2024 Hyundai Sonata

2024 is the DN8 mid-cycle refresh year; the 1.6T was dropped and the 2.5L naturally aspirated four is the only non-turbo gas engine, fitted to the SEL volume trim (FWD or new HTRAC AWD).

Peak torque of the carry-over 2.5L engine in the volume SEL; unchanged by the 2024 refresh.

No instrumented FWD SEL figure was found; the manufacturer-data calculation (8.0 s) and MotorTrend's instrumented 7.9 s on the heavier SEL HTRAC agree closely, so 8.0 s is used for the volume FWD SEL.

Reviewers find the 2.5L's delivery linear and unobtrusive in normal driving but raspy and unhurried when revved — competent, mid-pack refinement against Accord/Camry hybrids and turbos.

The conventional 8-speed automatic shifts smoothly and is well-timed, avoiding the CVT drone of several rivals, though it is not especially quick to kick down.

2024 is the first Sonata with AWD: HTRAC electro-hydraulic AWD is optional, but only on the gas SEL — not on the N Line or the hybrids — so availability is limited to one trim with basic operation.

Three distinct powertrains — 2.5L NA, 290-hp 2.5T N Line and 2.0L hybrid — cover value, performance and efficiency needs; the 1.6T was dropped for 2024 and there is no PHEV/EV Sonata.

EPA combined rating of the volume SEL 2.5L FWD. The refreshed 2024 has no idle-stop variant, so it rates below the 31-32 MPG of the 2021-2023 2.5L.

EPA city rating for the volume SEL 2.5L FWD.

EPA highway rating for the volume SEL 2.5L FWD.

Hyundai publishes no range figure; computed from the non-hybrid 15.9-gallon tank and the EPA combined rating.

EPA's standard annual fuel cost for the volume SEL 2.5L FWD at 15,000 mi/yr on regular gasoline.

Every 2024 Sonata gas configuration is rated on regular unleaded; held just below 90 because the N Line's turbo recommends premium for full output.

NHTSA rates the 2024 Sonata 5 stars overall in both FWD and AWD form. The driver-side frontal result of 4 stars is the only rating below 5.

The 2024 Sonata earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick, not TSP+. For 2024 Hyundai reinforced the B-pillar, door sill and beams, and the car is rated Good in small overlap, original moderate overlap and the updated side test. The updated moderate-overlap test is rated Poor because of the rear-passenger results: head/neck Poor, chest Marginal, restraints Marginal. That keeps it from the top band.

With the 2024 refresh, every trim gets SmartSense as standard: Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, lane keeping assist, Lane Following Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, Safe Exit Warning, driver attention warning, rear occupant alert and high beam assist. All five benchmark features are covered on every trim. The SE's blind-spot system warns but does not brake.

The standard FCA is rated Good by IIHS for pedestrians and avoided every day and night scenario, including the 37 mph parallel-adult test on low beams. In the tougher vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 test it is rated Acceptable: it avoided every passenger-car run up to 43 mph but slowed by only 9 mph at 43 mph against the motorcycle target.

Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance and Safe Exit Warning are standard on every trim. Blind-spot collision-avoidance braking and the Blind-Spot View Monitor come only on higher trims, so the base car's blind-spot coverage is alert-only.

Every trim gets Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist centering as standard, which is ahead of much of the class at the base price. Reviewers of Hyundai's LFA call it usable on well-marked highways but note wander on faded lines and fairly abrupt LKA corrections.

Every trim gets Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and it brings the car to a stop and pulls away again reliably. On select upper trims, Highway Driving Assist pairs it with lane centering and navigation-based speed adjustment. That makes it one of the better-integrated hands-on systems at this price, but the base trim does without it.

No 2024 Sonata offers hands-free highway driving; Highway Driving Assist requires hands on the wheel. The few points above zero are for HDA's integrated centering and assisted lane changes on upper trims.

