Used 2009 Hyundai Sonata Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Ok but has Issues
Like the overall car for looks and roominess inside. A little disappointed how the vinyl doors inside scratch easily. Sporty and stylish.
For ppl complaining about suspension
I own a 2007 Ltd and this 2009 GLS was purchased for my mom. I can tell you that based on my experiences, the suspension was meant to be soft. It's not a flaw, BUT it's something that will not give joy to everyone who drives one. People used to tighter suspensions..shop elsewhere. What I do have an issue with is the tires. They do not absorb bumps very well. The 17" wheels are worse than the 16" on the GLS. This is not a problem with suspension or shocks. The Kuhmo tires are harsh and noisy. Invest in better tires if it's that bad for you. Also check the tire pressure and make sure they're set as they should. Over/under inflated tires can make a huge difference in ride.
- GLS SedanMSRP: $4,99987 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: $7,95095 mi away
- GLS V6 SedanMSRP: $5,78899 mi away
Incredible Surprise
Never thought I would even consider, let alone buy a Hyundai. Read online write-ups and reviews of Sonata, Camry, Altima, and Impala. Liked all of the cars, but Sonata was by far the least expensive with more useful features than the others. Smooth, strong and quiet acceleration with the six. Handles better than reviews led me to believe. Gas mileage is great. Lots of interior room. We've owned a Lexus, 3 BMWs and traded an Acura and this car held it's own with all of them at a much lower price. Tremendous Value! Not the flashiest car, but no better car for the money.
Beats the Competition
I have been test driving/researching cars for 3 weeks prior to my purchase. I test drive the base models (cloth seats, nothing extra) of all the following: The Hyundai beat the pant off of the other cars I drove in price and quality. Incredible interior/cloth seats/value. Toyota Camry Tight steering, responsive engine, cheap dash, especially the knobs. Seats average, cloth on door arm rest worn at 30,000 miles in every car I drove. Used 2008/2009 Camry @ 35,000 miles costs more than a brand new 2009 Hyundai. Ford Fusion Absolutely horrible, disgusting, uncomfortable. Small leg width space, ugly dash, center console, very uncomfortable seats because of the headrests. This is one of the worst.
Good but also disappointed
Like the car very much, except for the 6" crack in the front windshield. Had the car for 3 months and dealership said toooo badddd, same as Hyundai. Drove a Ford for 10 years, no cracks. Drove a Plymouth for 10 years, no cracks. So which parts I'm going to have replace in the next 6 months. Just love their great so called warranty.
Second Day
I just picked up my new Sonata GLS in slate blue yesterday, and will admit that I bought it to save money, having traded down from a G35 with 95k miles. I looked at compact cars and quickly discovered they were too small. Then looked at the Accord Camry and Sonata. Found the Accord in cloth uncomfortable and in leather too pricey. The Camry was an excellent ride and very comfortable and decided to shop Sonata against it. I found the Sonata with virtually the same ride, a bit less comfortable with a high level of content and great layout and space. The clincher was the price - a full 5 grand less than Camry. Thought I might have 2nd day remorse, but enjoyed cruising with AC and the XM today.
Love my new car.
I haven't had this car but one day so far, but went on a half a dozen test drives, and sat in more than a handful of cars. This is by far the most fun I've had driving a car in some time. My last car was a Buick Park Avenue, and this car while slightly smaller on the inside is a far better performer, and has nearly all the features of the Buick.
Hyundai fan
I replace my 2005 Chevy impala with this car. My car payment went down $ 100 a month and I feel I got a better car. It 175 hp vs 200 it fills as quick and the ride's better. Gas mileage on Chevy 16 to 28 / Hyundai 21 town 33 at 75 on highway. Love the ride and the head room I'm 6,3 lot of room in back for the kid's the dealership treat me like I got a BMW. I sold Honda's for 6 month and Hyundai has them worried if I didn't know it I would think I was diving a Honda accord. And not the Honda accord vp this car way better.
hot stuff
I had the Hyundai sonata less then a month and love it!! I got the gls i4 with the popular option package, power seat, trip computer, auto lights, ect: I originally planned on getting an accord or Camry but the Hyundai dealer was right down the road from me and after test ride and pricing I grabbed it. The Camry or accord would of been a few thousand more. My only complaint is the air conditioner. We live in hot Florida and there were a few really hot humid days where the air just didn't seem to be good enough for me, but only around town,highway it is fine. My wife thinks it's fine and said that I am just trying to find something wrong. great car! but bad resale value
Didn't want to consider Hyundai...
at first, but I wanted the lux features without the cost and the research convinced me to buy the Sonata. I got the 4 cyl limited with Navi and BT and it really has blown me away. All of the positive things people have written about the velvety ride (but not too soft), power for a 4 cyl, and great gas mileage are dead on. Interior is very sharp and placement of controls is generally very good. The interior is spacious and seats are comfortable for a big person (6'1" - 220 lbs). More than anything, it's the little things that have impressed me; the air cylinders that open the trunk and hood, the dual layer SW controls and door lock prevention when keys are in the ignition.
