2022 Hyundai Sonata

Base 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder standard across SE/SEL trims, the volume configuration for 2022.

Peak torque of the standard 2.5L engine on SE/SEL trims.

Independent instrumented tests place the base 2.5L Sonata around 8.0 seconds to 60 mph; the volume SE/SEL trims use this engine.

Reviewers describe the 2.5L engine as quiet and smooth in everyday driving with adequate low/mid-range response, but unremarkable and audibly strained under hard acceleration — solidly mid-pack, not class-leading.

The 8-speed automatic (Shiftronic) shifts smoothly and decisively in normal driving with no CVT-style drone, a step up from many rivals' CVTs, though it isn't class-leading in outright responsiveness.

The 2022 Sonata is front-wheel drive only across the entire trim range; Hyundai did not add an AWD option (HTRAC) until the 2024 model year.

2022 lineup spans a 2.5L NA (SE/SEL), 1.6L turbo (SEL Plus/Limited), 2.5L turbo N Line (290 hp), plus a separate Sonata Hybrid — four distinct gas/hybrid tunes covering value, mainstream, performance and efficiency needs, though no PHEV/EV variant exists under the Sonata nameplate.

EPA combined rating for the volume 2.5L SE/SEL configuration without idle stop-go (SE's ISG variant rates 32 combined).

EPA city rating for the 2.5L SE/SEL configuration.

EPA highway rating for the 2.5L SE/SEL configuration.

Hyundai does not publish a range figure directly; computed from the 2.5L SE/SEL's 14.8-gallon fuel tank and EPA combined MPG, a standard derivation.

EPA's standard annual fuel cost estimate at 15,000 mi/yr on regular unleaded for the 2.5L SE/SEL.

The 2.5L engine runs on regular unleaded with no premium requirement or recommendation, keeping running costs low and simple.

NHTSA's composite overall rating for the 2022 Sonata is 5 stars, the only subscore below that ceiling being a 4-star frontal-driver result.

The 2022 Sonata earned IIHS Top Safety Pick (not Pick+): Good on small-overlap front (both sides), moderate-overlap front, original-protocol side, roof strength and head restraints, but the updated side test drops to Acceptable and the award is conditioned on the Limited/Hybrid Limited's LED projector headlights — the volume SEL trim's reflector headlights are only Marginal, which is why the award note says 'applies only to vehicles with specific headlights.'

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping/Lane Following Assist, driver attention warning and Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go are all standard from the base SE trim up; the one gap is Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance, which are withheld from the SE and only become standard starting at SEL, the volume trim.

IIHS rated the Sonata's front crash prevention Superior for both vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian scenarios, with an Advanced nighttime pedestrian result on the SE/SEL/SEL Plus/Hybrid trims that cover the volume configuration — a top-tier result short only of the very best Superior+night scores.

Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist are standard on the SEL volume trim and up, and Hyundai's implementation applies corrective braking rather than alert-only warning, though the optional camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor that would fully compensate the car's thick-pillar blind zones is reserved for higher trims.

Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist are standard across every trim including the base SE, giving functional lane centering, but owner and reviewer commentary describes it as competent rather than confident — usable on the highway without the smoothness that would place it in the top band.

Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go is standard on every trim including the SEL volume trim and is well regarded, but Highway Driving Assist — which combines ACC with lane centering and nav-based curve/speed-limit adjustment for a more integrated highway experience — is reserved for SEL Plus and above, so the volume trim gets capable stand-alone ACC without the fuller highway-assist integration.

The Sonata offers no hands-free highway system on any trim — even the top-trim Highway Driving Assist requires hands on the wheel and continuous driver attention, unlike BlueCruise or Super Cruise style systems.

IIHS rated the SE/SEL/SEL Plus/Hybrid Blue/Hybrid SEL reflector headlights Marginal, with only the Limited and Hybrid Limited's LED projector units rated Good — since SEL is the volume trim, most buyers get the Marginal setup.

The Sonata's coupe-like roofline and thick pillars (built for side-impact and rollover strength) create real blind zones that owners and reviewers note, and the camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor that compensates for them is limited to higher trims rather than standard on the volume SEL.