With the 2024 refresh, the new LED projector low and high beams are rated Good by IIHS on every trim, with no excessive glare and standard high-beam assist. That is a big improvement over the pre-refresh car's Marginal volume-trim lamps. Curve-adaptive lighting is not offered.

The forward view is good, but the fastback roofline, high beltline and thick rear pillars restrict the view over the shoulder and out the back. Surround view and the Blind-Spot View Monitor come only on the top trim. The volume trims rely on the standard rearview camera and blind-spot warning.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable. The two outboard rear seats have full lower-anchor sets with low attachment force and good clearance angles, but the anchors sit 2-4 cm deep. The center seat has a tether only. The roomy rear seat and wide rear doors make installing seats workable.

Every 2024 trim is a conventional five-passenger mid-size sedan.

The SEL volume trim has no sunroof, so it gets the full 40.0 in, at the top of the sedan band.

At 46.1 in, the published front legroom is above the top of the sedan band. Hyundai measures generously.

Rear headroom is competitive despite the fastback roofline.

On paper, 34.8 in of rear legroom trails the Accord's 40.8 in by a wide margin. The figure partly reflects Hyundai's generous front measurement, but it is what Hyundai publishes.

Hyundai's 2024 spec data lists 16.0 cu ft, which is mid-pack for the class. Later model-year spec sheets list 15.6 cu ft for the same body, hence MEDIUM confidence.

Everyday storage is competitive: a center console bin, cupholders and a phone tray. The 2024 refresh moved the shifter to the steering column, which freed up console space. Wireless charging is on SEL Convenience and above only.

The SEL's power driver's seat with lumbar is comfortable, and the rear bench suits adults. Reviewers rate the seats a notch below the Accord's and Camry's for long-haul support.

The 2024 refresh gave a controlled, comfortable ride that is noticeably better than the stiff pre-refresh car, though some testers still call it a touch firm.

The cabin is mostly serene, and the windshield and front door glass have acoustic film. The 2.5L sounds raspy at high revs, and MotorWeek notes the low-rolling-resistance tires 'howling' when pushed.

Heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate are standard from the SEL up. Ventilated seats and a heated wheel are reserved for the N Line and Hybrid Limited.

The refreshed 2024 lineup dropped the old SE, so the SEL is the entry trim at $28,615 delivered. That is $475 less than the 2023 SEL and still undercuts a comparable Accord or Camry.

The gas SEL is both the entry and the volume trim for 2024. Only the N Line and the Hybrid Limited go past $36,000, so most of the lineup sits in the low part of the segment band.

KBB's figure is $4,847, and CarEdge's lower figure covers scheduled maintenance only. With 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and a small repair line ($658 on KBB), the Sonata lands a little below the class norm. The value is a blend, using the same method as the 2025 entry.

KBB's forward-looking residual works out to about 42.5% of the SEL's price, while CarEdge's used-market projection for the 2024 is 54.7%. A 49% blend puts the Sonata roughly level with the Altima and Malibu and well behind the Accord and Camry.

Hyundai's 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty is at the top of the band, two years longer than the 3-year/36,000-mile coverage from Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage is the top of the band and double what Toyota and Honda offer, though it applies to the original owner only.

Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance covers scheduled oil changes and tire rotations for 3 years/36,000 miles, which beats ToyotaCare's 2 years/25,000 miles. It adds 5 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance, and Bluelink connected services are standard. There are no fuel credits and wear items aren't covered.

$28,615 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (49% retained, or about $14,021) leaves about $14,594 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,300 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $18,894 in total.

MY2024 brought the mid-cycle facelift to the eighth-generation (DN8, 2020–) Sonata, but the mechanicals under it were carried over and mature. The signals are mixed: US News rates it 'good' with only one recall and 41 owner complaints on file, while Consumer Reports' survey marks the 2024 Sonata Hybrid below average for its model year. Taken together that reads as average-to-good, and below both the Camry and the Accord.

