2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

 Is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a Good Car?   

Yes, the 2020 Sonata Hybrid is a good car. This redesigned hybrid boasts excellent fuel efficiency and a comfortable ride. Inside, it has an easy-to-use infotainment system and adult-friendly seating in both rows. Plus, this Hyundai benefits from a lengthy warranty and terrific safety scores. Like many hybrid and electric vehicles, though, it suffers ­from touchy regenerative brakes.

Should I Buy the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

The Sonata Hybrid is one of the most well-rounded vehicles in the hybrid and electric car class, and it has a respectable starting price for a hybrid. That said, there are some other sedans, such as the nonhybrid Hyundai Sonata and the Toyota Camry Hybrid, that are also worth considering.

Compare the Sonata Hybrid, Sonata, and Camry Hybrid »

Should I Buy a New or Used Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

There are several elements of the new 2020 Sonata Hybrid that make it a more appealing choice than a used model. Fully redesigned, the new model features updated interior and exterior styling, improved fuel economy, more cargo space, a well-equipped new base model (Blue), a larger touch screen, and an available solar roof that recharges the battery and increases the car's driving range by about 2 miles a day, according to Hyundai. If you're interested in the plug-in-hybrid Sonata, you'll need to look for a model from 2016 to 2019. Hyundai discontinued the plug-in hybrid for 2020.

If you decide to look for a used Sonata Hybrid, we recommend the midyear version of the 2018 model (updated midyear Sonata Hybrids have a "+" designation in their name). These vehicles have refreshed styling, a retuned suspension, and more standard safety features than models from previous years.

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2017 Sonata Hybrid, 2018 Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Sonata Hybrid reviews to help make your decision. Also check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts you can find on used vehicles.

Compare the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Sonata Hybrid »

We Did the Research for You: 16 Reviews Analyzed

We’ve analyzed 16 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid reviews, as well as performance specs, interior dimensions, fuel economy ratings, and more, to give you all the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision.

Why You Can Trust Us         

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. To remain impartial, we do not accept extravagant gifts from automakers, and an outside source handles our advertising.

How Much Does the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Cost?

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid starts at $27,750 in its standard Blue trim, which is in line with the price of several other hybrid and electric cars. The midlevel SEL trim has a starting price of $29,900, while the range-topping Limited trim starts at $35,300.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Hyundai dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Hyundai deals page.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid or Hyundai Sonata?

The nonhybrid Hyundai Sonata is built on the same platform as the hybrid version, and both models share the same styling and standard features. The biggest difference between the vehicles is fuel economy and price. According to the EPA, the base Sonata Hybrid Blue gets an additional 21 mpg combined than the nonhybrid Sonata. You’ll save about $400 a year in fuel costs by going with the base hybrid over the base nonhybrid, but the hybrid will cost you about $4,150 more to purchase. It will take about 10 years for you to make up that price difference in fuel savings. Therefore, those who prioritize price should go for the nonhybrid Sonata, while those who value fuel efficiency will likely prefer the Sonata Hybrid.

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

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is another top-ranked vehicle in the hybrid and electric car class that has a lot in common with the Sonata Hybrid. Both vehicles boast a comfortable ride, respectable power, and excellent fuel economy of 52 mpg combined. The base Camry Hybrid costs about $600 more than the base Sonata Hybrid, but it comes standard with a couple more standard features and a tad more legroom in the back. These two models are neck and neck in our rankings; you can’t go wrong with either one.

Compare the Sonata Hybrid, Sonata, and Camry Hybrid »

Sonata Hybrid Interior

How Many People Does the Sonata Hybrid Seat?

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid seats up to five people. The seat cushions are wide and flat, and there's plenty of space for adults to find a comfortable seating position.

Sonata Hybrid and Child Car Seats

There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and an upper tether for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the second-highest rating of Acceptable for its ease of use. The upper tethers are easy to find, but the lower anchors are too deep in the seats.

Sonata Hybrid Interior Quality

This Hyundai features a high-end cabin with soft-touch materials all-around. Some critics even liken the interior of the Sonata's higher trims to that of a luxury vehicle.

Sonata Hybrid Cargo Space

The Sonata Hybrid has one of the largest trunks in the hybrid and electric car class and nearly as much trunk space as its nonhybrid counterpart. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid has 16 cubic feet of trunk room, while the nonhybrid Sonata has 16.3 cubic feet. Putting down the 60/40-split-folding rear seats provides additional space for stowing larger items.

Sonata Hybrid Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Sonata Hybrid comes with loads of technology, including an 8-inch touch screen, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Additionally, higher trims come with features like a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, dual USB ports, wireless device charging, a 10.25-inch touch screen, and navigation.

