2021 Hyundai Sonata

Volume trim (SEL) carries the naturally aspirated 2.5L Smartstream I4, carried over unchanged from the DN8's 2020 launch.

Torque figure for the same 2.5L NA engine on the volume SE/SEL trims.

No single figure is unanimous across testers (7.5–7.9s range) but all cluster tightly for the unchanged 2.5L NA powertrain; using the more commonly cited instrumented time.

The 2.5L NA four is smooth and unobtrusive at cruise but unremarkable under hard throttle — reviewers describe it as adequate rather than exciting, with none of the coarseness or lag of a small turbo, but also none of the eagerness of the N Line's turbo four.

The conventional 8-speed automatic (shared across SE/SEL/SEL Plus/Limited) is repeatedly praised for smooth, well-timed shifts and is contrasted favorably against the droning CVTs common in midsize-sedan rivals; no notable hunting or harshness reported for this powertrain (the 1.6T's dual-clutch, on other trims, draws separate jerkiness complaints not applicable here).

The 2021 Sonata is FWD-only across every trim and every powertrain, including N Line and both hybrids — Hyundai did not add HTRAC AWD to the Sonata lineup until the 2024 model year.

For 2021 the Sonata spans three distinct gas engines (2.5L NA on SE/SEL/SEL Plus/Limited, 1.6L turbo on SEL Plus/Limited, and the new-for-2021 2.5L turbo N Line at 290 hp) plus two electrified variants (Hybrid and Hybrid Blue) — unusually broad for a mainstream midsize sedan.

EPA combined figure for the volume SEL trim's 2.5L NA engine with 8-speed automatic, FWD.

EPA city figure for the SEL 2.5L configuration.

EPA highway figure for the SEL 2.5L configuration.

EPA-derived total range for the SEL 2.5L trim from its 15.9-gallon fuel tank at the combined MPG rating.

EPA annual fuel cost estimate for the SEL 2.5L configuration under standard 15,000 mi/yr assumptions.

All 2021 Sonata gas powertrains, including the turbocharged 1.6T and 2.5T N Line, run on regular 87-octane unleaded — no premium recommendation or requirement anywhere in the lineup.

NHTSA's full test (frontal, side, rollover) rated the 2021 Sonata 5 stars overall, 5 stars in every sub-category, the top result available.

IIHS rated the 2021 Sonata Good on small overlap front (both sides), moderate overlap front, roof strength and head restraints, but only Acceptable on the updated side test; it earned Top Safety Pick, but that award applies only to the Limited/Hybrid Limited trims with the Good-rated LED projector headlights — the volume SEL trim runs Marginal headlights and does not carry the award.

Hyundai SmartSense on the 2021 Sonata puts forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping/lane-following assist, driver attention warning, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, and auto high-beams standard even on the base SE, but blind-spot collision-avoidance, rear cross-traffic assist and safe-exit warning are reserved for SEL trim and above.

IIHS front crash prevention rated the Sonata's system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle (avoided the collision at both 12 and 25 mph) and Superior for daytime pedestrian scenarios; IIHS did not publish a nighttime pedestrian result for this generation under the 2021 protocol, so the score stops short of a system with a confirmed night rating.

Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist (active steering intervention, not just an alert), rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist and safe-exit warning are standard from SEL up, covering the volume trim, but are absent on the base SE.

Lane Following Assist centers reasonably well on the highway for a 2021 mainstream sedan, but period reviews describe occasional correction lag and ping-pong behavior versus the class's smoothest systems.

Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go is standard even on SE, and Highway Driving Assist — combining ACC with lane centering — is available on upper trims; motorbiscuit and other period reviews call the ACC calibration confident with only minor rough edges.

The 2021 Sonata's Highway Driving Assist is a hands-on Level 2 system requiring continuous steering-wheel contact; Hyundai had no hands-free highway system (no HDA II/hands-free feature existed until later Hyundai/Genesis models) in this model year.

IIHS rated the LED reflector headlights on SE, SEL, SEL Plus and both hybrid trims Marginal; only the Limited/Hybrid Limited's LED projector units with high-beam assist scored Good, so the volume-trim buyer gets the weaker set.