Ditto's with Everyone's Review
I have 6200 miles since August on my Sonata. I've been commuting 600 miles every weekend. Smooth ride, plenty of power and excellent interior layout. The car feels much more expensive than what it cost. I'm averaging between 33-35 on the highway. I checked out most of the competition and nothing came close for the price, safety features and warranty. Test drive one and you'll be impressed.
Love it
I've had my car since September last year, and I've put a little over 8000 miles on it since. Though it's over 6 months old, it still brings a smile to my face when I walk out to it. What it boils down to, is that you can't get a better car for the price. The standard features beat the competitors in its class hands down, even at a lesser cost. Comfort, size, safety... all excellent. Not quite as "sporty" as the Accord, but more luxurious... so it's a price I gladly pay. I tend to have a lead foot, as the saying goes, so my fuel economy suffers... but that aside, I don't feel I get decent MPG. I've gotten compliments from, literally, everyone who's been in my car.
Very Satisfied With Our New Sonata
Fuel efficiency of this model was a major factor in my decision to go with Hyundai. After 6500 miles I am averaging 29 MPG around Huntsville, AL in mixed city/interstate driving. The interior of this car is laid out well. The power seat is great because it allows for small tweaks while driving to maintain driver comfort. The stock radio sounds very good and having the USB port allows me to play MP3s from a flash drive, and XM radio is a big plus too. The A/C cools quickly and has to be turned down a bit, even on hot days. The interior is so quiet that I feel like I'm in my own little zone on the way home from work each day.
I wish they could build SE i-4 manual...
I am 6.3" 300 lbs guy with a normal driving style. Here is my first impression from my first 200 miles: The good: - great value ( can't beat 14,975$ price) - good interior ( dual color comes with cherry read color) - solid build quality - good fuel economy (200 miles on less than 1/2 tank) - manual tranny is Ok, except the clutch bites too soon The bad: - very soft suspension and numb steering feel - seat is too soft, no adjustable lumbar support or telescope steering wheel for GLS trim The Ugly: - SE trim would probably address most of my complaints but Hyundai simply doesn't manufacture SE I-4 despite the fact it is listed even in their brochure. I would gladly pay 2000$ for SE.
Highly Impressed
This is our first Hyundai. Just brought it home Monday, 7/28/08. Only 112 mi so far. Beautiful Ebony Black w/silver pinstripe. The roominess, the power, the dash layout. Hyundai really paid attention to detail. We looked at all the others Nissan, Toyota, Ford & Chevy. The Sonata beats the pants off all of them. We also recommend the steering wheel audio controls & the power seat. Ours also has the light control group. This is an Outstanding Automobile. There is no nicer car for the money. We didn't know that the Sonata has been around for 20yrs. You have to drive this car! Will add more after its broke in.
Six Month Ownership Update
I wrote my first review the night I got my car home. Of course everyone loves a new car the day they buy it. Go read any Edmunds review and if often starts like this "Just got the car today, I LOVE it!!!" I'm here to tell you that six months later and it's still a joy to drive every day. It has been absolutely flawless in build quality and reliability. And just like another reviewer said, the car handles much better than "professional" reviews would lead you to believe. Powerful brakes that stop the car right now, a smooth, powerful V6 engine, and a suspension system that does a fantastic job of providing a velvety ride while also being sporty enough to have fun around the corners.
Wow What a Car
Just bought the 2009 Hyundai Sonata 2 weeks ago after owning a 1996 Camry for 10 years. I can't say enough about this car. I recently went on a road trip and was getting 35 MPG at 80 MPH. The exterior looks like a more expensive model and the interior is nice too. Wish I had upgraded to the sunroof though.
