's hybrid sedan. Although its acceleration times aren't any quicker than most competitors' numbers, the Sonata Hybrid feels energetic moving through urban traffic. We also like that it uses a conventional six-speed automatic transmission (rather than a continuously variable transmission as in some rivals), because it generally results in less engine noise during hard acceleration.
However, if you're really serious about maximizing your mpg, you might be put off by the fact that the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid simply isn't as fuel-efficient as rival hybrid sedans. Its 38 mpg EPA combined rating (37 mpg on the Limited version) lags behind every major competitor. In addition, we've found it difficult to equal this number in real-world driving, and most owners should expect their gas mileage to settle in the low 30s. A minor gripe concerns the hybrid Hyundai's rather unnatural-feeling brake response, a common malady on hybrid cars that use a regenerative braking system, but particularly pronounced on the Sonata. Finally, buyers who will be using the backseat on a regular basis should take note that rear headroom is quite snug in all Hyundai Sonatas.
If you're shopping for a hybrid midsize sedan, there are a couple competitors that we'd choose over the 2014 Sonata Hybrid. Our favorite in this class is the 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid, a comfortable, quiet car that earns an impressive 47 mpg combined rating. The fact that the Ford is quite stylish and by far the most involving to drive of any hybrid midsize car is icing on the cake. Another great choice is the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, which is also rated 47 mpg combined and has the richest interior of any car in this class. The 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid isn't nearly as fuel-efficient as those cars (41 mpg combined), but it's a fine choice if you're looking for a spacious, comfortable car that just happens to be quite fuel-efficient.
Given its lower mpg ratings, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid might seem like a tough sell over any of these sedans. But with its competitive price tag, nicely appointed cabin and solid performance, the Sonata Hybrid still makes a lot of sense, especially if you just want the most fuel-efficient model in the Sonata lineup.
Performance & mpg
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that is paired with an electric motor fed by a lithium-polymer battery pack. Combined, the two power units are good for 199 horsepower. Power is sent to the front wheels through a standard six-speed automatic transmission. In Edmunds testing, a Sonata Hybrid Limited hit 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, a typical performance for a mainstream hybrid sedan.
The EPA estimated fuel economy for the base Sonata Hybrid is 38 mpg combined (36 city/40 highway). The EPA has given the heavier Limited model a slightly lower 37 mpg combined rating, even though its city and highway figures are identical. In our real-world testing of a Sonata Hybrid, we had difficultly consistently meeting these estimates.
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid include antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, front side-impact airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Also standard is BlueLink, Hyundai's emergency telematics system, which offers roadside assistance, crash response, remote door lock control and monitoring features for parents with teenage drivers (speed, geo-fencing and curfew limits).
At our test track, the Sonata Hybrid Limited used 122 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph, an average performance for a hybrid midsize sedan.
In government safety tests, the Sonata Hybrid earned a top five-star rating for overall crash protection, with four out of five stars given for frontal crash protection and five stars for side protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the standard 2014 Hyundai Sonata earned the top rating of "Good" for moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength protection. The Sonata received the second-lowest rating of "Marginal" in the small-overlap frontal-offset test. Its seat/head restraint design was also rated "Good" for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Driving
Most drivers will find the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's acceleration more than adequate in normal driving. We've found the standard automatic transmission preferable to the CVTs in other hybrids, as it does a better job of keeping engine noise in check under heavy acceleration or when climbing long, uphill grades. You'll scarcely notice the transitions between gas and electric power in traffic, and there's ample power for passing maneuvers. Hitting the Sonata Hybrid's EPA fuel economy numbers takes some doing, but owners should expect to get 30 mpg or better on a consistent basis.
The hybrid Sonata also provides a smooth ride on most roads, along with a pleasantly quiet cabin. Around turns, it also feels secure and competent, though modest levels of grip and a lack of steering feel of the road means rivals like the Fusion and Accord Hybrids are more enjoyable to pilot overall.
The biggest thing you'll have to get used to in the Sonata Hybrid is the odd braking response: Due to the blending of the car's conventional brakes with the hybrid regenerative braking system, there's a small but noticeable delay between when you press the brake pedal and when you actually get the desired braking force. That said, this is a peculiarity of driving the hybrid more than anything else, as our testing has shown that the car has plenty of braking power for repeated, hard stops.
Interior
Not surprisingly, the Sonata Hybrid's cabin looks and feels very similar to its traditionally powered sibling. The interior is handsome and the controls are straightforward and intuitive to use, regardless of whether you have the base model or the Limited. Both models feature a touchscreen electronics interface this year, but the display in the Limited is significantly larger and includes navigation. The hybrid Sonata's slick-looking gauge cluster helps set the interior apart from the non-hybrid model and includes a separate LCD display meant to encourage more fuel-efficient driving.
