Textual content by Tom Appel
2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Restricted
Specs
Class: Midsize Sedan
Nation of Manufacture: U.S.
Miles pushed: 138
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B |
| Energy and Efficiency | B- |
| Match and End | B+ |
| Gas Economic system | A |
| Worth | A- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | B |
| Tall Man | B |
| Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 192 horsepower 2.0-liter |
| Engine Sort | Hybrid 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Noticed gasoline economic system: 30.0 mpg*
Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 44/51/47 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Common gasoline
Base worth: $38,100 (not together with $1245 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: Particular paint ($500), ground mats ($240)
Value as examined: $40,085
Audio-System Model
Bose
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The nice: Spectacular gasoline economic system, loads of energy, comfy cabin and trip
The great: Roomy trunk, easy to make use of controls, cheap pricing
The not so good: Just a little shy on rear-seat legroom
Evaluation
Of the final dozen autos totally evaluated by Shopper Information, 9 had been crossovers or SUVs. Two had been compact automobiles, one—the Sonata we’re about to debate—was midsize.
Decline of the Sedan
Whereas loads can occur in 55 years, it’s well worth the time to take a look at our Greatest Purchase picks of 1970. Not solely are fashions on the checklist lengthy discontinued, there isn’t a single truck. As you might bear in mind, it wasn’t till the Ford Explorer arrived on the scene that mainstream customers started embracing “sport utility autos” as on a regular basis conveyances.
Enter the SUV
The attraction of a crossover or truck is comprehensible. On a given footprint, a crossover presents better cargo house, usually simpler entry and exiting, and, normally obtainable AWD. On the draw back, crossovers and SUVs price extra to buy, can price extra to insure, and client extra gasoline than do most automobiles. However American customers don’t appear to thoughts a lot.
In actual fact, crossovers and SUVs now dominate the U.S. car market, with sedans of any dimension accounting for simply ten p.c of complete gross sales. And excluding the redesigned Dodge Charger, and a pair of Cadillacs, no American model nonetheless retails a sedan.
Japanese and Korean automotive manufacturers are nonetheless within the sport, nevertheless, and benefitting considerably from the shortage of competitors—particularly within the midsize section.
Sedan Gross sales within the U.S.
Right here’s a fast have a look at how the remaining family-size sedans bought in 2025:
*The Subaru Legacy was discontinued after 2025) Notice, too, that of the 2026 autos listed above, solely the Altima and K5 can’t be had with a hybrid powertrain. To place a degree on simply utterly Americas have deserted the sedan, contemplate this: the seven fashions listed above mixed for 726,000 gross sales in 2025. In the meantime, the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V alongside chalked up 883,000 items.
Costs and Trim Ranges
However had been right here to counsel that the standard midsize sedan continues to be price your consideration, and that Hyundai’s section providing, the Sonata, may prevent cash, and nonetheless make you a contented motorist.
For 2026 the Sonata is obtainable within the following trim ranges:
- SE ($28,695)
- SEL Sport ($30,395)
- Blue Hybrid ($30,445)
- SEL Hybrid ($33,695)
- N Line ($37,295)
- Restricted Hybrid ($39,495)
Engines
SE, SEL, and N Line fashions are powered by a traditional drivetrain, whereas the Blue Hybrid, SEL Hybrid, and Restricted Hybrid function hybrid techniques. Non-hybrids besides the N Line include a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine rated 191 horsepower mated to an 8-speed computerized transmission. The efficiency oriented N Line employs a 290-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter mill mated to a dual-clutch type 8-speed computerized.
Hybrid fashions make use of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mannequin mated to a single electrical motor for 192 horsepower. Hybrids include a 6-speed computerized transmission. All Sonatas function front-wheel drive; AWD shouldn’t be obtainable.
The Blue Hybrid returns higher gasoline economic system than do the SEL or Restricted Hybrid because of its smaller wheels and tires, low-rolling-resistance tires, and barely decrease weight. The burden financial savings come primarily from decrease gear load as the bottom mannequin within the hybrid lineup.