Only Superlatives
I own a Santa Fe so i knew the quality that Hyundai offers for the money. The Sonata is an exceptional value compared to the Accord and Camry costing 6-7K more. The fit and finish rival that of Lexus. Despite reviews to the contrary, the car is actually fun to drive and quite peppy even with the 4cyl. The night display is phenomenal with the blue and white lights. The surprise bonus - high gas mileage. I actually got more than 35 miles per gallon on the highway but going little over 60 and keeping a steady foot.
first time hyundai owner
We are a retired couple and researched for 6 months looking for a reasonably priced (under 20k), fuel economy, midsized car (we're not compact sized people). Test drove altima, accord, mazda 6, fusion, malibu, and camry. Got this car with electric driver seat, moonroof, floor mats and ipod outlet for 17k. We're averaging 27 mpg city, haven't driven more than 40 miles on hwy, but looking forward to long trips during retirement. Large trunk for our luggage, comfortable seating and cheap gas mileage makes it feasible for us to travel crosscountry and enjoy our retirement in a highly rated safety featured auto. No disappointments here. Also, long power train warranty, 100k from manufacturer
very impressed
Love the smooth and powerful 4 cyl. Most impressed with the new interior design and quality. This vehicle matches toyota and honda in all respects for significantly less money.
No more DOMESTICS for my family!
My extended family and I have been buying/leasing Chrysler Products for almost 10 years from the same salesman who recently began selling the cars made by HYUNDAI. A couple of weeks after he got to the new store Lee called my wife and I about this SONATA. I must say that although we never really paid attention to the brand before, we are each impressed. for the cost of an entry level Dodge Avenger we have more standard feature's. A far more quiet ride. A great deal more room. We also looked at a few of the other cars offered by Hyundai, after meeting a very considerate owner. We now are driving a wonderful new car.
sonata limited I4 2009
This car is more comfortable than the 06 sonata. I get 26 mpg in the city and freeway combined. It is quiet and the stereo is the best. Love the xm and the price.
Get what you paid for...
Should have paid more for a car to have a decent ride, these Kumho tires are stiff and out of round, when cold the tires are worse! Doors unlock when car put into park so someone can jump into back seat and hijack someone. Nice feature with child lock for rear doors, but even when that is on someone can open the outside doors and get in...scary for my wife when she is alone. Trunk items can't be secured from inside the car.
Classy inexpensive quality car
I've driven the car for about a month and a half now and am very happy with it's performance. The cloth bucket seats are roomy and comfortable. I normally do a lot of short stop and go driving back and forth to work and I'm averaging around 23 mpg. I've got nothing but good things to say so far, so I'll leave it at that.
Best Sedan on the Market !!
Just bought the car a week ago. Very nice interior and moderate exterior styling. After researching many cars including Camry, Accord, Altima, and Passat, Sonata came in first on every thing on my list. Gas mileage is great getting above +35mpg on highways!! Interior w/ blue lights are luxurious at night. Very quiet and smooth ride makes me wanna drive all the time! Overall, Very satisfied with my Hyundai Sonata !
Great Car for the money
With a little over 1000 miles in the first 4 days of owning, I have no real complaints. Bought a Limited 4cyl with navi and I am driving it 80 miles a day each way to work and back. Car is quiet, comfortable, and generally a pleasure to drive. I am seeing 32 mpg with a mix of driving. Navigation is a little hard to work depending on what you are trying to get it to do but I am sure that is just a "learning curve" thing.
Buy this car!
After driving this car for over 8000 miles, I'm still pleased with what a tremendous value it is. GLS has all the options you need with popular equip. pkg. Pretty powerful for a 4 cylinder while getting great mileage for a car this size - 27 mpg mixed city/highway. Originally thought about civic/corolla/elantra, but this car was a class up for the same price (with incentives). Great interior! Very quiet car. ESC works great in the snow. Manually shifting the automatic works OK, but upshifts are slow. Also, it tends to downshift from 5th to 4th on even the slightest hill in cruise control on the freeway. Oh well. Seats could use more lateral support when cornering.
very well done i am very happy
I am very pleased with the limited v6 the handling is very good hyundai did a excellent job with the 09 sonta limited those that have the models that are under the limited should have test drove the limited you would have been sold on it this car is very well put together with a very good ride and excellent gas mileage i am a premium gas man and my mileage is 32 on the hwy nothing to complain about this excellent car
2009 Sonata
If the badging were removed, it would be difficult to tell who built it. Hyundai has come a long way since the early Sonatas and have caught if not surpassed the great cars Honda and Toyota had been dominant in for so many years. We are extremely impressed with this build quality Hyundai has put into the Sonata for thousands less than the benchmarks.
A Real Nice Car
Traded my 06 Sonato with a V6 in on this one with the 4cyl.Had not one problem with it. The V6 has more power but the 4cyl may surprise you with the pickup it has,plus the gas mileage is a plus. Majority of my driving is freeway and I abide by the speed limits so I get better than advertised mileage.My model has everything but navigation, excellent ride, infinity sound system is excellent,large trunk,wife loves the heated seats,I enjoy the dual climate control.Car is a pleasure to drive.Compare it to other cars with the same equipment you will be saving money and have a great warranty to go along with it. Our dealership has also made ownership a pleasure.