The Sonata has two complete lower-anchor LATCH sets at the rear outboard positions plus a rear-center tether, rated Acceptable (second-highest tier) by IIHS ease-of-use testing, but the anchors are deeply recessed where the seat back meets the cushion, making them easy to find with rigid-connector seats and more of a dig with hook-style connectors.

Standard 5-passenger seating across all 2022 Sonata trims (SE through Limited/N Line).

Front headroom sits at the top of the mid-size sedan band; panoramic sunroof trims lose roughly half an inch.

Front legroom of 46.1 in exceeds the segment normalization ceiling, among the roomiest in the mid-size sedan class.

Rear headroom of 38.4 in is near the top of the mid-size sedan band, aided by the Sonata's long wheelbase and low beltline.

At 34.8 in, rear legroom trails the mid-size sedan norm despite the Sonata's long wheelbase and generous front legroom.

16 cu ft of trunk space is mid-pack for the mid-size sedan segment, expandable via the standard 60/40 split-fold rear seat.

Reasonable door and console storage plus a pass-through trunk via the 60/40 fold-down seat, but no standout innovation versus segment rivals.

Owners and reviewers cite good front-seat support for extended drives; rear comfort is limited by the tighter rear legroom.

Reviewers broadly describe a smooth, composed daily ride, though Consumer Reports flags the tuning as somewhat firm relative to segment norms.

No dedicated noise-isolation feature (acoustic glass, active noise cancellation) documented for 2022; expected to be average for a mainstream mid-size sedan.

Heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and ambient lighting are reserved for the range-topping Limited trim; the SE/SEL volume trims ship without them.

Entry SE trim MSRP for the 2022 model year, including Hyundai's destination charge.

SEL is the volume trim, adding heated seats, keyless ignition and blind-spot warning over SE; Limited tops the gas range near $34,400.

Blends Edmunds' 5-year True Cost to Own maintenance ($3,760) and repair ($646) figures for the closely related Hybrid, adjusted slightly for the naturally-aspirated 2.5L gas engine, against CarEdge's $3,000–$5,000 routine-maintenance range for the Sonata.

Industry residual estimates put 5-year Sonata depreciation at 45–46%, implying roughly mid-50s percent retention — middling for the mainstream mid-size segment.

Hyundai's standard bumper-to-bumper coverage for the 2022 model year, well ahead of the segment's typical 3-year norm.

Hyundai's signature long powertrain warranty for original owners, among the longest in the mainstream segment (reduces to 5 yr/60,000 mi on transfer to a second owner).

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance covers scheduled oil/filter changes and tire rotations for 3 years/36,000 miles — longer than most rivals' free-maintenance windows — plus roadside assistance bundled with the warranty period, though there are no charging credits or connected-service trials relevant to a gas sedan.

$27,295 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (54% retained, or about $14,739) leaves about $12,556 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,300 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $16,856 in total.

Sources disagree: J.D. Power's predicted reliability score for the 2022 Sonata is 82/100 ('Great'), but Consumer Reports' owner-survey-based prediction rates the 2022 Sonata below average for the model year. NHTSA complaint data shows a moderate volume of powertrain/electrical/fuel-system complaints, consistent with a mixed rather than top-tier verdict.

Hyundai placed 3rd overall (and 1st among mass-market brands) in J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study at 148 PP100, 44 points better than the industry average, and the Sonata itself topped the midsize-sedan segment in that study. The 2023 VDS (covering MY2020 vehicles) still placed Hyundai among the most dependable mass-market brands at 170 PP100.

The 2022 Sonata carries three NHTSA recalls: a 2021-2022 transmission oil-pump/fail-safe defect that can cause a complete loss of drive power, a 2020-2023 fuel tank check-valve defect that can let the tank expand and contact hot exhaust components, and a related ECU software update. Separately, 2022-model Sonatas without an engine immobilizer were later folded into Hyundai's nationwide anti-theft software campaign after the 2022 TikTok theft wave targeted the brand. None of this rises to a repeated powertrain-fire pattern, but a loss-of-drive-power recall and a fuel-tank fire risk together are more than routine.

