2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

Name: 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Brand: Hyundai

Price Range: $18,990 - $21,998

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited Sedan Exterior Shown

The 2021 Sonata Hybrid grabs your attention with distinctive styling and cool features such as an available solar panel roof. It's more efficient than its predecessor and packed with tons of attractive technology. Add in a pleasing driving experience, abundant comfort and a spacious cabin, and you've got one of the best hybrid sedans available.

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Average price: $18,218

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2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

Pros

High fuel economy
Comfortable ride quality
Offers lots of safety and technology features
Enjoyable and easy to drive

Cons

Lower-quality interior materials than some rivals
Road and wind noise is a bit elevated

What's new

No significant changes for 2021
Part of the seventh Sonata generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Christian Wardlaw

10/23/2020

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.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

23 listings

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2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Blue Sedan
$12,298
great price
$5,753 below market
- 27,042 miles
- No accidents, personal use only
- 50 City / 54 Hwy MPG
- G Motors Old Bridge (195 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Old Bridge, NJ
__________________________________________________________________________________G Motors Auto Group has been in business since 2016 with five locati...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
52 Combined MPG (50 City/54 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KMHL24JJ6MA030914
Stock: OL030914
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Price Drop
2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Blue Sedan
$10,300
great price
$5,529 below market
- 77,864 miles
- 1 accident, personal use only
- 50 City / 54 Hwy MPG
- G Motors Old Bridge (195 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Old Bridge, NJ
__________________________________________________________________________________G Motors Auto Group has been in business since 2016 with five locati...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
52 Combined MPG (50 City/54 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KMHL24JJ0MA030827
Stock: OL030827
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.1

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

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 Edmunds 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

8/10

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

8/10

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.

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid trim level differences

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

Which Sonata Hybrid trim does Edmunds 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.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$65/mo

$146/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
EV battery Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 7 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

21 reviews

5(66%)

4(19%)

3(4%)

2(4%)

1(7%)

See all 21 reviews of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great to drive fantastic fuel mileage

robertjoy, 12/17/2020

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)

Only had this vehicle for 2 weeks and purchased it because of its safety reviews and many safety features. I traded from a Jeep Renegade to this and this handles the road better than the Jeep. The issue I'm having is poor customer service from Hyundai and from the dealership. There's a noise that comes on at around 50mph plus my wife says it's from the front left-hand side I'm hearing it …

Stylish and Luxurious

Bill, 03/19/2021

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)

This is a great car with all the bells and whistles. I have a limited edition and has great technology that is pretty easy to use. The ride is really smooth and the performance is outstanding. And, it looks good while also being stingy on the gas. I'm currently getting over 45mpg and it's still going up. I did have to learn to drive it somewhat assertively to ensure the battery continues …

Good But Not Exceptional

Caruzin, 03/14/2021

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)

I've had my 2021 Sonata Hybrid for 4 months now. Styling is a subjective issue so I won't dwell on that but I do prefer the front end treatment on the Hybrid Model over all the other 2021 Sonatas. The interior is beautiful and a wonderful place to spend time. Handling is spectacular BUT I personally would gladly trade off a couple notches of handling prowess for a couple notches of …

By far best in show

Ron Lake, 04/20/2021

2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)

This is my 2nd Hyundai Hybrid. I absolutely love this vehicle, it is fun to drive, looks very flashy, and sips gasoline. (53 miles per gal out the gate). I have owned Toyota, mazda, VW, and Ford's in my life. Hyundai takes lots of pride, and you can see it in their vehicles. If your looking for a very comfortable, great looking, great running car, this is the one. Rev Ron Lake

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sonata Hybrid since its last redesign.

2021 Sonata Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

Blue

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$27,750
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	52 MPG
Cost to Drive	$65/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Sonata Hybrid models:

Smart Cruise Control: Maintains a driver-selectable distance between the Sonata and the car in front.
Surround View Monitor: Provides a bird's-eye view of the car for ultimate parking precision.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and will intervene if you attempt to move into that occupied lane.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.7%

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2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

Price & Payment

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

2021 Hyundai Sonata HybridBlue Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 Hyundai Sonata HybridBlue Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid trim level differences

Which Sonata Hybrid trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great to drive fantastic fuel mileage

Stylish and Luxurious

Good But Not Exceptional

By far best in show

2021 Sonata Hybrid Highlights

Safety

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2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Blue Sedan

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Blue Sedan