Used 2009 Hyundai Sonata Consumer Reviews
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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.
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.
- GLS V6 SedanMSRP: $3,4955 mi away
- SE V6 SedanMSRP: $4,28348 mi away
- Limited PZEV SedanMSRP: $6,995100 mi away
My Very FIRST Brand New Car-AWESOME!
I've owned used cars since I turned 16 (I'm only 21) but 2 weeks ago I bought my first, brand-spanking new car, the 2009 Sonata. This car is a dream come true. I love the smooth ride, great interior(love the USB hook-up, cd player, and built in XM), nice exterior, and the huge trunk space. I researched cars before buying and came SOOO close to buying a used Honda Accord but I traveled down the road and came upon the Hyuandai car dealership and found my car. I recommend this car to everyone. Even my boyfriend inquired about one (and he has a 2008 Ford Focus!) Lovely car--go get one!
PLEASE FIX THE CLUTCH BITE!!!
I am a woman who lives in the mountains and drives extreme roads daily. I bought the manual to have more control in the winter and have been a Hyundai owner for 6 years. I love many of the features (headlights, xm, extra ports, roomy everywhere) but I am having a horrible time with the clutch! I have driven manual my whole life(since I was 8!) Never had this much trouble. It stalls going out of my driveway, in intersections and I feel like I have to rev it to keep it going. Even stalls in 2nd gear around corners. Something is not right. I am really happy with everything else so far, but the clutch thing is driving me nuts!
great ride
I bought my sonata about a couple weeks ago and I am very happy. I shopped around at the accord and the Saturn and for the money the sonata won hands down. Great at the pump. Great feel for the road, and very spacious which was a must for me. Love the look of the front end, cool head lights and design. I highly give a good thumbs up. Get back with you in a couple months.
Excellent upgrade from an Accent
We bought this car to replace one of our 2006 Hyundai Accents. We're very impressed with the interior size as well as the interior furnishings and finish. I picked the four cylinder for the highway mileage and haven't driven enough yet to get some good figures. I'm very pleased with this car so far and can see myself fighting with the wife to see who gets to drive on a given day. The five-speed automatic transmission is great. Drives and shifts smoothly. It will tend to downshift while going uphill at highway speeds, especially with the cruise control on. You have been warned! I suppose that's one of the trade offs for the EPA 32 mpg highway.
Good for Tall Guy
Review for Sonata GLS with floor mats and Bluetooth options only. I'm 6'6" and this is one of the only cars in this class that I can sit in and be able to fit my knee between the steering wheel and center console. Only other acceptable car was Nissan cube, but it didn't have armrests. Plenty of head room and my view outside front window is not blocked by roof. With driver seat back fully, still room for passenger legs in back. 4-cyl engine has adequate acceleration for commuter car. Auto Trans shifts smoothly. Has more road feel through steering wheel than my old Jeep Grand Cherokee, but not unacceptable.
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.
Great Choice
I purchased this car in August. I have 12,000 miles on it already and have absolutely no problems. The ride is nice and smooth, low outside noise and the gas mileage is not bad either for a V6. The interior is very roomy and the seats are very comfortable. I have a back problem and I have no problem sitting in the seats for 8 hours driving. I would recommend this to anyone.
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.
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.
After Testing Servral Autos
I test drove 7 autos in this category and nothing came close to the comfort or the ride quality or the PRICE. We have the Limited V6 with everything but GPS. I kept reading reviews that the handling was all that great, our other car is a Avalon and I fail to see the difference. I researched this car for three years while comparing it to others and price/feature wise nothing comes close. Large trunk and well shaped with fold down rear seats, some have a pass thru.
Various Concerns
Had to replace automatic on and off light sensor did not work when purchased. Carpet had to be replaced because of rips. After car warms up transmission shifts very roughly between 1st and 2nd gears and sometimes between 2nd and 3rd. I was told that the transmission was an inter active unit and would soon smooth out after the break in period. The car has over 6000 miles now and nothing has changed since the day I purchase it. Also it emits a foul rubbery smell from the heating or air vents. Smells like air coming out of a tire. If steering is turned to quickly to either lock position car will cut off. Bought to the attention of the dealer the shifting concern but was told this is normal
Great Car, 2nd Review
I have owned the vehicle for 9 months & 16,000 mi. and it is still a great car! No problems, great ride & handling, good performance from the 4 cyl. engine and on highway trips over 37 mpg! Love all the standard features and a warranty that shames Toyota & Honda and many more. If all the vehicles in its class cost the same I'd still pick the Sonata. What a bonus that its thousands less!!
