The 2019 Hyundai Sonata's #3 ranking is based on its score within the 2019 Affordable Midsize Cars category. Currently the Hyundai Sonata has a score of 8.3 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 45 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.

8.3

U.S. News Rating

Critics' Rating 8.9
Performance 7.2
Total Cost of Ownership 8.7
Interior 8.3
Safety 9.9
Reliability

Where This Vehicle Ranks

2019 Toyota Camry

$16,218 - $27,031 AVG PRICE PAID

2019 Kia Optima

$17,145 - $23,256 AVG PRICE PAID

2019 Hyundai Sonata

$17,408 - $22,741 AVG PRICE PAID

2019 Ford Fusion

$13,086 - $21,811 AVG PRICE PAID

2019 Honda Accord

$20,993 - $27,404 AVG PRICE PAID

2019 Buick Regal

$16,207 - $25,712 AVG PRICE PAID

See the full 2019 Affordable Midsize Cars rankings »

2019 Sonata Photos

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2019 Hyundai Sonata Overview

Is the 2019 Hyundai Sonata a Good Used Car?

Yes, the 2019 Sonata is a good used midsize car . It offers plenty of easy-to-use standard features, a large trunk, and a comfortable ride. However, this Hyundai’s underwhelming engine options and mediocre fuel economy limit its appeal. Also, its cabin isn’t as upscale as some rivals.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our goal is to make shopping for your next car as easy as possible. You'll find everything you need to know about this car in our comprehensive Hyundai Sonata review. It combines concrete data like fuel economy estimates, horsepower specs, and cargo space dimensions with 45 professional Hyundai Sonata reviews.

U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. We care about cars, but we care more about providing useful consumer advice. To ensure our impartiality, an independent party handles our advertising, and our editorial team doesn’t accept expensive gifts from automakers.

Pricing

How Much is a 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

Based on listings for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata, the average list price is $17,408. Prices range from $17,408 to $22,741 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

How Much Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Cost to Own?

The 2019 Sonata’s five-year costs for gas, insurance, taxes, fees, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $26,750, or $5,350 per year. That’s above average for the class.

2018 vs. 2019 Hyundai Sonata: What's the Difference?

The 2018 and 2019 Sonata are virtually identical since Hyundai made no major changes to the 2019 model.

Compare the 2018 and 2019 Sonata »

Here are the key changes for the Hyundai Sonata over the past few years:

2016: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 7-inch touch screen made standard
2017: no major changes
2018: refreshed exterior styling; retuned suspension; more standard and available driver safety features, including blind spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist
2019: final model year before full redesign

If you're considering an older vehicle, be sure to read our 2016 Sonata , 2017 Sonata , and 2018 Sonata reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Reliable Is the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

The 2019 Sonata has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five.

2019 Hyundai Sonata Recalls

There are no major recalls for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata at this time.

See more information on Hyundai Sonata safety recalls »

Which Used Hyundai Sonata Trim Is Right for Me?

The 2019 Sonata comes in six trim levels: SE, Eco, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Limited 2.0T. We review the 2019 Sonata Hybrid separately.

The base model has a healthy helping of tech features, but if you want more comfort and convenience add-ons, consider the Sonata SEL. To get the strongest engine, you’ll have to get the range-topping Limited 2.0T.

Hyundai Sonata SE: The base Hyundai Sonata SE comes with a 185-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a USB port, Bluetooth, a six-speaker stereo, cloth upholstery, alloy wheels, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane change assist.
Hyundai Sonata Eco: The Eco trim has largely the same interior equipment as the base SE, but it features a more fuel-efficient 178-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Hyundai Sonata SEL: SEL models revert to the SE’s engine. This trim gains satellite radio, wireless device charging, a rear-seat USB port, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, heated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, proximity keyless entry, larger alloy wheels, and a hands-free trunk lid. You might find some models with adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and an electronic parking brake.
Hyundai Sonata Sport: Standard features in the Sport trim include a sunroof, a flat-bottom steering wheel, front sport seats, and a few styling tweaks, such as chrome accents. Sport models share the SE’s engine, and the same safety features offered in the SEL are available in this trim as well.
Hyundai Sonata Limited: The Sonata Limited also boasts the SE’s engine and gains an 8-inch touch screen, a navigation system, an eight-speaker Infinity stereo, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and adaptive headlights with automatic high beams. The Limited also comes with rear parking sensors and the same optional driver assistance tech from the SEL and Sport trims.
Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T: The high-end Limited 2.0T model comes with a 245-horsepower turbo-four engine and just about every feature you can get in this Hyundai, including a panoramic sunroof.

See 2019 Hyundai Sonata trims and specs »

What Does Hyundai's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Hyundai offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles five years old or less and with fewer than 60,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. Certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles receive the balance of the original new-car 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, as well as the remainder of the five-year/60,000-mile comprehensive warranty. Hyundai CPO vehicles must pass a 173-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing, roadside assistance, and rental car reimbursement may be available.

