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2021 Hyundai Sonata

Price Range: $10,998 - $26,590

Hyundai Sonata Reviews

Owner Reviews

5(63%)
4(6%)
3(4%)
2(10%)
1(17%)

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

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Great car
5 out of 5 stars
Geoff G, 02/10/2021
2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Got the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited. This car is loaded with technology. All the bells and whistles. Like driving a Lexus with all the options at a much lower cost. Beautiful styling inside and out. Drives great!
2021 Sonata N Line. I didn't want to like it..
5 out of 5 stars
Mark B., 04/18/2021
2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
When it comes to a daily driver, I have several parameters. I won't spend over 40G. I won't lease. And at 6ft 2 with nerve damaged legs from my battle with cancer, legroom and seat comfort are paramount. Comfort is also an extremely subjective category. What works for you might not work for me, and vice versa. Accord Sport/Touring seats don't work for me. Camry in TRD trim is too "Fast & … Furious" for me. Altima has a CVT trans and horribly uncomfortable driver's seat for me. I was considering a K5 GT but none to be found locally. Figured I'd drive a Sonata N Line to get a feel for the package and scratch it off my list. I was not a huge fan of the 2020 exterior redesign although it slowly grew on me. And it does look better in N Line trim. I had a few cars on my list to spend a few days looking at and driving. The N Line was the closest so I started there. Sat in it for a bit and the driver's seat worked for me. Salesman threw a tag on it and told me to go have fun. Within a mile I was impressed. Twenty minutes later when I returned, I told the salesman to make me an offer I couldn't refuse. I drive it home 90 minutes later. The ride is firm but not harsh. It's definitely quieter than the previous generation Sonata. Handles great. Faster than a Hyundai should be allowed to be. The dual clutch transmission is fantastic. I've owned two dozen or so cars over the years, several German. I've never been approached about any of them the way I've been with this car. Seven weeks with it as I write this and I've been approached by strangers nearly two dozen times. Some knowing what the N Line is. Some asking if it's a Genesis or an Audi. Some genuinely not knowing what it could be. Gripes? Wish it had memory settings for the driver's seat. Wish it had ventilated seats although so far I really don't miss them. The light sensor for the auto headlights is beyond sensitive. I can barely clear going under an average overpass at highway speeds without the lights coming on in barely two seconds. Honestly, that's it. I don't regret my decision and I look forward to driving it every day. UPDATE 4/23/2022 Just over 20,000 miles in. Thermostat was replaced back in January. It was stuck open so wasn't really getting much heat. Other than that, routine oil changes, engine and cabin air filters, and replaced the tires only due to personal preference. I wasn't a fan of the Pirellis. A couple of 500 mile days with road trips. Still get asked what kind of car it it frequently. Fit and finish still like new. 4/25/2024 UPDATE. Three years and 48,000 miles at the moment. Nothing but routine maintenance. Still tight as a drum. No creaks/rattles. Recently drove nearly 1000 miles in a day moving cross country with my cat and dog. Stellar road trip vehicle.
Bought an N-Line a month ago - Great car
5 out of 5 stars
Bob from Georgia, 05/20/2021
2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)
I research my cars for a year or so before buying, and was particularly interested in the Sonata N-Line and the KIA K5 GT, both built on the same platform and mechanically identical. The KIA GT has a lower MSRP but all the cars I found for sale came with the $4000 GT1 package, which jumps the MSRP up over $35K compared to 33K for the Sonata N-Line that includes all the GT1 features in … the MSRP. Those 12 BOSE speakers are very nice! The question: Is this a family sedan or a muscle car? My answer is that it's family sedan with teeth. The first impression of the car, riding high on the 19-inch tires, is that it's big. My previous car was a 2017 Sonata Eco, and when I told my wife that the N-Line was identical in length and width, she said, "No way, this is a much bigger car." It was only when she saw that it fit into the same space in the garage as my 2017 that she believed the dimensions were the same. I've owned some muscle cars in the past and most of them made you drive them hard. They just weren't that smooth at low speeds. The N-Line is not that way at all. Drive it with a light touch and you'll get 28 MPG combined and it's just as smooth and elegant as can be. But when you want the power, it's there. This car won't ever be described as tossable but you can take it into a curve fast and it will hold the line. I frankly don't plan to try to beat others off the line all that often, as the car burns rubber easily and I plan to hold onto to those expensive 19-inchers for a while. But the temptation can be hard to resist. Yesterday a guy with a tricked-out Mercedes came up beside me at a light and started gunning his engine. I didn't bother switching to Sport mode and started off the line lightly to avoid burning rubber. He got out a little ahead but I blew him away easily. Get the N Line up to 1650 RPM gently and then step on it and it will fly. The Mercedes chased me around for awhile trying to do it again and I just ignored him. Guess he just couldn't believe his hot car was clobbered by a Hyundai. But where the N-Line is particular impressive is in mid-range acceleration. Its goes from 60 to 100 so quickly, quietly and smoothly that you almost don't believe it's that fast. I really like the sleeper aspect of the car. I like to use the power just occasionally, like when you're cruising down an on-ramp to the interstate with a nice fat space waiting for you, and some jerk decides to speed up and cut you off. Or when someone is doing 55 in the fast lane in a 70 MPH zone and you need to go around. Or just pulling out and passing on a one-lane highway. The N-Line gets the job done easily and smoothly. Look at the cars with equivalent horsepower, DCT, brakes, suspension, safety features and amenities, and you'll find most of them run $20 to $30 K more. If you need baby-butt leather and wood paneling, you'll have to buy the more expensive car. The N line, despite nice seats and red stitching, looks like a Hyundai inside. But the exterior is beautiful and the features are awesome. It's the right car for someone like me who wants the power and comfort but doesn't believe in paying $20K for the hood ornament.
Great Car
5 out of 5 stars
George Morrill, 03/26/2021
2021 Hyundai Sonata SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A)
This car is amazing! 5 star safety rating and has everything to assist you arrive safely. UPDATE: Truly there is nothing bad to say about this vehicle. Sleek, handles great, comfortable and last, but not least, gas mileage is awesome.