Reviewers found front and side sightlines good thanks to a relatively large greenhouse, but the sloping fastback-style roofline and thick rear-quarter pillars compromise rear-quarter and over-the-shoulder visibility, a known tradeoff of this generation's coupe-like styling.

The Sonata seats 5 and provides lower LATCH anchors in both outboard rear seating positions plus top-tether anchors across all three rear positions; rear doors open wide enough for typical car-seat installation without major digging, though anchor depth in the seat bight is about average for the class rather than exceptionally easy.

Conventional five-passenger mid-size sedan seating across every 2021 trim (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, N Line, Limited) and both gas and hybrid powertrains.

The DN8 Sonata's front headroom figure was unchanged through the 2021 model year on trims without a panoramic sunroof; it sits at the top of the sedan normalization band.

The DN8 generation posts a class-leading front legroom figure well above the top of the sedan band (40–44 in), driven by Hyundai's cab-rearward packaging.

Second-row headroom lands comfortably inside the sedan band (35–39 in), a byproduct of the DN8's relatively tall greenhouse despite its fastback roofline.

At 34.8 in the Sonata trades rear-seat space for its outsized front row — near the bottom of the sedan band (32–42 in) and behind the Camry and well behind the Accord, a known DN8 packaging weakness unchanged since the 2020 launch.

A 16.0 cu ft trunk is mid-pack-plus for the mid-size sedan segment, with a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat for longer items.

The pre-facelift DN8's conventional column shifter (shift-by-wire and the floating console with its under-console pass-through arrived only with the 2024 refresh) means 2021 gets a fairly ordinary console bin, door pockets and a rear-seat pass-through — competitive but not a standout versus rivals of this era.

Front seats on the volume SEL are well-cushioned and supportive with standard heating, generally praised for daily comfort, but the class-trailing 34.8 in of rear legroom limits how comfortable adults are in back on longer trips.

Reviewers consistently describe the ride as firmer than expected for a mainstream mid-size sedan and less settled than segment leaders — Car and Driver called it 'firmer than most cars in this category' and 'a little more unsettled than desired,' though not harsh.

Average for the segment at highway speed — no acoustic-glass package on the volume SEL and the 2.5L NA engine becomes vocal under hard acceleration, but wind and road noise are otherwise well controlled for a mainstream sedan.

The volume SEL gets dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats standard, but heated steering wheel, ventilated seats and rear climate vents are all reserved for SEL Plus and Limited — a meaningfully thinner comfort package on the trim most buyers choose than the facelifted generation offers.

The 2021 Sonata SE opens just under $25,000 delivered, comfortably in the lower half of the mid-size sedan band and below where the nameplate's price ladder sits by the 2026 model year, reflecting two fewer generations of inflation and content creep.

SEL is the Sonata's volume trim for 2021, adding Blue Link connected services, blind-spot/rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, heated front seats and an 8-way power driver seat over the SE while staying under $27,000 delivered — well under a comparably equipped Camry SE or Accord EX-L, and the whole ladder (including the newly launched N Line) tops out well below the segment ceiling.

Running costs are modestly below mid-size norms: the carryover 2.5L GDI four and 8-speed automatic are high-volume, well-understood hardware, and Hyundai's complimentary 3-year/36,000-mile maintenance plan (four basic services: oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection) absorbs most scheduled service through the first three years.

As a genuinely new-generation design only in its second US model year, the 2021 Sonata retained value a shade better than the mid-size-sedan average of the period — a freshness dividend it would not carry by the end of the generation. It still trails a Camry or Accord of the same vintage, which is why this remains the category's softer line despite the relatively favorable reading.

Hyundai's 5-year/60,000-mile basic coverage tops the segment band outright, two full years beyond the 3-year/36,000-mile terms then offered by Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda, and applies unchanged across the 2021 Sonata line including the new N Line.

The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain term sits at the ceiling of the segment band and doubles what Toyota and Honda offered in 2021. It covers the original owner only, dropping to 5 yr/60,000 mi on resale, but for the first buyer it remains the best coverage in the mainstream mid-size class.