This Hyundai's infotainment system has an intuitive touch screen with user-friendly menu options as well as additional physical controls for temperature and audio settings. The interface is mounted at eye level, which makes it easy to access and operate.

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Read more about interior »

Sonata Hybrid Performance

Sonata Hybrid Engine: One Solid Choice

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes with a four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 192 horsepower. This combination delivers sufficient power for most driving situations, though some class rivals offer quicker acceleration. The Sonata Hybrid comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers mostly smooth shifts, and the transition between gas and electric power is fluid.

Sonata Hybrid Gas Mileage: Among the Best

The 2020 Sonata Hybrid has superb fuel economy estimates. The base Blue trim gets an EPA-estimated 50 mpg in the city and 54 mpg on the highway. The midlevel SEL trim and the top-of-the-line Limited trim both get 45 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. A solar panel roof comes standard in the top Limited trim, and Hyundai says that it helps to charge the battery and adds about 2 miles of driving range per day.

Sonata Hybrid Ride and Handling: Comfortable Cruiser

This Hyundai is tuned to deliver a comfortable ride, even over bumpy pavement. It comes with four driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Custom – that affect performance. Some competitors are more athletic, however, and the regenerative brakes can feel grabby at times.

Read more about performance »

Sonata Hybrid Reliability

Is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Reliable?

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a good predicted reliability rating of four out of five from J.D. Power.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Warranty

The 2020 Sonata Hybrid comes with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is one of the longest warranties among affordable car brands.

Read more about reliability »

Sonata Hybrid Safety

Sonata Hybrid Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with four stars in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Sonata Hybrid the highest rating of Good in all six crash test categories. Headlights in the Blue and SEL trims earned the second-lowest rating of Marginal for how well they illuminate the road ahead, while Limited trim headlights earned Good ratings.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. The Sonata Hybrid earned the highest rating of Superior for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems.

Sonata Hybrid Safety Features

Several advanced safety features come standard in the 2020 Sonata Hybrid, including a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, lane following assist, a driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, and high-beam assist. Available safety features include front and rear parking sensors, rear park assist, and highway drive assist.

Read more about safety »

Sonata Hybrid Dimensions and Weight

The Sonata Hybrid is about 16 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,325 to 3,530 pounds, and its gross vehicle weight rating is 4,519 pounds.

Where Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Built?

Hyundai builds the 2020 Sonata Hybrid in Alabama.

Which Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Model Is Right for Me?

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes in three trims: Blue, SEL, and Limited. The new-for-2020 Blue trim has ample technology features and gets the best fuel economy estimates in the lineup. It should suit the needs of most buyers, but if you're looking for more convenience and safety features, you'll want to take a look at the two higher trims.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue

The Blue trim (MSRP: $27,750) comes standard with cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and an infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and BlueLink, which is a telematics app that allows you to gather pertinent vehicle information on your smartphone. Several advanced safety features are also standard, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, lane following assist, a driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, and high-beam assist.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SEL

The SEL trim starts at $29,900 and adds an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, dual USB ports, and wireless device charging.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited

The Limited trim costs $35,300 and gains leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, memory settings for the driver’s seat and side mirrors, a rear center armrest with dual cup holders, a 10.25-inch touch screen, navigation, and a solar roof. Front and rear parking sensors, rear park assist, and highway drive assist are also included.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Hyundai dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Hyundai deals page.

See 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid boasts tremendous fuel economy estimates, plenty of space for adults to stretch out, and numerous standard and available tech features. It's a great pick in the hybrid and electric car class. If you're looking for a more fun-to-drive hybrid, however, you may want to test-drive the Toyota Camry Hybrid or Honda Accord Hybrid.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "The race for the most fuel-efficient sedan is on. With Hyundai's 2020 Sonata Hybrid, the Korean brand is challenging the best from Japan in a fuel-efficiency battle. But Hyundai didn't stop there, it packed the Sonata with premium materials, a ton of tech, and great packaging to deliver a spacious interior." -- Motor Trend
• "In every measurable way, the Sonata Hybrid is a winner. It's as attractive and nicely appointed as the standard Sonata, and the hybrid powertrain is a smooth operator -- and seriously efficient, too." -- CNET
• "Polite or not, we'd hate to get so caught up in the Sonata's looks that we fail to appreciate what's on its inside: comfortable seating, competitive cargo space, more safety and convenience tech than you could shake a stick at, and fuel economy estimates in the 50-mpg neighborhood. The Sonata is attractive and talented, and it should be recognized as such." -- Car and Driver