2025 Hyundai Sonata Review

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size sedan starting at $26,650. Hyundai’s Sonata, launched in 1989, has maintained a respectable position in the US auto market with its value and practicality that manifests in more ways than one. Sonata drivers have come to expect reliability, an accessible price tag, a quality mix of safety and comfort features, and a family-friendly design via a spacious cabin. One of this model’s more overlooked perks is its comprehensive warranty coverage, which we’ll highlight later in our review.

MotoPickers Rating: 7.8/10

Hyundai offers Sonata shoppers a choice between hybrid and non-hybrid powertrains, with the former naturally getting better mileage. There are no significant changes for the 2025 Sonata from the 2024 version, with the exception of some minor tweaks. Hyundai has re-introduced the entry-level SE grade, turned the Convenience package option for the SEL into the SEL Convenience trim, and equipped the N-Line’s rear-seat passengers with HVAC vents. The 2025 Sonata is part of the nameplate’s seventh generation introduced in 2020.

First impressions of the new Sonata reveal an abundance of standard tech, a robust N Line trim powertrain, and lots of storage. Downsides we’ll explore relate to its ride feel, handling, and materials, so keep reading to see whether these drawbacks result in the 2025 Sonata falling short to competitors like the 2025 Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Kia K5, Chevrolet Malibu, and Subaru Legacy.

Exterior spotlight

Hyundai’s 2025 Sonata forms its unique exterior through features like bold hood lines that match the front and rear’s aggression. The sides appear a bit plain, but the front and rear compensate with light bars spanning the sedan’s entire width, contrasting chrome trim on the front black grille, and a unique taillight bulb pattern. This Sonata’s faux rear air curtains appear a bit forced but aren’t too distracting.

Alloy wheels range from 16” to 18”, and you’ll find LED tech within the daytime running lights (DRLs), rear combination taillights, and fender-mounted LED turn-signal indicators. The high-mounted stoplight is present within the rear horizontal light strip for a contemporary look, and a rear spoiler comes standard on all trims. Each grade is equipped with a twin-tip single exhaust, except for the N Line, which contains a twin-tip dual exhaust.

Exterior color choices include:

• Abyss Black
• Transmission Blue
• Ultimate Red
• Portofino Gray
• Aero Silver
• Serenity White
• Carbon Blue

The front grille comes in a black mesh configuration, while the N Line model gets a unique N Line emblem and a gloss black finish. Gloss black side mirrors are limited to the N Line, while other trims receive power-folding side mirrors with heating. The entry-level SE is the only 2025 Sonata without heated side mirrors outside of the N Line.

Black window surround moldings come in chrome or gloss black, and side rocker panels are also gloss black. Acoustic film is standard on the windshield and front door glass to quiet the cabin, while solar control glass helps reduce glare. Regarding the competition, the 2025 Toyota Camry’s front grille is more aggressive, but its rear is far less dynamic, bordering on dated. Honda’s Accord and Chevrolet’s Malibu will appeal to those seeking a more conservative exterior design.

Kia’s K5 has the sportiest exterior of these rivals, with more 360-degree appeal than the Sonata, while Nissan’s Altima strikes a balance between the Sonata’s boldness and the Accord’s more subtle approach.

Interior close-up

Hyundai offers a choice of premium cloth, N unique sport seats with microfiber inserts, and leather for the 2025 Sonata’s interior upholstery, with leather reserved for the peak Limited Hybrid trim. The base Sonata contains a 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, while other grades feature an 8-way power-adjustable version. A passenger seat will have a 4-way adjustment for the entry-level Sonata and a 6-way configuration for the remaining variants.

Unfortunately, heated front seats are not present in the base trim. While it’s not unusual for vehicles within this segment to skip heated front seats in their entry-level model, we’d like to see this change for the Sonata, with its lowest price tag approaching $30,000—even though the average new car price is $48,397, as of this review’s writing. Front seats gain ventilation in addition to heating for the Limited Hybrid grade.

Sonata drivers get 16 cubic feet (cu. ft.) of trunk room, which is competitive for its class, and 60/40 fold-down rear seats. You’ll find a leather-wrapped steering wheel in all trims, but the N Line has a leather steering wheel with contrasting stitching in colors like red. The 2025 Sonata’s cabin is spacious but not as comfortable as some sedans, such as Honda’s Accord. Some interior materials also come off a bit low-grade compared to Kia’s K5.

However, the 2025 Sonata’s aforementioned 16 cu. ft. of trunk space almost leads its competitors, slightly trailing Honda’s Accord, which is a leader with 16.7 cu. ft. Subaru’s Legacy and Toyota’s Camry have the lowest trunk volumes at 15.1 cu. ft. If you’re looking for a rival with heated front seats in its base trim, check out Kia’s K5.

Power and performance

All gas-powered 2025 Sonata models have a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, except the N Line, which contains a 2.5-liter Turbo 4-cylinder, and hybrid versions with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine. Fuel economy for internal combustion engine (ICE) 2025 Sonatas is 28 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway for the SE, 25 city/highway MPG for the SEL and SEL Convenience, and 23/32 city/highway MPG for the N Line high-performance variant. SEL and Limited Hybrid versions get 44/51 city/highway MPG.

This Sonata’s standard gas powertrain produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque, while the N Line is good for 290 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque. Hybrid grades have 192 horsepower and 139 lb.-ft. of torque. All trims contain standard front-wheel drive (FWD), while AWD is available in the SEL trim. We’d like to see AWD for the N Line version in future Sonatas.

The 2025 Sonata’s standard ICE trims have an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the N has an 8-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission. Hybrid models get a 6-speed automatic transmission. The front suspension is a MacPherson strut configuration with coil springs, and the rear is equipped with independent multi-link suspension.

