2025 Hyundai Sonata vs 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid showcased a modern and sleek design with significant styling updates. Its front fascia featured a streamlined look with a single slim lightbar, known as the “seamless horizon lamp,” giving it a contemporary flair. The badge was repositioned above the grille, and the headlights were placed independently below it, drawing a clear family resemblance to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 while avoiding its more polarizing elements. The rear end of the Sonata Hybrid was updated to resemble the new Hyundai Santa Fe, with a wide “H” shape formed by the taillights and a sporty black spoiler-esque trunk lid. From the side, the 2024 model looked similar to its 2023 predecessor, with our Limited-trim test car featuring 17-inch wheels and a fashionable enamel gray color called “Transmission Blue.” The interior saw changes with a redesigned dash, a T-shaped steering wheel, and three available color schemes, with our test car sporting a basic black interior.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata had a more futuristic and angular front end, which complemented its curvy bodywork. The profile of the car appeared long, sleek, and well-proportioned. However, the rear styling updates were less successful, with angular lighting and multiple character lines creating a somewhat incongruent look. The 2025 Sonata was available in various trim levels, including SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, and N Line, with pricing ranging from $28,145 to $38,945. Our test car, an N Line trim, featured extra-cost paint and floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $37,080. The interior of the N Line was dark gray with red stitching and accents, offering a sportier look, though more color contrast would have been welcome. The quality of interior materials was good, with clearly marked switchgear and a dual digital screen setup, though the speedometer numbers were hard to see due to the steering wheel.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was notable for its front-wheel-drive (FWD) system, as the newly available all-wheel drive (AWD) was limited to the gas version. The hybrid model featured a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a total system output of 192 horsepower. This power was routed through a six-speed automatic transmission, offering more control than the typical continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in most hybrids. Despite this, the Sonata Hybrid achieved an impressive EPA rating of 47 mpg combined. The steering wheel-mounted paddles allowed for regenerative braking management in Eco mode and gear shifting in Sport mode. The steering feel and handling were commendable, and the configurable driver-information display was appreciated for its ability to show both the tachometer and hybrid system’s power flow simultaneously.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata offered a base 191-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with optional AWD for SEL models, while other trims and hybrids remained FWD. The Sonata Hybrid shared a similar 192-hp drivetrain, benefiting from immediate electric motor torque and achieving an EPA-estimated 47 mpg combined. The N Line trim, however, stood out with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 290 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque. It featured a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and sport-tuned suspension, providing a dynamic driving experience. During testing on the Mulholland Highway, the N Line demonstrated its capability, though it lacked AWD, which would have enhanced its performance. The firm suspension offered a comfortable ride, and the brakes were easy to modulate, while the steering wheel provided a satisfying grip.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with the Limited trim’s panoramic moonroof providing 37.8 inches of front-seat headroom, slightly above its rivals. Rear-seat headroom was also competitive, with 37.4 inches available with the moonroof. The front row prioritized legroom with 46.1 inches, while rear passengers had 34.8 inches. The Limited-trim test car featured heated and ventilated seats, and the slimmer steering wheel rim was appreciated for comfort. The trunk close button was a neat convenience feature, though not entirely necessary for a sedan.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a standard panoramic glass sunroof and a gray interior, creating a spacious and welcoming atmosphere. The heated and power-adjustable front seats had fabric inserts and appropriate bolstering, providing comfort and a proper driving position. Rear passengers benefited from added air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The back seat offered ample headroom and legroom, though long-legged passengers needed to be cautious of the hard plastic front seatback panels. Storage space was plentiful, with thoughtful features like a roomy bin under the center armrest and a wireless smartphone charger tray. The trunk offered 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space, with enclosed hinges for easier packing.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a selectable USB-C port, allowing users to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes, which was particularly useful for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The curved display combined the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display into a single panel, with logical and intuitive haptic buttons for climate control and media functions. The Limited trim included navigation, natural language voice-recognition, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, while a six-speaker sound system was standard.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrumentation panel, both housed under a single curved panoramic display. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluelink+ for remote engine starting and other functions. The SEL Convenience trim added navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and digital key technology, while the N Line featured Hyundai Pay tech and a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was praised for its intuitive user interface and traditional knobs and buttons for easy operation.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid included standard safety features such as blind-spot collision warning, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-following and lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim offered additional features like a blind-spot-view monitor, surround-view monitor, and Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist system. The infotainment system made it easy to access and understand safety features.

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, thanks to improved rear-seat passenger protection and structural integrity. Standard SmartSense features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. The N Line trim featured Highway Driving Assist, though some functions were found to be irritating. The Sonata Hybrid Limited added a surround-view camera system and Remote Smart Parking Assist for added convenience.