The Hyundai Sonata is currently in its eighth generation and was last fully redesigned for the 2020 model year. It sits in the competitive midsize sedan segment, and its primary rivals include the Toyota Camry, the Kia K5, and the Honda Accord. The 2026 Hyundai Sonata has three trims: SE, SEL Sport, and N Line.
2026 Hyundai Sonata Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata
The current Sonata was launched in 2020 and received a significant refresh for the 2024 model year, including a new front end, revised rear styling, a heavily updated interior, upgraded tech, and a new column shifter. The 2026 Hyundai Sonata is essentially a carryover model, but the one big change is that the SEL Sport replaces the SEL and the SEL Convenience trims for the latest model year.
Design
After a conservative seventh generation, Hyundai upped the Sonata's pizzazz with the 2020 redesign, then took it up a notch in 2024 with unique lighting and sharp nose lines. The SE trim comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, while the SEL Sport gets 18-inch wheels and the N Line has 19s. There are no appearance packages on the 2026 Sonata, but there are two $500 premium paint colors: Ultimate Red and Serenity White.
Powertrain
The 2026 Sonata offers two powertrains: a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four and a 290-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four. The former is paired with an eight-speed automatic, while the latter gets an eight-speed N wet dual-clutch transmission. Both the SE and the N Line are strictly front-wheel drive (FWD), while the SEL Sport is FWD as standard but available with all-wheel drive (AWD). The SE is the most fuel-efficient model with 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The SEL Sport gets between 24 and 25 mpg in the city and 33 to 36 mpg on the highway, depending on the drivetrain. The more powerful N Line gets 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
Interior
The Sonata got a serious upgrade in 2024, with a larger infotainment screen that also reintroduced some physical buttons for the HVAC and audio systems, and the overall effect is modern but functional. Both the SE and SEL Sport get standard premium cloth seats, with the N Line upgrading to leatherette bolsters with suede-like inserts. Rear air vents and a panoramic sunroof are standard on the N Line but not available on the bottom two trims. The Sonata has the least amount of rear legroom in its class, but remains middle of the pack with 15.6 cubic feet of trunk space.
Technology
The base SE and SEL Sport trims are equipped with the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, but don't get the large curved screen that houses the digital cluster and the infotainment system. Instead, they get the 4.2-inch display between analog gauges. Standard tech includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, two rear USB ports, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluelink+. Available tech includes a 12.3-inch digital cluster, ambient lighting, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a smart key, dual automatic climate controls, Hyundai Pay, wireless phone charging, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