Hyundai has one of the better CPO programs among affordable car manufacturers, according to our analysis. Still, automakers like Kia, Mini and Honda have better programs.

See the best CPO programs »

Extended Warranties for Hyundai Cars and SUVs

Not every used Hyundai will qualify for a certified pre-owned warranty. However, there are options available if you want additional coverage after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.

2019 Hyundai Sonata Safety

Score: 9.9/10

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2019 Sonata an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2019 Sonata a Top Safety Pick+, giving it the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests. The Limited trims equipped with adaptive headlights earned a Good rating for how well they illuminate the road ahead, while all other models received the lowest rating of Poor.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. This Hyundai earned the highest rating of Superior for the effectiveness of its available front crash prevention system.

Standard advanced safety features:

Blind spot monitoring
Rear cross traffic alert
Lane change assist
Rearview camera

Available advanced safety features:

Lane keep assist
Lane departure warning
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning
Automatic emergency braking
Pedestrian detection
Automatic high-beam headlights
Adaptive headlights
Electronic parking brake
Rear parking sensors

2019 Hyundai Sonata Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2019 Hyundai Sonata or 2019 Honda Accord?

The 2019 Honda Accord is a good used midsize car . It has an abundance of available safety features, a good safety score, and lots of cargo and passenger space. The Honda also has peppy engines, a smooth ride, and playful handling. However, the Hyundai has a better predicted reliability rating, giving it the edge in this comparison. Additionally, the Sonata has more standard features than the Honda, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are not available in the base Accord.

Which Is Better: 2019 Hyundai Sonata or 2019 Toyota Camry?

The 2019 Toyota Camry is another fantastic midsize sedan. It has sharper handling than the Hyundai, and its available V6 engine delivers more power than anything you’ll find in the Sonata lineup. The Camry also rates better for predicted reliability, and its base model gets better fuel economy than the most fuel-efficient nonhybrid Sonata. When it was new, we named the Toyota Camry our 2019 Best Midsize Car for the Money for its combination of quality and value.

Like the Sonata, the Camry is available in a hybrid variant. We review the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid separately.

Compare the Sonata, Accord, and Camry »

2019 Sonata Performance

How Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Drive?

The base engine is OK for driving around town, but it lacks the punch to get you up to highway speeds with any urgency. The two turbocharged options fare better, but they’re unimpressive compared to the engine upgrades in rivals.

It may not be a sports sedan, but the Sonata is easy to drive and maneuver. Well-weighted steering helps it feel planted, and its suspension smooths out most road flaws, leading to a pleasant ride.

Base engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque (SE, SEL, Sport, Limited)
Available engines:
- 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 178 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque (Eco)
- 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque (Limited 2.0T)
Drivetrain: front-wheel drive
Transmission: standard six-speed automatic; available seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; available eight-speed automatic

Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Get Good Gas Mileage?

The Sonata Eco sedan gets the best fuel economy estimates in this Hyundai’s lineup, but those figures are only about average for the class. The numbers for models with the base engine are slightly below average.

For something that gets better fuel economy, you might consider the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid .

2.4-liter: 25/33 mpg city/highway
1.6-liter turbo: 28/37 mpg
2.0-liter turbo: 23/32 mpg

2019 Sonata Interior

How Many People Does the 2019 Sonata Seat?

The 2019 Sonata seats five people in two rows. The well-cushioned front and rear seats remain supportive on long drives. Legroom is generous in both rows, but rear headroom is tight for anyone more than 6 feet tall. Cabin materials are of high quality, with soft-touch plastics and good fit and finish. However, some rivals have more upscale interiors.

Standard seating features:

60/40-split-folding rear seats
Cloth upholstery

Available seating features:

Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats
Ventilated front seats
Heated front seats
Sport front seats
Heated rear seats
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Heated steering wheel

How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

The 2019 Sonata has two complete sets of LATCH car-seat connectors for the rear outboard seats.

2019 Hyundai Sonata Features

This Hyundai has one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems on the market. The physical controls are well organized and easy to reach, and the touch screen responds quickly to inputs.

Standard infotainment features: a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, a USB port, and Bluetooth
Available infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, an eight-speaker Infinity stereo, HD Radio, satellite radio, wireless device charging, and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system
Other available features: a sunroof or panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and proximity keyless entry

See 2019 Hyundai Sonata specs »

Read more about Sonata interior »

2019 Hyundai Sonata Dimensions

Hyundai Sonata Cargo Space

With 16.3 cubic feet, the Sonata has one of the largest trunks in the midsize car class , eclipsing sedans like the 2019 Kia Optima and 2019 Nissan Altima . A hands-free trunk lid is available.