Hyundai's complimentary maintenance plan (3 years/36,000 miles, four basic services covering oil changes, tire rotations and multi-point inspections) plus 5-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance beat what ToyotaCare or Honda offered at the time. It falls short of the top band because Blue Link Connected Care was only a 1-year complimentary trial in 2021 — reverting to a paid subscription (~$99/yr) thereafter — rather than the permanent no-cost connected service Hyundai would later offer.

$26,805 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (52% retained, or about $13,939) leaves about $12,866 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $17,066 in total.

Mixed signals between sources: J.D. Power predicted reliability lands at 80/100 ("Average" tier per JDP's own scale) and Consumer Reports rates the 2021 Sonata 3/5 predicted reliability (Recommended, 4/5 owner satisfaction), but the Smartstream 2.5L built in the 2020-2021 window has documented EGR carbon-buildup and fuel-injector defect issues that surfaced after launch.

Hyundai placed 4th overall in J.D. Power's 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study and RepairPal separately ranks the brand 4th of 32 for reliability with below-average annual repair costs, putting the brand solidly in the top-5 dependability tier for this model year.

This generation drew multiple safety-relevant NHTSA recalls touching the 2021 model year specifically: a fuel-leak/fire-risk campaign (21V-524, ~15,752 units), a loss-of-drive-power campaign (22V-746, ~56,148 units), and a windshield-detachment campaign (21V-00M, ~26,413 units) — a fire-risk recall plus a powertrain-adjacent safety recall push this toward the below-average band rather than "typical, nothing systemic."

The Smartstream 2.5L naturally aspirated four is a newer engine family (introduced for MY2020) without a long high-mileage track record at launch, and owner/technician reporting since has surfaced real red flags specific to this production window — EGR carbon buildup and a fuel-injector factory defect causing stalling/hesitation — rather than a clean-history "no red flags" case.

Reviewers consistently describe the cabin as upscale for the price, with wide soft-touch surface coverage and, on higher trims, quilted leather and added sound deadening that reads above the segment norm; base trims step down to more hard plastic and knit fabric.

Assembly is generally solid with long-term owner reports of tight, rattle-free cabins at 20-48k miles, but contemporaneous reviews also flag scattered non-uniform panel gaps and occasional cheap-feeling trim pieces, landing this in the "generally solid with scattered complaints" band.

Hyundai runs a dense, longstanding nationwide dealer network backed by an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that most mainstream rivals don't match, supporting adequate-to-good coverage and warranty-service turnaround.

As a high-volume mainstream mid-size sedan, the Sonata has broad parts availability and a mature aftermarket, and RepairPal figures put Hyundai's average annual repair cost meaningfully below the industry average.

The volume SEL trim carries the standard 8-inch touchscreen; the larger 10.25-inch navigation display is optional on SEL Plus and standard only on N Line and Limited.

Hyundai's 2021-generation infotainment is consistently praised for a logical menu layout and physical volume/tuning knobs alongside the touchscreen, with responsive performance on both the 8-in and 10.25-in units — a segment strength even without embedded navigation on the volume trim.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the volume SEL's 8-inch system across every 2021 trim — ahead of most mainstream mid-size rivals at this point in time. The only wrinkle is that the optional 10.25-in navigation screen (SEL Plus/N Line/Limited) drops back to wired-only projection.

The volume SEL has no embedded navigation — that's reserved for the optional 10.25-in system on higher trims — and its voice recognition is a conventional command-based system rather than a natural-language assistant, so most owners lean on phone-projection navigation instead.

The volume SEL runs a standard 6-speaker audio system; the 12-speaker Bose premium system is bundled only with the 10.25-in navigation package on SEL Plus and above, so most buyers get an adequate but unremarkable setup.

The volume SEL retains analog gauges with a small color supervision display; the fully configurable 12.3-in digital cluster is limited to the N Line and Limited trims, so most 2021 Sonata buyers do not get it.

The 2021 Sonata predates Hyundai's OTA rollout (which began with the Ioniq 5 and later Sonata model years) — software updates require a dealer visit, with no meaningful over-the-air capability for infotainment or vehicle systems.

