15,000-mile owner review: 2023 Hyundai Sonata SEL

When we get the vehicle To write reviews for this site, they are provided by different manufacturers and we test each for a week. This review is different. I have had the pleasure of daily use of a 2023 Hyundai Sonata SEL for the past 15,000 miles… because I bought it. These are the things that attracted me, the features I have enjoyed over the past few months, and the shortcomings I have noticed.

Keep it simple

When I was looking for a car to replace my 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, I had a general idea of ​​what I wanted. Considering my commute to work takes 45-60 minutes each way, good fuel economy was a must. So were rear seats and rear doors so that my mother-in-law could comfortably travel with my wife and I.

I first drove the Honda Accord, but I didn’t like the CVT it had. I find most CVTs feel like rubber bands, and some don’t seem to have the reassuring reliability that I’d expect. The Camry is the best of the bunch, but I’ve seen so many of them that their vague background familiarity is off-putting.

I ended up going to a Hyundai dealership to test drive a 2023 Sonata. It’s not as common as its Toyota competitors, and has an attractive minimalist styling. Its naturally aspirated Smartstream 2.5-liter I4 engine uses regular gas and sends power to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are no power enhancers or all-wheel-drive systems, no noisy CVT to endure, and no clutch to work endlessly in rush hour traffic. Making it even more attractive, my local dealer had a Phoenix-friendly car in Tranquility White with a (nearly white) light gray cloth interior. It didn’t stay in their showroom long. I bought it.

‘Tweener Pruning

Buying a new car was luxury enough, so I upgraded from the base SE to the SEL, picking a reasonable spot on the trim level spectrum.

To make my commute easier and my wife and mother-in-law more comfortable when running errands and traveling out of town, I opted for an SEL with the Convenience package. I was drawn to it because it came with a wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, and second-row HVAC vents, but I also got other features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as an added bonus.

No punishment Practicality

I know what I get, and I know what I don’t get. The Sonata is a mass-market, affordable, practical vehicle. It’s not a Mercedes S-Class or a BMW M5. I think of it as a commuter vehicle. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bland, three-box vehicle that’s extremely boring. It has unique styling (Hyundai calls it Sensuous Sportiness). Perhaps its most striking visual element is the parallel metallic trim lines that run from the mirrors, around the windows, to the hood, and then to an angled end just below the LED headlights. Along the way, they transition into LED daytime running lights embedded in hidden lights that look like chrome when turned off. Unfortunately, their beauty is offset by the droopy catfish-mouth grille.

I have no complaints about the rear end, which has a trunk lid that flows seamlessly into the spoiler, and a pair of C-shaped LED taillights connected by a light bar, a combination that gives the Sonata a sci-fi look at night. Considering my car is a base model, I thought it would come with cheap, drab wheels, but its 17 wheels have a dynamic design and a nice two-tone finish.

suit me…

The Sonata is not one of my dream cars. I would have preferred to buy an off-road vehicle with low range 4WD, but for several reasons I have decided not to (for now). While the Sonata is not the car I want, in many ways it is what I want. need It really is, especially since my previous car was a 15-year-old low-tech V8 Mustang.

I spend most of my time commuting between home and the office in my Sonata. Getting the temperature right for my departure is as simple as opening the MyHyundai with Bluelink app on my phone and clicking on one of the customizable presets. Temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit these days, so before setting off, I start the car with my summer mode selected and the air conditioning set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Once I reach my car, I simply stand by it with the key in my pocket and wait for it to turn on so I can toss my lunch box in. Unlocking the driver’s door requires only the touch of the handle. Since I’ve already started the car remotely, I don’t even have to press the start button next to the steering wheel. I’m less nervous backing out of a driveway or parking space thanks to the rearview camera on the center touchscreen and the rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist system, which not only warns me when someone crosses behind the Sonata, but also applies the brakes to prevent me from hitting them.

Once on the road, the Sonata is just as pleasant. It looks roomier than it is, thanks to the A-pillar wrap and light headliner. No touchpoint or control feels cheap. I’m spoiled by all the infotainment controls and options around me. The steering-wheel-mounted audio controls are always useful, but if I want to turn up the volume on a particular song (which I usually do when “In the Air Tonight” is playing), I just grab and pull the volume knob to the left of the elegantly integrated 10.25-inch center touchscreen. It’s a shame that Hyundai doesn’t have a built-in tuning knob, either. Fortunately, all the control dials, switches, and buttons are well placed. On my morning drives, I’ll listen to Holmberg’s Morning Sickness on 97.9 FM, while the wired Apple CarPlay shows me the quickest route to work. When the car ahead of me inevitably stops and I have to join them, I don’t even have to keep my foot on the left pedal, thanks to the brake hold feature. Rush hour traffic in Phoenix is ​​always exhausting, but there are probably worse places to go than in the Sonata.

…but not arrive I

When I told a colleague I was going to write a review of the Hyundai, he asked me, “Since you bought the car, is that fair?” I told him, “Fair, because I’ll be telling you everything I don’t like about it.” The Sonata certainly isn’t perfect. While I can start it with the key fob, the range is so short that I usually opt to start it from my phone. The engine routinely gets more than 35 miles per gallon, but it only produces 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. There’s a distinct lack of oomph. It seemed reluctant to obey when I asked it to start and drive, making a coarse, reluctant sound. Its eight-speed automatic transmission was more cooperative in getting me to my destination, but it was a little clumsy at times when it was working. It’s also not flexible; for my part, I couldn’t find a way to shift gears “manually.” There are no buttons labeled plus or minus in the transmission’s push-button controls, and there are no paddle shifters on or behind the steering wheel.

I mentioned earlier that I purchased the Convenience package to make out-of-town trips more pleasant. Driving to Flagstaff, Sedona, and Prescott was nice, but there was one place I was less willing to drive to: Las Vegas. I drove there with my wife and mother-in-law in a Honda CR-V, and the road conditions and elevation changes there severely damaged the suspension and left me feeling exhausted. I can imagine how uncomfortable the Sonata’s driving experience would be, as its short suspension travel already makes the ride quality a bit harsh on bad roads.

So far, the 2023 Hyundai Sonata has been a satisfying car. Part of that is due to its newness and the peace of mind that comes with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. But mostly it’s well-equipped and does what I need it to do very well.

Do you also own a new Hyundai Sonata? How is your experience with it? Let me know in the comments below.