Serene Machine
Reluctantly traded my 2003 Corolla for missing safety features needed for crosstown commute to a new job. Imagine getting four wheel antilock disc brakes,traction control,stability control,six air bags,active head restraints,Michelin tires,"big car" feel and ride for under $12,000 with trade. City mpg steady at 27 and getting 38 to 40 on Arizona interstates with light foot(under 75 mph). What was the last car you owned when you smiled each time you got behind the wheel? I could not be happier with my Sonata's value, quality, and comfort.
It's what Honda and Toyota used to be
Buying this vehicle loaded gives you most every creature comfort the average driver could want. You just don't get to have a "premium" label on your grill. The ride performance and comfort is top notch, easily matching the Camry or Accord but at a reasonable price. The warranty is great but the quality probably means you won't need the benefits of the warranty; though the security is nice to have. Until recently Hyundai were looked at much the way early Toyotas and Hondas were seen. It took time to realize that these cars were of high quality. For a "family sedan" you can't beat the package you get. Love my nav system, bluetooth, leather, powre and heated seats, remote start...
Well done, Hyundai
We've only had our Sonata (with automatic) about one month, but we are impressed. We took it on the road for over 1,300 miles and averaged from 38-42 mpg. It rides quietly and comfortably with excellent handling in both dry and very wet weather----no brake problems. The engine seems fully competent and responds well. All systems perform as advertised. Trunk space is wonderful and the fold-down rear seat backs provide a most spacious cargo area----big enough for us to carry an antique rocker----without sacrificing cabin quietness. Of course, we had limited time with the Sonata, but so far so very good!
Why Buy A Camry when you have Sonata?
I test drove a Camry, Accord, Nissan 2.5s and Mazda 6, then Sonata last. I am a Toyota guy, or should I say "was". The Sonata was about $4k less at the start, has better quality interior, more HP under the hood, is quieter, and handles better than the Camry. It is not quite as crisp as the other three, but it is a different drive. And it is so quiet inside, nicely designed. So, Toyota, I am now a Hyundai guy.
12000+ on the odo and still diggin' it
This is my 3rd review and I now have over 12,000 miles on my Sonata. I recently averaged 31.6 mpg on a family trip at speeds between 75 & 80 mph, which seems to validate the "broken-in engine gets better gas mileage" statement. My ONLY gripe thus far is the low tire pressure warning light that comes on intermediately in error. Not the end of the world, but annoying when you find yourself pulling over to check your tire inflation for no reason. Otherwise, for above-average "basic" transportation, this car is hard to beat. I'd even recommend this car to my enemies.
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.
So far, so good!
With just about 9000 miles, my Sonata is running with no problems. The fuel economy has been as expected (I usually average 28 mpg per tank). Although some say its a "Lexus-like" ride, I'd say that's a bit of a stretch. The interior (especially the center console) looks great and the amount of standard features really won me over. The 4-cylinder engine does run a bit rough on cold days but usually is docile unless its really pushed. The transmission does tend to upshift quickly on the automatic (I believe in order to give better fuel economy). So far I don't hear any rattles in my car. I hope to keep the Sonata for a long time, especially because of the great warranty.
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.
Best deal out there
I've read a lot of these reviews, especially before I bought the Sonata. I am glad I did. For the money it is a great deal. The 32 mpg on the highway is right and that is with the AC on and 70 mph. It cruises nicely on the highway. Dash controls are easy and make sense. Back seat is roomy compared to others. Some reviews were unimpressed with handling, and it is a bit soft, but still very good. My only complaint is the suspension; it is clunky on a bumpy road. If Hyundai solves that issue they will have an unbeatable car.
Best mid-sized sedan for the money
I took my time in my search for new sedan to replace the wife's Saturn SL2, driving just about everything available under $25K. Our main criteria were: 1) larger and more comfortable than the SL2 (I'm 6'4"), 2) automatic transmission, 3) 4-cylinder for respectable gas mileage (our weekly commuting is 250+ miles), 4) leather seats, 5) power adjustable driver's and passenger's side mirrors. After driving a dozen or so cars, I cut my list down to the VW Jetta, Mazda 6, Saturn Aura, Nissan Altima, and the Sonata. I think I would have been happy with any of these, but when the price was factored in, it became no contest with the Sonata beating them all by $2500-$4500.
well worth the money
Sonata beats other cars in its class when it comes to the performance/price ratio.