Bluelink connected-car services (remote start/climate, lock/unlock, vehicle locate, maintenance alerts) come standard on the SEL and up with a complimentary trial, then convert to a paid subscription — solid core functionality without the digital-key extras reserved for SEL Plus and above.

The volume SEL has only front USB-A ports and no wireless charging pad — both the wireless charger and the rear-seat USB port arrive at SEL Plus — leaving the trim most buyers choose with a fairly thin device-power setup for the era.

Proximity keyless entry with push-button start and remote start are standard on the volume SEL, a solid convenience baseline, but Hyundai's phone-as-digital-key feature is reserved for SEL Plus and above.

The volume SEL has only a standard rear-view camera with no parking sensors; the surround-view (360-degree) monitor and blind-spot view monitor are reserved for the Limited trim, so most buyers get a basic single-camera setup.

A color head-up display is offered, but only on the range-topping Limited trim — the volume SEL and every trim below it go without one.

Rear doors open wide enough for typical car-seat installs and LATCH anchors are present at both outboard positions, but the class-trailing 34.8 in of rear legroom makes fitting a rear-facing seat plus a front passenger noticeably tighter than in the Camry or Accord.

5-star NHTSA overall and a broad SmartSense ADAS suite standard even on the base SE give the Sonata a strong family safety foundation, but the volume SEL's Marginal-rated headlights and the fact that Top Safety Pick applies only to the Limited's better headlights keep it from the top tier families actually shop at.

The volume SEL lacks rear climate vents (SEL Plus and up only) and rear legroom is the class-tightest, so multi-hour trips with kids in back are more cramped than rivals, even though the front row and 16 cu ft trunk are competitive.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L and smooth 8-speed automatic make for a relaxed, low-drama daily driver, and the standard stop-and-go adaptive cruise eases stop-and-go traffic; the mildly firm ride tune is the only real knock on everyday comfort.

31 MPG combined on the volume SEL's 2.5L is squarely average for a gas-powertrain mid-size sedan — reasonable running costs but well behind what the Sonata Hybrid (not this scored configuration) or class-leading rivals achieve.

A conventional mid-size sedan footprint and a ~35.9 ft turning circle make the Sonata easy enough to park and thread through the city, aided by a standard rear camera, though parking sensors and the surround-view monitor are reserved for higher trims.

As a conventional trunk sedan with no tow rating and no cargo-bed or upfit provisions, the Sonata is not meaningfully work-capable beyond its 16 cu ft trunk — appropriate for a mainstream sedan but a real limitation versus trucks/SUVs on this metric.

Hyundai's mainstream reliability reputation has improved but the DN8 Sonata lacks the decades-deep fleet/taxi/rental durability track record of the Camry or Accord, so this scores as should-hold-up-with-care rather than proven under hard use.

A sedan trunk with cloth or leatherette surfaces offers essentially no jobsite-oriented provisions — no onboard power outlets, tie-downs, or upfit/rack ecosystem of any kind.

A 493-mile EPA-derived range and standard adaptive cruise with lane-keeping reduce driver fatigue on long hauls, and the front seats hold up well over distance, but the firmer-than-expected ride and tight rear seat cap the ceiling for a genuine mile-eater.

The 2021 Sonata is FWD-only across every trim and powertrain — Hyundai did not add AWD to the Sonata until 2024 — and offers no roof-rail or off-pavement provisions, leaving it pavement-bound with little adventure utility.

A standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat extends the 16 cu ft trunk for longer items, but there are no roof rails or hitch provisions offered on the sedan, limiting flexibility for bulkier gear.

The volume SEL handles predictably and with reasonable composure through corners, but reviewers are consistent that it 'isn't all that athletic' — secure rather than engaging, well short of the sportier N Line's tuning.

Steering is accurate and improved over the previous-generation Sonata, but multiple reviews describe it as matter-of-fact — precise enough to place the car confidently without offering much genuine road feedback.