Take a look at Automobile
Shopper Information not too long ago spent every week behind the wheel of a 2026 Hybrid Restricted in Serenity White. Together with vacation spot cost our take a look at automotive got here to $40,085.
Design
Because the most-luxurious Sonata trim stage, the Hybrid Restricted does its half to feel and appear swanky. We recognize the fashionable design, which dates again to a 2024 freshening, and the upscale cabin supplies. Like virtually each Hyundai and Kia product bought within the U.S., the Sonata now employs a single, contiguous touchscreen panel with stretches from behind the steering wheel to the middle console and incorporates each the instrument panel and infotainment controls. We recognize the clear, easy look, and located the setup straightforward to learn, even in brilliant gentle.
Controls
We additionally recognize the true knobs and switches used to regulate local weather capabilities. Positioned under the touchscreen, the local weather controls are straightforward to succeed in and easy to make use of with out wanting away from the street. This can be a setup we want extra automakers would make use of.
Room and Consolation
In evaluating a sedan just like the Sonata to in style crossovers, an enormous consideration is passenger house, in addition to straightforward of entry to the cabin. Whereas dropping down right into a sedan is considerably much less straightforward than getting into crossover, the Sonata serves up loads of front-row passenger house. Rear-compartment house is a little bit tight for the long-legged, nevertheless most passengers will discover loads of long-trim consolation, offering front-row occupants don’t place their seats too far again.
Energy and Efficiency
Underway the Sonata impresses, particularly when it comes to energy supply and normal smoothness. The hybrid system is impressively refined in motion, and we suspect most drivers will probably be unaware of its operations. Acceleration from a cease is clean and robust, the system’s regenerative brakes interact and disengage with out discover.
Experience and Dealing with
Experience consolation and cabin quietness are additionally noteworthy. Particularly in Restricted trim, the Sonata Hybrid comes near providing a luxurious stage drive expertise. Lengthy journeys will move in consolation, thanks partly to the spectacular Bose sound system.
The Sonata isn’t any sports activities automotive, nevertheless. Dealing with is finest described as competent, as pushing this Hyundai sedan arduous doesn’t amp up the enjoyable quotient. Midsize sedan buyers on the lookout for partaking trip and dealing with are inspired so as to add the Honda Accord to their take a look at drive checklist.
Gas Economic system
As for gasoline economic system—we blame the climate. *The Sonata arrived at Shopper Information’s Chicago headquarters throughout the most-brutal chilly snap in additional than a decade. But, regardless of the acute temperatures—which might restrict the hybrid batteries skill to recharge—our take a look at automotive returned only a hair below 30 mpg. Whereas that’s effectively under the EPA’s mixed estimate of 47 mpg, we count on the Sonata Hybrid will carry out significantly better below much less arduous situations.
Worth
At simply over $40,000 is priced under most effectively geared up small crossovers, and comfortably under any midsize crossover. Sure, going with a sedan means giving up some cargo house, and on this case a little bit rear-seat legroom. However, in trade, customers get pleasure from vastly higher gasoline economic system, the aforementioned decrease sticker worth, and arguably higher styling.
We recognize the enchantment of the crossover, but when benefiting from your cash is a powerful consideration, we predict a few sedans under in your purchasing checklist. And a kind of automobiles ought to be a Sonata Hybrid.
On condition that car pricing isn’t just a perform of fabric price and labor, however demand as effectively, there may be nice worth to be present in sedan possession, with costs significantly decrease than these of crossovers and SUVs–about 30-percent cheaper. It’s virtually like dishonest.
And, as that is printed, phrase on the road is that Buick will return to the sedan market with a midsize automotive someday within the subsequent couple of years. Maybe the sedan–and rational automotive purchasing–goes to make a comeback.
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2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Restricted Footage
Click on under for enlarged photos