Hyundai does well on initial quality but lands mid-pack on three-year dependability (J.D. Power VDS), and the brand still carries reputational drag from the Theta II engine campaigns. Held consistent with the 2025 and 2026 Sonata brand reading.

The NHTSA feed has exactly one campaign for MY2024, a minor brake-light software fix, and it is not systemic. Earlier years of the generation had fuel-tank check-valve, ISG oil-pump and transmission fail-safe recalls that do not reach 2024, but they keep the generation's record out of the top band.

The volume trim uses the naturally aspirated 2.5L Smartstream GDI four with a conventional 8-speed automatic. It is a low-stress engine, unrelated to the troubled Theta II family, with no known failure pattern. Carbon buildup, a common direct-injection concern, and the generation's transmission oil-pump campaigns keep it below the Toyota and Honda benchmarks.

The 2024 facelift introduced a curved panel housing twin 12.3-inch displays, upgraded switchgear, physical climate controls and padded upper dash and door tops on most trims. Hard plastics remain low in the console and on the rear door cards. Relative to price it presents better than the Camry and about on par with the Accord.

The Sonata is built on a mature Alabama assembly line and has no widespread rattle or panel-gap pattern. As the first year of a facelift it sits slightly below the 2025 car, which was later validated by the J.D. Power IQS. US News does list six 'structure' complaints for 2024.

Hyundai's network of roughly 830 US dealers is dense, and the Sonata is a core nameplate every store can service. Service satisfaction is mid-pack and varies from store to store.

As a long-running, high-volume US nameplate, the Sonata has abundant, cheap parts and broad independent-shop support. The 10-year/100k-mile powertrain warranty absorbs much of the early-ownership risk. The curved display module and the N Line turbo hardware are the costly exceptions.

Every 2024 trim, including the base SEL, gets the 12.3-inch Display Audio touchscreen.

Reviewers find the refreshed ccNC system easy to use, and it keeps physical climate and audio controls. It sits a step behind the Accord's Google built-in system.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2024 Sonata.

The base SEL has no native navigation: it comes with the Convenience Package and the higher trims. Bluelink voice works, but most owners use phone projection.

The base 6-speaker system is adequate. The 12-speaker Bose is limited to the N Line and Limited, and it is a modest upgrade.

The base SEL volume trim has a small 4.2-inch cluster display. The 12.3-inch digital cluster that forms the curved panoramic display is optional (Convenience Package) or on upper trims.

The ccNC system on navigation-equipped cars gets OTA updates for maps and infotainment. There is no evidence of whole-vehicle OTA that adds features.

The Bluelink app covers remote start and climate, lock/unlock and locate, with some features subscription-gated after the trial. Digital Key 2 comes on the N Line and Limited.

Dual front and dual rear USB-C ports are standard, but wireless charging is not on the base SEL, and there is no AC outlet.

Proximity key and push-button start are expected on SEL-grade trims, and Bluelink remote start is available. Phone-as-key (Digital Key 2) is limited to the N Line and Limited.

A rear camera with guidance is standard. The surround-view and blind-spot view monitors are limited to the top N Line and Limited trims.

A head-up display is offered on the top trims only, not on the SEL or SEL Convenience volume trims.

Big rear doors and an adult-capable rear bench help. Against that: the fastback roof, the low seating position, only 34.8 in of published rear legroom and an Acceptable IIHS LATCH rating.

It is an IIHS Top Safety Pick (not TSP+) with a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, and SmartSense AEB, lane centering and stop-and-go adaptive cruise are standard on every trim. The IIHS Poor rear-passenger result in the updated moderate-overlap test holds it back.

The ride is comfortable and rear USB-C ports are standard. On the SEL, though, rear amenities are thin, and the 16 cu ft trunk holds a family's luggage only with careful packing.

It is easy to live with: a smooth 8-speed, a comfortable ride, the column shifter, easy infotainment and standard stop-and-go adaptive cruise.