No notable complaints about pedal feel or stopping distances surfaced in period reviews of the volume 2.5L SEL, and IIHS-rated front crash prevention performed strongly — inferred as adequate, confident braking without a standout instrumented result on record.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L four paired with the conventional 8-speed automatic delivers smooth, well-timed shifts with no hunting or lag, described by reviewers as competent though unremarkable under hard acceleration.

The 2.5L four is quiet and unobtrusive at a steady cruise but becomes noticeably coarse and vocal under wide-open throttle, keeping this from the top band reserved for consistently pleasant or near-silent powertrains.

Hyundai's published curb-to-curb turning diameter for the DN8-generation Sonata has held at 35.9 ft across surrounding model years (2020–2024) with no chassis change affecting it for 2021.

A generously sized front row (46.1 in of legroom, 40.0 in of headroom) combined with power seat adjustment and a well-organized control layout make for one of the more comfortable driving positions in the class, with good outward visibility to the front and sides.

The volume SEL prioritizes comfort and daily ease over engagement — reviewers note it 'isn't as enjoyable to drive as many of its competitors' and that the driving experience 'gets the job done but lacks the tactile satisfaction' of more engaging rivals; enthusiast appeal is reserved for the separately-trimmed N Line.

Hyundai made its full SmartSense suite — forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, driver attention warning, automatic high beams and rear occupant alert — standard on every 2021 Sonata trim including the base SE, a rarity at this price point when Camry LE and Accord LX still gated some active-safety items above their entry trims and Altima left several off entirely. Combined with the segment's longest warranty as standard, this puts the base car well into the loaded band.

Content-for-price is a clear 2021 Sonata strength: it undercuts Camry and Accord on entry price while standardizing a full driver-assist suite and the segment's best warranty, and the newly launched N Line adds a 290-hp turbo option at a price well under a comparably quick rival. It stops short of the very top band because the volume 2.5L four makes only 191 hp, a modest capability-per-dollar figure against a segment that was beginning to shift toward turbocharged and hybrid power.

A wide ladder for 2021 — SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and the newly introduced N Line on gas, spanning a 191-hp four to a 290-hp turbo, spacing budgets from the mid-$20,000s to the mid-$30,000s. It is held out of the top band by the total absence of all-wheel drive: HTRAC would not reach the Sonata until the 2024 model year, so the whole 2021 range is FWD-only while class rivals like Camry and Altima already offered AWD that year.

The Sonata sold 83,434 units in the US in 2021, a rebound of about 8% from pandemic-depressed 2020 but still down from 87,466 in 2019, and a fraction of Camry's and Accord's volume in a mid-size segment that was already contracting industry-wide as buyers moved to crossovers. It reads as a steady mid-pack seller rather than a segment force.

Hyundai's brand image was on a clear upswing in 2021 — the bold, controversial-but-attention-getting DN8 design, the newly spun-off Genesis luxury arm elevating the parent brand's halo, and strong J.D. Power initial-quality results — but it remained a notch below Toyota and Honda on badge strength alone, and mid-pack Consumer Reports reliability standing kept it from the top band.

2021 fell in the middle of the global semiconductor shortage, which cut new-vehicle inventories industry-wide and pushed transaction prices toward or above MSRP for much of the second half of the year — a sharp departure from Hyundai's normally incentive-forward posture. Cash-back and HMF financing offers were still available on the Sonata for parts of the year, but nowhere near the depth of deals the brand would return to once supply normalized, so this scores as only occasional, modest availability rather than the buyer-friendly environment typical of the nameplate.

2021 is only the second US model year of the eighth-generation DN8, which launched all-new for 2020 with a dramatically restyled exterior, an available 12.3-inch digital cluster and the segment's then-newest active-safety suite standardized across the line. This is about as fresh as the nameplate gets in its full model-year window, well ahead of the replacement-risk concerns that would apply much later in the generation.

Reviewers praised the 2021 Sonata's styling, standard tech and value but consistently placed it behind Camry and Accord on ride refinement, seat comfort and overall polish — U.S. News ranked it #4 in Affordable Midsize Cars and named it a finalist (not winner) for Best Midsize Car for the Money and for Families. It earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick (not the higher Top Safety Pick+) for 2021, and holds no Car and Driver 10Best or NACTOY award for this generation.