2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Getting smoother but taking its time
The fuel-sipping sedan from Hyundai has long been a shuddery experience. While those problems are ironed out, is it enough to best the Camry?
2025 Toyota Camry AWD XSE vs. 2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited: Sedans with some space that sip fuel.
This week: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Price: $39,030 as tested. White paint, $470; floor mats, $210.
Conventional wisdom: Motor Trend likes the “supple ride, excellent fuel economy, strong value” but not the “sluggish acceleration,” that the “transmission abhors sporty driving,” or “adjusting to the shifter.”
Marketer’s pitch: “Our modern, sporty sedan available in gas and hybrid.”
Reality: Have to admit, it’s getting better.
What’s new: Not much has changed since 2024’s redesign, when the Sonata line got its new Hyundai-conforming look, a pretty sedan indeed.
I was of two minds when offered the Sonata Hybrid for another test. On one hand, I didn’t want to go into something knowing I was going to slam it up one side and down the other. On the other, maybe they finally got it right, so I’d better give it a chance.
So, what do have we here? A or B?
Driver’s Seat: The Lovely Mrs. Passenger Seat and I were not three miles into a trip to Rehoboth Beach when things took an uncomfortable turn.
“What is UP with these seats?” I whined.
She agreed: There was a pinch point somewhere in the lower thoracic vertebrae. It felt like I was sitting against one of those beaded back protectors that were popular back in the ’80s and ’90s when drivers’ seats often provided extensive nerve damage standard. Not the nerve damage part, thankfully, just the pinch, like I sat on something.
Strangely, the annoyance melted away for me after about an hour and a half, but for her it lasted even after she arrived oceanfront. (And Mr. Driver’s Seat wasn’t the annoyance this time. Or, at least, not the only one.)
The dashboard was par for the Sonata course, offering info displays on either side of the speedometer, and these helpfully turn into side view cameras when the turn signal is activated.
Competition: In addition to the Camry, there’s the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Prius among hybrid models. Comparing to gas-fired sedans adds the Accord, Kia K5, Nissan Sentra, and Subaru Legacy.
Up to speed: The Sonata Hybrid is not going to win many races. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder is coupled with an electric motor, and the combined horsepower is 192.
0-60 takes a long time — 8.6 seconds, according to Motor Trend. That’s far slower than last week’s Camry, which did it in 6.8 seconds.
Shifty: The six-speed transmission keeps to itself unless you’re in Sport mode; then it stays low and offers higher revs in a noticeable and somewhat annoying manner. Shiftability is available with paddles.
The Sonata Hybrid motion is activated via the twisty steering column stalk à la the Ioniq 5 or 6, a nice method.
I had mega complaints about balkiness in the 2023 model, and those problem areas appear to have been cleared up.
On the road: Eco mode featured so much wander that the vehicle asked me if I wanted to stop for a rest. No, Mr. Big Brother Sonata Hybrid, but maybe you need one?
Sport mode handles a little on the sharp side, but it was not as severe as the engine revs.
MyDrive seemed a nice mix of both, as is usually the case with Hyundais.
The hybrid comes only as a front-wheel-drive model, while gasoline versions have all-wheel drive available.
Adding up all the points so far, it’s the Camry’s race to lose, as long as you can pony up the money.
Friends and stuff: The rear seat provides spacious accommodations, with plenty of legroom and foot room. Head room is a little more challenging as the roofline slopes back to the trunk. The Sonata wins this battle.
The seat itself is comfortable but a little awkward; it has the same indentations as the front, which didn’t work for Mr. Driver’s Seat; it’s also sloped awkwardly with no way to adjust that. The hump is large so middle passengers will suffer even more.
The trunk sports 15.6 cubic feet. The seats fold down as well, but that requires pulling the lever from the trunk and then walking to the seat and pulling it forward. Part of the exclusive Hyundai exercise program, I suppose.
Play some tunes: The infotainment system features a 12.3-inch touchscreen plus buttons underneath for getting from function to function.
Sound from the Bose 12-speaker system is about an A-. Advantage, Camry.
Keeping warm and cool: The vents run pretty much across the dashboard in a thin strip. Slightly fussy buttons control source and air speed and big dials handle temperature.
Fuel economy: I averaged about 38 mpg headed to the beach and then hit low 40s for the rest of the Sonata trips, even as high as 44 for a couple legs. Advantage, Sonata.
Where it’s built: Asan, South Korea
How it’s built: Consumer Reports predicts the Sonata Hybrid reliability to be a four out of five.
In the end: The Sonata Hybrid is pretty nice overall and on the upswing, but still has a few flaws. I don’t hate it anymore, so that’s progress.
Still, if you can live with slightly worse fuel economy and pay the extra $5,000, the Camry remains a better choice. And, bonus, it’s got all-wheel drive.