Front seats are comfortable and supportive. The backseat offers plenty of room for two adults, though taller passengers will find headroom in short supply. All hybrid sedans lose a good bit of trunk space due to intrusion from the hybrid system's battery pack, and the Sonata Hybrid is no exception, with 12.1 cubic feet of capacity compared to 16.4 cubic feet in the regular Sonata. Among hybrid midsize sedans, the Sonata Hybrid offers comparable trunk space to the Fusion Hybrid and Accord Hybrid, but 1 cubic foot less than the Camry Hybrid.
2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid models
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is offered in two trim levels: base and Limited. The regular Hyundai Sonata is reviewed separately.
Standard equipment on the base model includes 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lights, foglights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, an eight-way power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated front seats, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Hyundai's BlueLink emergency communications system, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker sound system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, CD player, satellite and HD radio, an iPod/USB audio interface and an auxiliary audio jack.
Since there are no major options for the base trim level, the next step is the Limited model. It comes with 17-inch wheels, perforated leather seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power driver seat with lumbar support, a navigation system with a 7-inch touchscreen, an upgraded Infinity audio system with nine speakers and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A panoramic sunroof is optional on the Limited.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.
5 star(50%)
4 star(26%)
3 star(15%)
2 star(4%)
1 star(5%)
66 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
HPCU Died in Less than Two Months
jonqyork, 10/06/2014
2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
I bought this car on June 15, 2014. On July 14th, it wouldn't start. Had it towed to the dealer. It took them 5 days to find the problem. It was a blown fuse. On August 13th, it wouldn't start again. Towed again to the dealer. Now, 9 days later (when I originally wrote this), they still have it and can't figure out the problem. They said they've had another Sonata Hybrid in the shop with … a similar problem for a month. They simply have no idea what's wrong with it or how to get it back on the road! And they told me they're now turning down tows because they don't know how to fix it!
4 out of 5 stars
2013 Sonata Hybrid burned up due to faulty engine
Barbara, 07/02/2018
2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
All Sonata's manufactured between 2011-2014 manufactured at the Alabama plant have faulty Theta II engines. The engines will thump, lose power then catch on fire. The regular Sonata's were recalled for engine repair only after a major class action lawsuit stating that Hyundai knew about the problem, was won. Hyundai, however, did not recall the Sonata Hybrid which uses the exact same … Theta II engine also manufactured in Alabama. The hybrids fail at about 90,000 miles, which is on the higher end of the 50-90,000 mile Sonata engine failure, probably due to the hybrid battery assist on the engine. According to the Center for Automobile Safety, other Sonata Hybrids are experiencing engine failure at around 90,000 miles and burning up. Don't buy a used Sonata Hybrid if it was manufactured in Alabama (look inside the driver door jam for where it was manufactured) until Hyundai recalls the hybrids and fixes the engines. It's a death trap.
4 out of 5 stars
78K miles engine failure?
sidneilima@me.com, 10/18/2017
2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
78K miles engine failure?
I own a 2012 Sonata Hybrid since 07/2015 which I bought from a off lease place with a little over 24k miles on it. I loved this car ever since I bought it, never had any major issues, till last week when it stalled on me with warns to stop driving to prevent damage to the hybrid system. I had it towed to a dealership to receive the news that the engine was … seized and it would cost me $8,700 to have it replaced. I was shocked and start laughing, cause I thought is was a bad joke of some kind… Nope!! she was dead serious. So I said, okay 10years/100K miles powertrain warranty… Nope!…that only applies for the original owner… Certified Pre-owned gets 5years/60k miles… My car has 78k miles and I didn’t buy a certified Pre-owned… Very sad since I don’t have that kind of money and even if I had, KBB on my car is $8,800, it wouldn’t make sense spend on it…. Very, very sad my engine died with ONLY 78K miles…The worse I still own $8,500 on that car. Not sure what to do at this point.
5 out of 5 stars
Roomiest Fun-to-Drive Hybrid Sedan on the Market
r_l_r, 04/02/2012
2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the best package of attractive styling, smooth handling, excellent mileage and comfort among hybrid sedans in the US.
I found with slight care its easy to get over 40 mpg on the highway and overall 38+mpg.
Features that reduce the mpg are using heated seats and interior heater in the winter or full AC in the summer.
However, using the "econ" feature with the … heating/cooling one easily achieves 38 mpg overall or better.
The jitteriness at low speeds was resolved with the first service when the computer system was upgraded to remove some of the hesitency between use of EV and gas engine modes.
Update is free and resolves issues raised in some initial reviews.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sonata Hybrid since its last redesign.
2014 Sonata Hybrid Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $26,000 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Hybrid |
Combined MPG | 38 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $129/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Sonata Hybrid include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover9.7%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestMarginal
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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