View All Media
By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If the current crop of midsize family sedans leaves you wanting, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata’s mix of elegant styling, rich creature comforts and impressive fuel economy may reinvigorate your need to write a check. The Sonata’s great warranty and resale history are also worth noting.
Although we think the Sonata’s fluid lines and sculpted instrument panel are stunning, the design might be too over-the-top for more conservative tastes. In hybrid guise, the Sonata isn’t as engaging to drive as the Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry hybrids.
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata has over 50 improvements this year. Some of the more notable include refreshed interior/exterior styling, standard Driver Selectable Steering Mode, available Blind Spot Detection system, available ventilated seats and a new navigation system with an 8-inch color monitor.
As more and more family sedans break the mold of ordinary styling, the family sedan that started the styling revolution continues to blaze a trail forward. The 2014 Hyundai Sonata remains one of the most attractive, efficient and affordable 4-door cars in the midsize market, and no one has yet to match its impressive 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, let alone its price-per-feature ratio. With a choice of three, fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines including a hybrid variant, the Sonata can compete as easily with a base Nissan Altima as it can a fully loaded Honda Accord or Ford Fusion. Cutting-edge engine technology, such as direct fuel injection and high-pressure turbocharging, gives the Sonata V6-like power and class-leading fuel economy.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2014 Hyundai Sonata models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$22,145 | $6,632 | |||
$25,460 | $7,718 | |||
$26,810 | $7,350 | |||
$27,695 | $7,443 | |||
$31,560 | $8,285 |
For reference, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata originally had a starting sticker price of $22,145, with the range-topping Sonata Hybrid Limited Sedan 4D starting at $31,560.
Considering it is being pulled by a 4-cylinder engine, we are amazed at how quickly and smoothly the 2014 Hyundai Sonata can move from a dead stop. The 2.4-liter direct-injection engine is a marvel of modern design, churning out 190 horsepower while returning an impressive 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Of course, those interested in more power can opt for the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the 2.0T trims, which bumps output to 274 horsepower while still returning excellent fuel-economy figures. From braking to handling to ride smoothness, the Sonata excels in every category. Last year’s vague steering complaints have been addressed with a new Driver Selectable Steering mode that allows for manual adjustment of the steering assist. From a comfort standpoint, our Limited trim level’s seats were very comfortable, and all but the tallest test drivers found the rear-seat headroom and legroom to be exceptional.
Like its dynamic exterior, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata’s interior is a work of art. Following the exterior design theme, the Sonata’s interior is a mix of bold shapes, smooth finishes and lots of attractive blue backlighting. Features such as the Limited trim’s heated rear seat are practically unheard of in other competitors. However, while we do like the look of the rakish rear pillars, the design somewhat cuts into rear-seat headroom. We also lament the loss of the cool “sitting man” control panel for the ventilation controls when upgrading to the navigation system.
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata is truly an original that will be hard to top. From its deeply sculpted hood to the careful use of chrome trim highlighting the beltline, there is something old-Detroit-classic about this car, a throwback to a time when designers took risks and weren’t afraid to produce something different and dramatic. With its beautifully detailed grille and sweptback headlights, its high beltline and sharply raked rear window, the 2014 Sonata sedan projects a formidable presence few cars, let alone midsize family sedans, possess. The Sonata’s wheel and tire sizes vary by trim level and range from 16-inch alloys on the GLS to 18-inch split-spoke alloy wheels on the 2.0T. One of the Sonata’s more appealing exterior features is the Limited trim’s available panoramic moonroof.
HEATED REAR SEATS
While some luxury-oriented sedans and SUVs offer heated rear seats, it isn’t something you generally see in a mainstream midsize sedan. And the fact that they’re standard on both the SE and Limited trim makes them even more attractive.
HD RADIO
HD Radio doesn’t have the commercial-free appeal of satellite radio, but we have no qualms about a subscription-free radio service that broadcasts your favorite radio stations in CD quality. We wish more automakers offered HD Radio, and we’re glad the 2014 Hyundai Sonata offers it on all trims.
Hyundai is renowned for outfitting its vehicles with a comprehensive serving of standard features, and the 2014 Sonata is no exception. Topping the list is Hyundai’s Blue Link infotainment and concierge service, Bluetooth and a USB port with iPod connectivity. Also standard are heated side mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls and 16-inch alloy wheels. Safety equipment includes six airbags, the usual sprinkling of electronic safety aides and active front headrests to help reduce the severity of whiplash-related injuries.
In addition to common equipment upgrades, such as leather seats and a moonroof, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata boasts an alluring list of optional features, which consist of a rearview camera, ventilated front seats, a pair of premium audio systems including a 400-watt Infinity stereo and a navigation system with an 8-inch touch screen and real-time traffic, weather, sports and stock updates. The once-standard panoramic moonroof is now available as part of the Limited’s Technology Package.
Since both the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and hybrid powertrain are engineered with a specific purpose in mind, the vast majority of Sonata owners will choose the balanced performance of the standard 2.4-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder. A 6-speed automatic with manual shift mode is the only available transmission. Although it is Hyundai’s first mass-production hybrid vehicle, the Sonata Hybrid is packed with innovative tech bits. Leading the charge (pun intended) is a lithium polymer battery pack that weighs 25 percent less than a conventional nickel-metal hydride system. Moreover, the 2014 Sonata Hybrid is capable of all-electric speeds up to 74 mph – better than most plug-in hybrids.
2.4-liter inline-4
190 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
179 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/35 mpg
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
274 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
269 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/32 mpg
2.4-liter 4-cylinder hybrid
206 net horsepower
154 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 35/40 mpg
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
EPA Passenger | 103.8 cu.ft. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Total Interior | 120.2 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 40.0 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 45.5 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 5.3 inches | ||
Overall Length | 189.8 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 57.9 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 16.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 35.8 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 110.0 inches | ||
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 4301 lbs. |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 24 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 35 mpg | ||
Combined | 28 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
6 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular |
Horsepower | 190 @ 6300 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 179 @ 4250 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | ||
Top Speed | 128 mph |
Basic | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 7 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2014 Hyundai Sonata | Used 2015 Ford Focus | Used 2015 Nissan Versa | Used 2015 Kia Forte | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $7,130 | $6,696 | $6,916 | $6,974 | |
KBB.com Rating | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.4 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.3 | |
Fuel Economy | City 24/Hwy 35/Comb 28 MPG | City 26/Hwy 38/Comb 30 MPG | City 27/Hwy 36/Comb 30 MPG | City 25/Hwy 36/Comb 29 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Flexible Fuel | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | |
Horsepower | 190 @ 6300 RPM | 160 @ 6500 RPM | 109 @ 6000 RPM | 173 @ 6500 RPM | |
Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Flex Fuel, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, 1.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, GDI, 2.0 Liter | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
The Hyundai Sonata is not all-new for 2024. But the first time you see one on the road, you’ll probably…
Yesterday, Hyundai presented a refreshed 2024 Sonata midsize sedan to the American market, keeping the long list of features the…
Hyundai and Kia are asking owners of about 92,000 cars to park them outside and away from structures until dealers…