An entry-level Toyota Camry well exceeds the 2025 Hyundai Sonata’s base horsepower at 225. This Toyota’s hybrid variant also boasts a better maximum hybrid mileage of 53/50 city/highway MPG. Honda’s 2025 Accord similarly beats the Sonata with a peak hybrid fuel economy of 51/44 MPG city/highway. It’s also worth noting that Chevrolet’s Malibu doesn’t offer an AWD option. The 2025 Sonata’s most significant performance drawback is its ride and handling, trailing competitors like Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord.

Tech overview

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata features a curved display with a combined curved display measuring 24.6”—12.3” for the central touchscreen and 12.3” for the available digital instrument cluster. It’s well worth considering moving beyond the SE and SEL trims to receive the optional 12.3” digital instrument cluster instead of the standard version that’s just 4.2”. This curved display can simultaneously accommodate connection for up to two devices, and navigation is standard within SEL, N Line, and Limited Hybrid grades.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto complement the available Bose premium audio system with 12 speakers. All variants except the entry-level trim offer wireless smartphone charging. With a charged smartphone, you can complete remote vehicle commands like locking/unlocking doors and using your device as a digital key. Those opposed to continually dealing with touchscreens can use dynamic voice recognition in the SEL Convenience, N Line, and Limited Hybrid variants.

The interior increases comfort and convenience with an optional auto-dimming rearview mirror adjusting to reduce glare from other cars, while the exterior does the same with an available hands-free smart trunk power release. Rain-sensing windshield wipers are standard within the peak Limited Hybrid trim.

While this isn’t the most high-tech feature, it’s worth mentioning that this mid-size sedan has standard steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. These paddle shifters feel the most appropriate in the high-performance N Line grade. LED and 64-color ambient interior lighting are available, while dual automatic temperature control and over-the-air software updates are standard.

When comparing competitor tech, Toyota’s Camry has a more traditional display configuration, while the 2025 Sonata is more contemporary with its curved displays. Nissan’s Altima doesn’t have standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across its lineup like the Sonata, and the Chevrolet Malibu’s central touchscreen is just 8”. Still, the Malibu’s touchscreen is easy to use.

Safety capabilities

The 2025 Sonata has earned high crash protection ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). IIHS officials gave the Sonata its second-best rating of Top Safety Pick behind Top Safety Pick+, while the NHTSA awarded this Hyundai its peak rating of five stars.

Notable standard safety features within the 2025 Sonata include:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction Turning Detection
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go
• Rear Occupant Alert
• Safe Exit Warning
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• High Beam Assist (auto on/off headlights)

The 2025 Sonata’s forward collision avoidance system is impressive with its ability to distinguish between cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and left-turn intersection hazards. Lane Keeping Assist complements its visual and audible lane drift warnings with automatic assistive steering when necessary to keep you centered within markings via Lane Following Assist tech. The Driver Attention Warning can prompt a break when detecting distracted driving like drowsiness, while Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go functions at low and high speeds.

The Rear Occupant Alert is handy with its continual reminders to check the second row for people or items before exiting, and the Safe Exit Warning keeps a helpful watch for hazards like oncoming traffic. The Blind-Spot Collision Warning feature doesn’t offer automatic assistive steering alongside audible and visual alerts. Still, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist can automatically apply the Sonata’s brakes as needed.

Available safety features

Available safety features within the 2025 Sonata consist of:

• Highway Driving Assist
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Surround View Monitor
• Remote Smart Parking Assist
• Parking Distance Warning (forward, side, reverse)
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (rear)

All-in-all the 2025 Sonata has one of its segment’s most impressive safety inventories.

Trim guide and owner considerations

Check out starting prices and some highlight-worthy features for the 2025 Hyundai Sonata’s six trims below.

SE (gas-powered) – $26,650

The entry-level SE trim offers an accessible starting price, a 12.3” touchscreen, and essential safety features like Blind-Spot Collision Warning.

SEL (gas-powered) – $27,750

Moving into SEL territory gives you an AWD option, an 8-way power driver seat, and 17” alloy wheels.

SEL Convenience (gas-powered) – $30,800

Graduating to the SEL Convenience trim means receiving the dual 12.3” curved display, wireless smartphone charging, and a panoramic sunroof.

SEL Hybrid – $31,000

The first hybrid in the Sonata’s lineup provides 47 combined MPG, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Hyundai Digital Key compatibility.

N Line – $35,250

A high-performance N Line Sonata delivers 290 horsepower, 311 lb.-ft. of torque, and unique design elements like aluminum sport pedals.

Limited Hybrid – $37,450

Leather seating surfaces, high-tech safety features like the Blind-Spot View Monitor, and a panoramic sunroof help define this peak Sonata trim’s value.

Warranty info

Hyundai offers 2025 Sonata buyers exceptional warranty coverage. Purchasers receive a five-year or 60,000-mile limited warranty, whichever comes first, a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, seven years/unlimited miles of anti-perforation coverage, and 24/7 roadside assistance for five years and unlimited miles.

Final verdict

The 2025 Sonata has some shortcomings, such as lower hybrid mileage, a slightly less comfortable ride feel, and certain lower-quality materials than some competitors. Still, these drawbacks don’t overshadow its strengths.

Hyundai’s new Sonata is well worth a look thanks to an expanded trim lineup, a quality blend of standard tech and safety features, and its high-performance N Line variant, which disrupts the notion that this model is a bore to drive. Additionally, the front and rear exterior portions are eye-catching and contemporary, helping the model distinguish itself from the competition. These upsides are why we’re giving the Sonata a respectable overall rating of 7.8/10.