The 2.5L Smartstream GDI four (with CVVD) that powers the volume 2022 Sonata is a clean-sheet replacement for the Theta II family and does not carry that engine's rod-bearing/seizure defect. It's still a new-generation design without a long track record, and early 2021-2022 production units have documented reports of excess oil consumption (as much as a quart per 1,000-2,000 miles in some cases), so it reads as a newer powertrain with no systemic red flags but not yet proven at high mileage.

Reviewers consistently call the Sonata's cabin one of the nicest in the class for the price — Edmunds highlights the wing-like dash, piano-key climate controls, quilted leather and soft-touch surfaces on higher trims — but the same review flags occasional cheap-feeling trim bits that stand out against the otherwise upscale look.

Assembly is generally solid and the Sonata places well in J.D. Power's dependability data, but Edmunds specifically calls out non-uniform panel gaps on test vehicles, putting it in the 'generally solid with scattered complaints' band rather than class-leading.

Hyundai runs one of the largest mainstream dealer networks in the US (800+ dealers nationwide) with adequate-to-good service satisfaction, though it doesn't post the segment-leading CSI scores of a Toyota or Honda.

RepairPal rates the Sonata 4.0/5 for reliability (5th of 24 midsize cars) with an average annual repair cost of $458 — well under the $652 all-vehicle average — and an unscheduled-repair frequency of just 0.3 visits/year, reflecting Hyundai's broad parts availability and strong aftermarket support.

The volume SEL trim carries the standard 8-in screen; the larger 10.25-in unit is an upsell on higher trims.

Hyundai's infotainment layout is generally praised as logical and quick, retaining physical climate controls alongside the touchscreen.

The 2022 Sonata offers only wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto across every trim; wireless projection was not introduced until the 2023 SE and didn't reach the full lineup until 2024.

Native navigation is bundled with the larger 10.25-in screen on SEL Plus/Limited, but most owners rely on phone-projection maps; voice control is functional rather than class-leading.

Base audio is adequate for a mainstream sedan; a Bose premium system is available on higher trims but not a class-leading standout.

The 12.3-in fully digital cluster is reserved for the range-topping Limited/N Line trims; SE/SEL/SEL Plus use a partially analog gauge cluster with a small trip-computer display.

The 2022 Sonata predates Hyundai's OTA rollout; Bluelink connectivity exists but whole-vehicle and infotainment OTA updates were not enabled until the 2024 model year.

Bluelink offers remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate and climate control, but functionality is trial-then-subscription and not as polished as newer digital-key systems.

Three USB ports (two fast-charging) are standard, with a wireless charging pad and rear USB port only added via an optional package on SEL or standard from SEL Plus up.

Proximity keyless entry and push-button start are available from SEL up, but the base SE trim retains a traditional key; no phone-as-key digital key was offered in 2022.

A standard rear-view camera plus available rear parking sensors cover typical mainstream-sedan needs, but no 360-degree surround camera was offered on the 2022 Sonata.

A head-up display is offered, but only on the range-topping Limited trim, not the SEL volume trim.

Wide rear door openings and standard LATCH anchors make car-seat installation manageable, though tighter rear legroom (34.8 in) is a compromise versus roomier mid-size rivals.

The 2022 Sonata earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, with SmartSense forward-collision (pedestrian detection), lane-keeping, driver-attention warning and rear occupant alert standard even on the base SE.

Front-seat comfort and a smooth ride suit medium trips, but modest 16 cu ft trunk space and tighter rear legroom limit all-row comfort on longer family journeys.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L/8-speed automatic pairing is smooth and unstressed in traffic, and reviewers consistently describe the driving manners as relaxed.

27/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined on the volume SEL 2.5L is solidly average for a mainstream mid-size sedan — reasonable but not class-leading commuting economy.

A 35.9 ft curb-to-curb turning diameter and standard rear camera make the Sonata reasonably easy to place in tight urban parking, typical for the segment.

