2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Hyundai Sonata has been in production since 1985, making it the South Korean automaker’s longest-running nameplate. Although the...

The Hyundai Sonata has been in production since 1985, making it the South Korean automaker’s longest-running nameplate. Although the midsize sedan did not arrive in North America until its second generation (1989 model year), it’s been a familiar vehicle ever since. The Sonata Hybrid was added to the lineup in 2011, followed by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant in 2016. However, due to slowing sales, the PHEV was discontinued in 2020 when the Sonata was redesigned for its eighth generation.

The Sonata Hybrid is offered in three trim levels with Blue serving as the base model, SEL as the mid-level, and the fully-loaded Limited as the top of the line. On sale since late August 2021, the 2022 Sonata Hybrid is a carryover model with minor equipment updates.

New to the Sonata lineup as a whole is Dynamic Voice Recognition. Available on the Hybrid Limited model, this AI-based system allows occupants to use their natural voice cadence to interact with the vehicle’s voice-command and infotainment system rather than speaking in robotic, canned responses. Because the system is continually learning, searches and commands become more predictive as they adapt to your unique usage.

A feature previously unavailable on the Sonata Hybrid is Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA). Offered on the Sonata Limited since 2020, the parking assist feature is now available on the same trim level of the hybrid model. Utilizing sensors and the smart key, this feature allows you to safely maneuver the vehicle in and out of a parking space without physically being in the vehicle.

Pricing receives a small adjustment as well. Both the Blue and SEL trims see a price decrease: The entry-level Blue drops $700 to start at $27,050 MSRP, and the mid-tier SEL gets a $100 discount to start at $29,800. The upper-echelon Limited jumps up in MSRP, but only by a smidge: An increase of $100 sets its starting price at $35,400. Considering the added convenience of Dynamic Voice Recognition and RSPA, a hundred bucks is hardly an upcharge.

All Sonata Hybrid models continue to feature a 2.0-liter GDI (gasoline direct injection) four-cylinder hybrid engine. It offers 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, but when paired with the electric motor and battery pack, the same engine puts out 192 hp. The lone transmission is a six-speed automatic. All hybrid models are front-wheel drive (FWD) only.

Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 50 mpg city, 54 mpg highway, and 52 mpg combined for the Blue model, which is also the hybrid’s most fuel-efficient trim. Both the SEL and the Limited are rated at slightly less, with 45 mpg city, 51 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined.

Nevertheless, regardless of trim, the Sonata Hybrid excels in fuel economy compared with the standard gasoline-powered Sonata an its 2.5-liter GDI four-cylinder. The EPA estimates its fuel consumption at 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined.

There are four available drive modes—Eco, Sport, Custom, and Smart—so your mileage may vary as you toggle through them. But even if you’re calculating fuel efficiency based on less than the estimated city mpg, with a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, the Sonata Hybrid would offer a range of more than 500 miles.

The long list of standard safety features includes advanced driver-assistance technologies such as lane keep assist, lane follow assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, forward collision avoidance, and rear occupant alert.

Opting for the Limited model adds a blind-spot view camera display, parking collision avoidance, 360-degree surround view, and front and rear parking sensors. The Sonata Hybrid was awarded a five-star overall crash safety rating from NHTSA but has not yet been tested by the IIHS for the 2022 model year.