New Sonata Look
This will make the 6th Hyundai product that I haved owned since 2003, my last Hyundai before the 2009 sonata was a 2006 sonata se v6. This time around I choose the 4 cylinder more for the economy purpose of the car. I am pleasantly surprised with the power and the changes that been made with the 2009 model. I now own the 2009 sonata limited and I think it blows away my previous car a 2007 Nissan altima 2.5sl.
First Hyundai - Great Choice
Traded in my 1991 Camry (203K miles) and compared Sonata 4 cyl with add on package vs 2008 Accord and 2009 Camry, to see why I should pay $2000-2800 more for a Camry or Honda. The Accord was not as quiet as the Sonata at 35- 45mph especially, had a slight blind spot in mirror, did not include alarm, had less trunk space, lacked split rear fold back seats (single), but did have superior steering. Camry did not have standard ESC, the clock was in a strange location on dash (look up!), and the body lines on car were bland. At 1900 miles, the Sonata drives well and very quiet, has enough pick up, mileage at 31-32 (mix highway/local), love the XM radio and ipod dock,great trunk /rear seat space
The best
Overall great car! I don't like the latch you have to pull out and push in to tilt the steering wheel, other cards I've owned you just move the latch; move the wheel, and let go, this you have to push the latch for it to engage the wheel in place. (small item but bothersome). A small amount of road noise, but then I can never tell the difference in noise from 25 mph or 70 mph. Great acceleration.
2009 GLS Sonata Great Bargain
I bought the 2009 sonata because I was looking for a reliable car and a nice car to drive. I have had it for only a day and it is a fun car to drive and nice as well. I bought it for a great deal. I only paid 15,140 for the car and I got them to through in mud guards and mats as well. So it was a great buy.
Real Worth for your hard-earned money
I had shortlisted the Mercedes C300 Sport, Acura TSX 09 and Infiniti G35 for my new car purchase. I never ever thought of going for a Hyundai. I just wanted to test-drive a Sonata and I was quite pleasantly surprised with the ride quality, interiors etc. I paid close to 18,900 for my 09 Sonata and after taxes etc, it was still 12K cheaper than TSX 09 after tax. For my day-to-day office commute and occasional long drive, this car was ideal. In the extra money I saved, I could make my house more comfortable, than showing off with a piece of machinery I use maybe an hour every day. The rated mileage is 21/31 city/highway. But I got 35 mpg on highway on my recent trip and get 25 mpg in city.
Love the car
Just purchased a 2009 Sonata Ltd. V-6 w/Navi. Wow what a car! Power to burn! My daughter got a used 2006 GL and I loved it so much I got one. Double the rebate from dealer plus, 1200 more for trade than NADA plus, other discounts. I feel like I stole the car.
Bought my second Sonata
I just traded a 2007 Sonata Limited for a 2009 Sonata Limited. The 2007 was a great car but this is a fantastic upgrade.
Sonata, Great Car and Value
We bought a 2009 GLS 4 cyl. about two weeks ago. We have already driven over 1500 miles. Everything has worked great. Our last trip of over 600 miles averaged 35 mpg. Had over 560 miles on one tank of gas. Drives very nice, quiet and smooth. Could not get a comparable car for the money.
Love the '09 Sonata Limited
The Altima and Mazda6 are sportier, the Camry and Accord have better resale value, but nothing in the <25k price range beats the Sonata for value, comfort and technolust. Standout features - - iPod integration: The aux+USB interface can charge your ipod, and you can browse artists, playlists, albums etc on the display. The wheel mounted controls can be used to ffwd, rewind and play next / previous songs. No need to touch the ipod once its plugged in. - Hood and trunk have struts. No chance of the hood dropping on your head, no need to move stuff out the way of the trunk's hinges. - The console and interior styling belong to a luxury car - superb sound system. Crystal clear treble, deep base
sure not sorry
Very pleased for the first 1,000 miles.Went on two 400 mile trips and by on board comp. avg 35.1 mpg and 35.5 for second.50/50 freeway/city. Hard to believe but welcomed.Very quiet and smooth ride. All passengers commented on how comfortable the seating was.The 175hp 4 cyl engine has all the power most anyone would ever need.I've had more expensive cars but I really don't think they did any better than this Sonata.
Navigation system
When we picked up the car the navigation was not hooked up correctly and the dealer "fixed" it for us, but it took three days (signs of bad things to come). Less than a month later we took it to North Carolina and the nav system went out again. Dealer there was helpful and put in a new one for us. 8 months later it is not working again. It si a great car, but I would not spend the extra for the nav system-they are not real helpful in getting it fixed and even when calling the help line they are not good at letting us know what is being done to remedy the problems.