At 29 MPG combined on regular fuel, the SEL 2.5L is class-average for a non-hybrid. The 2024 refresh dropped the idle-stop variant, and hybrid rivals cost far less per mile.

It is a long mid-size sedan, but the ~35.9 ft turning circle is tight for the class. Rear visibility through the fastback is poor, and the SEL has only a rear camera.

It has no published US tow rating and a 16 cu ft trunk, so it is not a work tool.

The 2.5L GDI with the 8-speed automatic is a proven combination, and the SEL has cloth seats. The Sonata has no fleet-duty reputation, and 2024 is the first year of the refresh.

There is no onboard power beyond USB-C, no rack or upfit ecosystem, and only basic trunk provisions.

It is a good highway cruiser: 36 MPG highway gives about 570 mi of highway range from the 15.9 gal tank. The comfortable ride and standard stop-and-go cruise with lane following cut fatigue, and HDA is on upper trims.

2024 introduced HTRAC AWD on the SEL, which helps in snow and on gravel roads. With 5.3 in of ground clearance, no roof rails and no tow rating, it is otherwise pavement-bound.

The 16 cu ft trunk and 60/40 pass-through handle normal luggage, but bulky gear is a squeeze, and there are no roof rails or hitch.

Body roll is minimal and it is quick through cones, but the car is tuned for comfort, and its low-rolling-resistance tires give up grip early.

The steering is nicely weighted and precise but not communicative.

MotorWeek averaged a fine 114 ft from 60 mph with straight, fade-free stops. The pedal is crisp at the top but soft in a panic stop.

The 191 hp 2.5L and its conventional 8-speed deliver linear, unobtrusive power with smooth, well-timed shifts, but acceleration is unhurried (about 8 s to 60 mph).

The engine is quiet at cruise but raspy when revved.

The turning circle is tight for a car of the Sonata's length.

The power seat with lumbar, the column shifter that frees the console and the physical climate and audio keys make for good ergonomics. The low stance hampers entry and exit, and the fastback limits rear sightlines.

The 2.5L SEL is pleasant but forgettable. The fun Sonata is the 290 hp N Line, which is not the volume trim.

The $28,615 SEL entry trim comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, dual automatic climate control, LED lighting and the SmartSense suite, plus the segment's best warranty. There is no cheaper stripped-down trim in 2024 (the SE returned for 2025).

The price-to-content ratio is strong: $28,615 for a well-equipped SEL, $30,115 with AWD, a 290-hp N Line for $36,065 and a hybrid from $31,915. The weak 191-hp base engine and middling resale keep it out of the top band.

There are six configurations from $28,615 to $38,315 across three powertrains (2.5L, 2.5T, hybrid), and HTRAC AWD is new on the SEL, which the Accord doesn't offer. The lineup lacks a sub-$28k entry trim and a gas Limited, and AWD is available on one trim only.

The refresh drove a strong rebound, with US sales up about 46% in 2024 to 61,701. That is still a small fraction of Camry and Accord volume in a shrinking segment, so the Sonata is a mid-pack seller on the rise.

Hyundai's image is neutral to positive, helped by bold design, the best mainstream warranty and its EV halo. It still trails Toyota and Honda in badge pull, which the Sonata's middling resale reflects.

Scored on how much buyers benefit. Hyundai habitually runs some of the heaviest mainstream incentives, and subvented APR, cash and lease support were common on the 2024 Sonata, especially once 2025s arrived. Nothing points to pricing over MSRP.

2024 is the mid-cycle facelift year of the DN8 generation launched for 2020. The facelift brought a new front end, a curved dual 12.3-inch display, a reworked cabin and new HTRAC AWD. The tech is current, but the platform is already five years old.

Reviewers credited the refresh with improving design, tech and value, and the 2024 Sonata earned IIHS Top Safety Pick. That is one tier below the Accord's and Camry's TSP+, it scored Poor on the updated moderate-overlap rear-passenger test, and it rarely wins comparison tests.