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.
sunroof shattered
I was very happy with the v6 limited version up until the sunroof shattered. Driving along on the highway with no trucks or cars around, not near any underpasses, and then a great big crack and wooshing wind noise. Dealer is running away from the issue, I read other people had this problem. The car was four months old when it happened. All glass is covered with no deductible so it won't cost me anything, but there is no question that this is product defect not a stone.
Toyotazilla
My second Hyundai. Traded a 2006 Elantra for the 2009 Sonata. Feels like moving up from a VW bug to a Greyhound Bus, this car is large! Love the quietness, Michelin tires and great fuel economy.
so far GREAT!!!!
After much research and comparisons we decided on the SE v6, this style gave us more standard options than any of the others. Plus several other options added at no extra charge, add in the warranty and it was a easy decision. It may have a little less horsepower rating than some of the top competitors but unless you buy it to drag race, or want to exceed 145 mph I think it is more than efficient. You get advantage of great gas mileage 32.5 hyway,would only wish I could have got that kind of mileage with my 63 Impala SS W/ SAME HP. BEATS OUR 2.5L V6 mAZDA by a long shot.Ride is awesome, quite, smooth and precise, interior is great. Find a better deal than this buy it.
Third Sonata
This is our 3rd Sonata and each one is better than the last. It is the best dollar for dollar value on the road, delivering power and comfort whether in the mountains or on the interstate. The dealer service is consistent, thorough, and priced competitively. Any minor issues have been satisfactorily corrected. Steering is tight and responsive with good road feel, acceleration is strong, leather seats are comfortable but firm and secure. Really like the tire pressure monitor gauge. Everyone who has ridden in the car is surprised by its interior space, styling, and comfort. And we still have the 05, a friend is now driving the 01.
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.
2009 Hyundai Sonata GLS - LAH Review
For the price paid, this is a great car to drive for comfort and reliability thus far. I bought the car in January 2009 (should have waited a month due to tax breaks but oh well) and now have 18,500 on the car. I am averaging 26 MPG with city driving and am consistently in the lower 30s MPG with highway driving. The only problems I have with car are the cruise control (sometimes unresponsive), the paint (flaking away on the hood and the front grill) and the instrument panel lighting which seems to flicker often and cannot be fixed since Hyundai service personnel cannot replicate the problem.
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
My first Hyundai
My 97 Lexus ES 300 was beginning to age and needed repairs. I decided instead to purchase a new vehicle. After a ton of searching, I settled on a 2009 Sonata. I've put over 500 miles on it and have loved every second of it. After comparing it to the Accord, Camry, and Malibu, I chose the Sonata because I liked it better, regardless of price (even though price was lower). The cabin is very nice and I do not feel as though I've downgraded from my previous Lexus. My initial estimates have me getting around 29mpg with about 50/50 city/hwy driving. Although some people seem to take issue with the steering/handling of the Sonata, I love it. I drive soft and easy, so the car matches my driving well
My Second Hyundai
I love this car, this is my second Sonata I also have a 2005. I think everything about this car is great, except the way they designed the air conditioning vents. I think because of angle of the vents on the dashboard, you have to almost close the vents all the way downward before you feel the air.
Best Sonata Ltd. Ever
After owning the 2006 and 2007 Sonata Limited during the past, I was amenable to test driving the 2009 based upon several auto magazine reviews and 60,000 combined driving miles. My 2009 Sonata Limited ranks among the very best autos(including Mercedes, BMW's, Infinity Q45 etc) that I have driven during the past 40 years. The ride is exceptional smooth, handling secure, road noise non-existent, braking responsive without fade, and highway entrance acceleration terrific! The interior is well appointed,and XM radio stations crisp. In addition, my combined gas mileage is over 26 mph,and, I often approach 31 mph on highway driving. My only two complaints are the navigation system & blue odometer.
Great for the price!
I have only owned my Sonata for 1 month, but love it so far! I have 2 teenage boys who need the leg room and Hyundai has done a great job in this car. I also love the fuel economy, since I traded in an Explorer which got 15mpg! Safety was another concern of mine since I will soon be letting my teenager learn to drive in this vehicle.
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.
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
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.
Great Car at a Great Price
Purchased one in Slate Blue in Nov 2008 after driving the Altima, Accord, and Camry. Recommend the Popular Equipment Package, as it is worth the extra money. 4-cyl power is more than adequate; achieved 38 MPG at 60 MPH on a freeway road trip. Received many compliments on the exterior color. Interior is quiet and stereo is great w/ USB feature and XM Radio. Highly recommend this car so far, as you get a lot of features for the price.
