Venerable Sonata midsize sedan excels in hybrid skin

 This review first appeared in the April 2025 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- I hereby confess that, over many years, I have recommended the Hyundai Sonata to folks who wanted my take on a midsize sedan purchase.

What made me do that with so many hot-selling Honda, Toyota and American-made models out there?

Usually, the tipping point was this: the Sonata gave you more for the price.

With the tested 2025 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid, the tradition continues. You get a lot, with the bonus of a hybrid system that gets you 44 miles per gallon in the city and 51 mpg on the highway.

Another bonus: Styling.

The Sonata is now wrapped in sleek, sporty skin.  It has drawn mixed reviews, but I like it.  After all, it took some time for automakers to discover that you could make hot-looking hybrids, instead of glorified roller skates.

Per usual, the Hyundai tester was absolutely stuffed with features.  The super-long list included forward collision-avoidance assist, a panoramic sunroof, heated side mirrors, smart headlamps, leather-trimmed seats, a Bose audio system, a power trunklid, a head-up display and a heated steering wheel.

Bottom line on the tester's sticker: a reasonable $38,810.

Power comes from a 2-liter, four-cylinder hybrid system. The combined gas-electric systems pair up for a max 192 horsepower -- plenty for the open road or hill climbs in the Sierra Nevada.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all: the refined, smooth ride. The tester was buttery on the freeways and rock-solid on twisty slalom runs.  Other auto reviewers were likewise surprised at the Sonata's ride quality.

This being a Hyundai product, warranties are exceptional.

Overall, the tested Sonata upholds the model's respected tradition, which dates back 40 years now.

The buyer still gets reliability, excellent engineering and extraordinary value. And with the hybrid system, one can count on improvements in the annual fuel budget.

The competition in this segment remains brutal, but this hybrid Sonata stands strong in the crowd.