2021 Hyundai Sonata videos

Hyundai vs. Honda: How the New Sonata Stacks Up Against the Accord Dollar for Dollar

NOTE: This video is about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, but since the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

In this video, Edmunds' Carlos Lago and Elana Scherr find out how the new Hyundai Sonata compares to the Honda Accord. The Honda Accord has been Edmunds’ top recommendation to most shoppers looking for a midsize sedan, but the new Hyundai Sonata looks to be a competent challenger on style, value and features. In this comparison, we determine which one is worth your dollar.

Safety

Our experts’ favorite Sonata safety features:

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.
Remote Smart Parking Assist
Allows the driver to exit the vehicle and remotely guide it into a parking spot using a smartphone app.

NHTSA Overall Rating 5 out of 5 stars

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

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

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good



FAQ

Is the Hyundai Sonata a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 Sonata both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.0 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2021 Sonata gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 51 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Sonata has 16.0 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Hyundai Sonata. Learn more

What's new in the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata:

  • New Sonata N Line with more power, sharper handling
  • Minor revisions to standard feature availability
  • Part of the seventh Sonata generation introduced for 2020
Learn more

Is the Hyundai Sonata reliable?

To determine whether the Hyundai Sonata is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Sonata. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Sonata's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 Sonata and gave it a 8.0 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2021 Sonata gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 51 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 Sonata is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2021 Hyundai Sonata?

The least-expensive 2021 Hyundai Sonata is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $23,950.

Other versions include:

  • SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $23,950
  • SEL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $25,800
  • SEL Plus 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $28,300
  • N Line 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $33,300
  • Limited 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $33,950
Learn more

What are the different models of Hyundai Sonata?

If you're interested in the Hyundai Sonata, the next question is, which Sonata model is right for you? Sonata variants include SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A), SEL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 8A), SEL Plus 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A), and N Line 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM). For a full list of Sonata models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$149/mo  for Sonata SE
vs
$228/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Calculate my fuel costs