The feel of Luxury
Since buying this vehicle I can't seem to want to park it. The feel on the road,acceleration and overall experience is fantastic. I love this vehicle. It's the nicest car I test drove and believe me I tested them all before the purchase
I love this car.....
I researched and drove other cars for 3 months. My short list also included the Fusion, Camry and Accord. I kept going back to this one because I got everything I was looking for without having to buy a package (or not be able to get it at all) not to mention the warranty. The Camry had shifting issues, the Fusion didn't have stability control, the Accord dashboard was ugly and confusing. I only have 1000 miles on it, but so far it's been an amazing car. I'm getting 21-22 mpg avg city and hwy combined. I got the SE auto - had a Taurus and the v6 best fit what I was used to driving. It has more than enough power for me. It handles well, shifts so smoothly and looks great too.
Hyundai over Accord
Bought a 2009 SE V6. Spent a lot of time narrowing the search. Came down to the Honda Accord. Then just for curiosity, stopped @ a Hyundai dealerships and drove the Sonata. Quieter, more creature comforts for less $$, and a warranty that's best on the market. So far have only 500 miles. The first fill up, got 31 mpg. The car really is amazing how smooth and responsive. You're at 80 mph and unless you're paying attention, you wouldn't know it. The SE really is a great handling car for a family sedan. My other driver is a Mustang GT. The Sonata isn't a GT, but it's almost as tight in the corners Give the Sonata a fair shot. You'll be amazed.
Best Value - Price, Perf, Std Features
I test drove both the Accord and Camry before deciding to purchase the Sonata. The Sonata drove smooth (>Accord, >=Camry) and had the quietest cabin while driving. Add the std safety features and the Sonata was a no brainer. Some people wrote they didn't care for the 2009's updated body lines, but I have a friend with a 2007 and I like the 2009 much better. The taller front grill (now chrome), larger, brighter headlights and overall more angular body lines give the 2009 a more aggressive look. I really like the new interior. The center console looks modern and sports blue lights and a new large display radio. Everything feels solid, esp the doors. Very quiet engine and while driving.
Great car!
Purchased for size, economy, manual option and warranty. I have drive Subarus for 30 years but the Legacy is much smaller,and has poorer mileage (due to AWD). I have 6k in mileage; On recent trip to Kentucky I got 32.5MPG going around 70- 75mph. The only complaints I have are the manual trans is not as positive is shifting compared to Subaus I have owned and also Honda Accouds/Civics and Mazadas I have driven which are owned by family members. (Even my 86 year old mother drives a Civic with a stick shift!)Hope the trans gets smoother as it breaks in; MPG has increased. Another strange issue is that when back windows are down at highway speed that there is a loud wind noise.
Fantastic car
Bought this car after considering the 08 for several months. Also considered Accord, Altima and Mazda6. With or without considering the bargain price, this was the car to beat. It's miles above the 08 Sonata. Everyone I've showed it to loves it, it's been mistaken for a Lexus more than once. The ride is absolutely smooth, and acceleration remarkably quick even though I haven't really stomped on the gas yet (not quite through break-in). Mileage is slightly better than the EPA estimates, I've been getting over 30 highway and near 20 city. Shifting was a bit rough at first but it seems to be getting better. Interior quality is outstanding and the controls are intuitive and well placed.
09 Limited V6-NAV
Preferred the Sonata over the Accord, Camry, Altima & Malibu - the much lower price was icing on the cake. Ride is silky smooth, and exceptionally quiet. The new interior is fantastic beats all the competitors. Great car!!!
Great Car
I test drove the Altima, Accord, Jetta, and Kia and by far the Sonata was the best for features, cost and look of the car. Jetta and Accord drove a little better. I recommend getting the SE over the limited, the wheels, spoiler and options make it look better then the limited plus getting the Premium Package you end up with almost the same car as the limited but minus a few grand. I bargained down to 19,800 with premium package so dealers are motivated to sell. When it came down to it I had to decide between Accord and Sonata and the Accord just didn't have the features and cost more. Accord handled better but that was not enough to change my mind. I highly recommend this car to anyone.
Time Will Tell
This car is equal in almost every aspect to a Camry for considerably less money. What remains to be seen is if the 2009 Sonata will provide 160k mile problem free performance that my previous owned Camry did. Getting 25 mpg in city driving and recent trip in Colorado mountain drive 32 mpg. Better acceleration would be a plus in city driving but this car performs equivalent to a 6 cylinder on the highway.