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The 2020 Hyundai Sonata delivers with comfort and quality, but can it outdrive the competition?
What’s New for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is totally redesigned with two new powertrain options including a hybrid model that recharges through rooftop solar panels. The interior is also updated with a spacious and sleek design with added standard safety features and more available infotainment features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
Looking for a new car? See our 2022 Hyundai Sonata Review.
2020 Hyundai Sonata – hyundainews.com | Shop 2020 Hyundai Sonata on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Upscale interior
Good fuel economy
Lots of standard safety features
Engine not as exciting as some of its rivals
Less refined handling
Base trim lacking in tech
Needs an engine upgrade to stay in the game
2020 Sonata Specs
- 180 horsepower from base engine
- 181 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 16 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Optional hybrid powertrain
- Impressive driver assist package
- Adaptive cruise control
- 10-year/100,000-mile warranty
2020 Hyundai Sonata Powertrain
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has two engine options plus a non-plug-in hybrid option. The SE and SEL trims use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower. The SEL Plus and Limited use a new 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower. Both are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Sonata offers a comfortable ride, but it doesn’t handle as well as others in its class like the Nissan Altima and the Honda Accord. The base engine is adequate for driving around town, but for quicker acceleration on the highway, the turbocharged option is the way to go. Sonata’s hybrid models save at the pump but don’t offer a smooth transition between gas and electric power sources.
For a more exciting drive, the 2021 Sonata could be your ticket. It adds another trim line with a new 290hp engine. See the complete 2021 Hyundai Sonata Review.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Fuel Economy & MPG
The 2020 Sonata lets you choose from two engine types and a hybrid model, and you’ll get decent mileage no matter what route you go. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the SE and SEL get an estimated 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine found in the SEL Plus and Limited trims gets an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
The hybrid engine will be the most fuel efficient getting an impressive 50 mpg in the city and 54 mpg on the highway. This model has solar panels embedded in the roof to charge anytime the sun is shining and provides up to two additional driving miles per day.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Inside the Sonata you will find quality materials and lots of soft-touch surfaces that give it an upscale feel. The seats are comfortable but could use a little more support for those longer drives. The backseat is spacious with 34.8 inches of legroom and can accommodate 3 average-sized adults. The Sonata’s trunk is average for its class with 16 cubic feet of cargo space and will hold seven carry-on suitcases.
With several packages available, Hyundai offers some great convenience and comfort upgrades like leather seats, a heated steering wheel and interior LED lights that really make the Sonata a top contender in its class without having to opt for the upper trim levels.
Entertainment & Technology
Standard infotainment features in the Sonata include an 8.0-inch touchscreen that is clear, crisp, and responsive. There aren’t many physical buttons, but the functions on the touchscreen are laid out well and are easy to operate. Some models also have a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an upgraded 10.25-inch touchscreen. The base trim comes with the bare minimum, but upper levels bring some nice convenience features like push-button start, proximity keyless entry and Hyundai’s Digital Key which allows you to operate certain functions remotely through the Hyundai app.
Safety Features
The 2020 Sonata earned an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also received the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
All models come standard with Hyundai’s SmartSense package of driver-assistance features that include a rearview camera, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision avoidance, automatic high-beam assist, driver-attention monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring is standard on the SEL and above trims. The top-level Limited trim includes remote parking assist which will allow you to park and unpark the car from the outside.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Trims & Pricing
SE – $24,595
The SE trim comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights, remote keyless entry, an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-speaker audio system, a USB port, and Bluetooth. Hyundai’s SmartSense package of driver-assistance features is also standard and includes adaptive cruise control with full stop-and-go, forward-collision avoidance, lane follow assist, lane keep assist, driver-attention warning, and auto high-beam assist.
Looking for a budget sedan? See our Under $10,000: Hyundai Sonata vs Ford Fusion comparison.
SEL – $26,695
The SEL trim gains a hands-free smart trunk, proximity keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, blind-sport monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals, 17-in alloy wheels, satellite radio capability and Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics system. There are also options to add leather seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a rear-seat USB charging port, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation, and LED interior lighting.
SEL Plus – $28,645
The SEL Plus trim comes standard with a 1.6L turbo engine, paddle shifters, aluminum pedals, 18-in alloy wheels, wireless phone charging, Hyundai Digital Key, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a rear USB charging port, and a combination synthetic leather and faux suede upholstery. It has the options of LED interior lights, a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Highway Drive Assist, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.
Blue Hybrid – $28,745
The Sonata’s Blue Hybrid comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, a USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, HD and satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, push-button start, keyless entry, cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and Hyundai’s SmartSense package of driver-assistance features that includes adaptive cruise control with full stop-and-go, forward-collision avoidance, lane follow assist, lane keep assist, driver-attention warning, and auto high-beam assist.
SEL Hybrid – $30,895
The SEL Hybrid takes all standard features of the Blue Hybrid trim and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 12-speaker stereo, heated and power-adjustable front seats, an additional USB port, wireless device charging and Hyundai Digital Key.
Limited – $34,495
The Limited trim comes with all of the above options and adds memory for the driver’s seat and outboard mirrors, power adjustable passenger seat, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, color head-up display, front/rear parking sensors, Hyundai’s Remote Smart Parking Assist, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
See how a new Hyundai Sonata stacks up to a used model in our New vs Used Hyundai Sonata review.
Limited Hybrid – $36,295
The range-topping Limited Hybrid gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front/rear parking sensors, rear collision warning, blind-spot monitor, Highway Driving Assist, head-up display, and a surround-view parking camera system. A solar panel is also integrated into the roof to provided additional charge and extended driving range.
Warranties
Hyundai offers one of the industry’s best warranty coverages with their 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5 year/60,000-mile limited warranty. To top that off, complementary maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles.
What we think
2020 Hyundai Sonata – hyundainews.com | Shop 2020 Hyundai Sonata on Carsforsale.com
While we didn’t rank the 2020 Hyundai Sonata as one of the best sedans of today, it’s still worth considering for its comfortable ride and competitive warranty. The Sonata makes up for its so-so engine with a quality interior and an abundance of standard driver-assist features which could cause even diehard Honda Accord fans to take a second look.
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