2021 Hyundai Sonata: One of The Best Family Sedans

The 2021 Sonata has been available for sale since August 2020. Not much has changed since the 2020 model, but some of the major updates include an optional 19” wheel set up, safe exit warning, and 6-way power passenger seat on the Limited trim, which I am reviewing this week.

One of Torque News previous Hyundai reporters Kevin Main, discussing these changes, talks about the new Pirelli tires in the 2021 Sonata, writing "The new 19” alloy wheel option will gets paired with a Pirelli P Zero tire with a 245/40 R19 size. This tire and wheel setup will be standard for the turbo SEL Plus trim. Honestly, I liked how Hyundai offered 16”-18” wheels on the new Sonata because this is an excellent riding car. Sure the Sonata can get away with 19s, but tire replacement costs will be higher with 19” wheels and ride will be sacrificed. On the plus side, 245-wide tries are some of the widest I have seen for the mid-size sedan segment."

Hyundai has done some great refinements in the 2021 Sonata and the Pirelli tires are a welcome addition to this year's sedan from Hyundai. The vehicle drives pretty quietly and comfortably.

Between the 2020 and 2021 Limiteds Hyundai has also added Safe Exit Assist, and a couple more adjustment ways to the power passenger seat. Like I said nothing remarkably different from the 2020, but if you are curious about the differences between the last generation of the Sonata (2015-19) and the new, there are of course plenty of differences. Speaking of some more additional features of the last generation Hyundai Sonata, consider the all-digital instrument cluster, heads up display, Bose audio over Infinity, ambient interior lighting, lane follow assist, highway drive assist, 10.25” widescreen media system, remote control parking, just to name a few. All of these are present in the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited's interior. The interior is filled with light and is spacious.

As I was reviewing the 2021 Sonata's Limited trim, I loved it. I would consider it a really nice pick for the money. The MSRP starts from $33,950 and gets you 180 hp. It looks like a more expensive car in looks because as Car and Driver puts it "its dramatic styling includes exaggerated proportions, a prominent grille, and a quirky design cue featuring a spear of bright trim that flows along the front fenders and into the headlights to create what designers call a 'lighting signature.'"

One particular thing I like about Hyundai vehicles is because they are generally fully loaded with everything in it. That's the case with the 2021 Sonata Limited as well. Lots of bells an whistles included in it. Comfortable seats. Handles road well. Quiet cabin, not a lot of road or engine noise. I could go on and on.

Here are some of the major specs of the 2021 Sonata Limited.

Model: 2021 Hyundai Sonata
MSRP: From $33,950
Horsepower: 180 hp
MPG: 27 city / 37 highway
Fuel tank capacity: 15.9 gal
Curb weight: 3,336 lbs
Torque: 195 lb-ft
Dimensions: 193″ L x 73″ W x 57″ H

When it comes to the exterior of the 2021 Sonata, I would describe it as looking like a fish up front and a coat hanger in the rear.

Mid-size sedans may have fallen in favor of SUVs, but it's not for lack of skill. The newer Hyundai Sonata is a happy blend of comfort, stability and technology that makes it a perfect candidate for long journeys. Its hybrid system delivers excellent fuel efficiency and adds just $ 1,500 to the price of an equivalent gasoline Sonata.

The space inside the 2021 Sonata is comfortable The finish is in the good average for the category, even if some competitors offer materials and color schemes more noble than the Sonata. The numerous storage spaces make life on board easier. The front seats are distinguished more by their comfort, which was unanimous among our testers of various templates. Some of them found the driving position a little too high despite the amplitude of the settings.

As I test-drove and reviewed the 2021 Sonata, I was completely satisfied with its reliability, price-quality ratio, interior and comfort, performance and road handling as well as gas or energy consumption. Like all cars of our time, the paint is quality, the assembly practically flawless and to stand out stylists are increasingly interested in LED headlights. These have an almost unlimited lifespan, and lend themselves to all kinds of presentations since they can take multiple forms.

Inside, the dashboard is modern and elegant and we took some inspiration from the presentation adopted by Mercedes, that is, a horizontal information screen which seems to continue towards the nacelle of the indicator dials.

I am not surprised why many people will like Sonata's Tesla-like feature, which I discussed in my 2020 Sonata review. Hyundai has put an impressive technology in the 2020 Sonata. There are all types of interesting gizmos in this vehicle. There is Tesla-Summon like feature for this car that nothing else has had so far. This feature in the 2020 Sonata is called "Advanced Smart Park Assist." It will actually let the driver to pull the car in and out of tight parking spots using this Tesla-Summon like feature. It's used through your phone and you don't need to be in your car.

When it comes to handling, it's hard to find fault. In the first place, it is necessary to underline the excellent soundproofing, the generally well-placed controls and the transmission management buttons placed on the central console which are easy to access and handle.

All in all, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is the kind of no-fuss vehicle that gets the job done without boredom and trouble. I think I agree with some reviewers of the 2021 Sonata, who says they would have liked a little more spice in terms of driving, and even when they opted for the Sport driving mode, they noted a little more incisive steering and more distant shifts to optimize acceleration, but that is just about everything. Ah yes, the suspension becomes slightly more rigid, which is actually not bad at all.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Reference: Auto123.