As a front-wheel-drive sedan with no tow rating or bed/cargo-hauling design intent, the Sonata is not meaningfully work-capable.

The Sonata is a passenger-car platform with no fleet/work-duty reputation or reinforced componentry; it is not marketed or built for abusive work use.

A trunk-only sedan body offers no tie-downs, onboard power outlets, or upfit ecosystem relevant to jobsite use.

A comfortable front-seat position, smooth ride and roughly 400+ mile highway range on the 2.5L (37 mpg hwy on a ~16-gal tank) make the Sonata a competent highway cruiser, though standard-trim ADAS and amenities are unremarkable.

The 2022 Sonata is front-wheel-drive only with sedan ground clearance — Hyundai did not offer AWD on the Sonata until a later redesign — leaving little genuine off-pavement or adventure capability.

The standard 60/40 split-fold rear seat extends the 16 cu ft trunk for longer items, but the fixed sedan trunk opening and lack of roof rails limit bulky-gear flexibility versus a wagon or SUV.

Reviewers describe the strut-front/multilink-rear chassis as fairly nimble and secure, but not as sharp or engaging as sportier segment rivals in non-N Line trim.

Steering is precise enough for daily use but numb, typical of mainstream Hyundai tuning rather than offering genuine feedback.

No instrumented stopping-distance data was found for the 2022 model year; scored to segment norms as adequate with no reported complaints of fade or poor pedal feel.

The 191-hp 2.5L four-cylinder paired with the 8-speed automatic is generally smooth and well-matched for daily driving, without the shudder issues of some CVT-based rivals.

The naturally aspirated four-cylinder is audible under hard acceleration but inoffensive at cruising speeds, typical for the mainstream mid-size segment.

A 35.9 ft turning diameter is about mid-band for a mid-size sedan, slightly wider than the tightest-turning rivals.

Generous front headroom/legroom and a driver-focused dash layout give a comfortable driving position, though power seat adjustability and driver memory are Limited-trim exclusives.

The volume 2.5L powertrain is competent but unremarkable — pleasant for daily use without the character or engagement of the turbocharged N Line variant.

Even the base SE carries a full Hyundai SmartSense suite (forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping/following assist, driver attention warning, high-beam assist) plus an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard — content rivals like Camry/Accord/Altima often gate behind a mid-trim.

Strong content-per-dollar for the price — sharp styling, roomy cabin and standard safety tech at a sub-$26k SEL price point — though the 191-hp 2.5L four is unremarkable next to segment norms, keeping it short of standout.

Wide lineup spanning SE, SEL, SEL Plus (added standard nav/sunroof/upgraded radio for 2022), Limited, sporty N Line and N Line Night Edition, plus a parallel Hybrid range (Blue/SEL/Limited) — few gaps from value-focused to loaded or performance-oriented.

US sales fell to roughly 52,100 units in 2022, down about 37% year-over-year and well behind segment leaders Camry (~295,000), Accord (~155,000) and even Altima (~140,000) — a clear laggard in a declining trajectory, compounded by industry-wide inventory constraints that year.

Hyundai's brand image was on an upswing by 2022 on the strength of design, warranty reputation and the Ioniq 5/Elantra N halo, but it still sits below Toyota/Honda's mainstream trust and resale-driven desirability — a neutral-to-improving perception rather than an aspirational one.

2022 was a supply-constrained model year industry-wide; with Sonata inventory tight and demand soft but chip-shortage-limited production keeping lots thin, meaningful discounting was scarce and many units transacted at or near MSRP.

The 2022 Sonata is year three of the DN8 generation that launched for 2020 — a carry-over year with only minor equipment shuffling (SEL Plus gains standard nav/sunroof, N Line Night Edition added, DRLs moved into the headlight housing), current but not newly redesigned.

Earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2022–23 and generally positive reviews for styling and value, but Consumer Reports and comparison tests consistently placed it behind segment leaders Accord, Camry and Subaru Legacy on road-test results — well-regarded, rarely the class pick.