Overall Great Purchase "But".
Purchased this vehicle after trading in a 2009 Honda CRV EX-L. Loved the Honda but tired of the SUV. The Hyundai is everything I expected except I have a noise under the dash that drives me crazy whenever I go over a speed bump or drive on a secondary road, I read about this noise in other owner reviews but was hoping it would not happen to me. My Honda never had a noise like this. It sounds like something is loose and it is a "plastic" like noise. I will ask my dealer to fix it during my first service. If he can't, I will really regret my purchase regardless of price.
Please Fix Brake Pad Problem
I live in New England and purchased 2009 Sonata.Great winter performance. With only 15000 on the OD my Service Mgr. told me the brake pad backer plates are rusting and the corrosion is reducing the space between the pad and the rotor creating a potential safety problem of possibly glazing and having a brake loss or dragging and locking or burning. With the bumper to bumper warranty expired the the repair cost me $160 out of pocket. I was told the problem could re-occur. The expense is a minor irritation but the Prospect of losing my brakes on the Interstate or having them lock-up on an icey road is terrifying. Whats the big deal about a re-design of the pad. An alloy that doesn't rust.
WOW!!!
This is the first Hyundai product That I've purchased. I am very impressed overall with this car. The power of the 4cyl is more than sufficient to get on the freeway here in Houston,TX and the cruise at 70mph+. The interior is very well appointed,I recommend the upgrade to power driver's seat and the sunroof!The wheel mounted audio controls are a must! Very nice to drive and handles like a much heavier car, not much road bump transmission!! The exterior is a bit plain,but still nice. I would say that for the money you can't beat this car. It replaced a Chevy HHR, the back seat is large enough to fit my daughter, who is 5'8"! Not bad for a car that gets 28 mpg even in heavy traffic!
2 months in
Had the new sonata for 2 months now. Bought it with 50 miles on it and im just about to roll into 3k. Even with the stick version that I have, the car lacks any Punch when you hit the gas, but it more than makes up for it by its good handling around corners and smooth ride. Its Nice inside, the seats are supportive and comfortable (so unusual for some reason), and the base model features are just exellent. My only complaints so far is the lack of Punch (but who needs it in morning traffic) and even when riding the speed limit and 99% highway driving, I can never hit 30 mpg. I average about 27-28 real world highway. Its not bad, but its not the 32 advertised.
A good surprise
I have driven Camrys for the past 10 years so it took quite a leap of faith for me to purchase a new 2009 Sonata Limited. But after comparison shopping there was no contest. I got a great deal on my Sonata (especially with the $3000 rebate on 2009 Sonatas), the dealership could not have been easier to work with (I run from high-pressure sales folks)and the car I bought has a lot of very nice features, including a V-6, leather interior, sunroof, great stereo and a very nice, quiet ride, plus excellent warranties. For the same price I paid for a new Sonata with all those features I would have had to buy a used Camry, Accord or Altima (and right around 2007 or even 2006 for the same features.)
Great Car
I have 10k miles on my Sonata. I have not had the first problem. MPG is great. Even with my wife's heavy foot, the car still gets 24mpg in town and we get 32 on the highway loaded down for a trip going 70mph. My GLS did not come with the auto on/off headlights but you can still leave the headlights turned on all the time and they will go off when you turn the engine off and remove the key. If you have BMW taste then do not consider this car. But if value means more to you than people judging you by the coolness of your car, then the Sonata is for you.
To replace a totalled 1998 Altima....
I was renting a Sonata GLS that was thru the insurance for 30 days as my car was totaled. I was impressed with the car and since I test drove a 2009 Sonata GLS for a month, I talked myself into buying a Sonata Limited 2009 w/o Nav. I paid $4375 below factory invoice that includes the 3000 rebate. Driving experience- suspension could be better, but no biggie. Everyone talks in the reviews of great MPG (30-34) on highways. I have not seen much written about city MPG. Mine is around 19-20 MPG in City driving which is not that impressive. Hope it improves as the car just finished the break in period. On freeway it is 30- 32 and as soon as I get off the ramp it drops to 20-21 in just 10 miles.
Great value
Just finished a 6K mile trip out west. The car performed great. Got between 28 and 37 MPG. The 28 was doing a steady 81 with AC. The 37 was doing around 55. Couldn't have asked for more of 175 horses. I enjoyed the trip. The car was quiet, and we enjoyed the radio and music using a memory stick.