How much does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata cost?

Prices have softened 6.27% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,511 listings available, which gives you a solid pool to compare against. If you find a listing below $17,276.61, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Hyundai Sonata earns a 4.75/5 user rating and an 8.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 10/10.

Drivers consistently praise its smooth driving experience, safety features, and strong fuel economy. The stylish design and excellent powertrain warranty also come up repeatedly as reasons owners feel good about the car over time.

On the trade-off side, some reviewers mention cabin noise and frustration with optional features that require an upgrade for full functionality. The overview also points you toward the N Line as the version that best fits buyers who want a more engaging midsize sedan with real performance character.

The Sonata’s appeal is strongest if you want a practical sedan that still feels distinctive, and the market reflects that with 29.8% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

Owners rate it 4.75/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with drivers especially valuing the strong warranty and the confidence that comes from a car they feel they can count on. The expert review also describes the car as conveying a sensation of heft and quality, which reinforces the impression of solid day-to-day durability.

You also get a meaningful ownership perk in the form of three years of free scheduled maintenance, which helps reduce early maintenance costs. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific car you choose has been cared for properly, especially if it has seen harder use or skipped maintenance.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Hyundai Sonata?

At 71.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has any signs of prior bodywork or uneven wear. Focus on condition details that matter in a sporty sedan: tire wear, brake feel, suspension behavior, and whether the electronics and driver-assistance features work as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The N Line stands out with gloss black exterior accents, 19-inch wheels, premium Nappa leather bolsters, Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, dark chrome accents, and a panoramic sunroof. It is the more expressive, performance-focused version, so base-car feature gaps matter if you want this look and feel.
• Powertrain: The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission. It also adds paddle shifters, rev-matching, launch control, and driving modes including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom.
• Safety package: Hyundai SmartSense includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist.
• Infotainment: You get a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, plus wireless smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and over-the-air connected services through Blue Link. It does not include a WiFi hotspot.
• Fuel efficiency: The powertrain is rated at 27 mpg combined, and the test route returned 23.7 mpg under harder-than-normal driving.

Which 2021 Hyundai Sonata trim should I buy?

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata is offered in 1 trim level: N Line.

Here's the short version:

• Premium/top trim: The N Line is the clear pick if you want the strongest mix of performance, tech, and visual flair. It adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, the dual-clutch transmission, the larger digital displays, the premium audio setup, and the full SmartSense safety suite.
• Off-road trim: Not applicable for this model year’s standard gas lineup.

The safety package note is simple: the N Line gets Hyundai’s full SmartSense collection, including Highway Drive Assist.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Hyundai Sonata?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 29.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,511 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.27% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $17,276.61, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata's resale value?

The current average of $17,533 sits slightly below last year's $18,706.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you buy at a more favorable point in the cycle. If you plan to sell later, the current softness means your upside is more about buying well now than expecting quick appreciation. The good news is that strong owner satisfaction can help support demand when it is time to resell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.75/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata safe?

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Hyundai SmartSense is the standard driver-assistance suite, and it includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist.

The expert review also notes an important caveat: the NHTSA had not carried over the standard Sonata’s frontal-impact ratings to the N Line at the time of publication, and IIHS had not yet assigned a rating to this version. That means the safety case here leans heavily on the breadth and performance of the active safety tech rather than published crash-test results for this exact trim.

Should I buy a 2021 Hyundai Sonata or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 29.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.27% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.75/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 N Line pairs strong performance with a full SmartSense safety suite and a bargain-minded value proposition.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $20,094, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $17,533 average.
• It broadens the Sonata’s appeal with a more complete lineup and a similarly value-focused, feature-rich approach.

The bottom line: Buy the 2021 if you want the better price and are focused on the N Line’s performance-value mix. If you can stretch your budget and want to compare against a newer model-year alternative, the 2022 is worth a look, but the 2021 already gives you a compelling blend of value, tech, and driving enjoyment.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from July 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.