The Best Year For The Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai debuted in 1993 and was put on the market as a 1994 model. Through the years it has had its successes and problems. The Sonata went through quite a few redesigns through the generation to help fix its downfalls and to keep up with the competition.
In 2015, it received one of its best redesigns to-the-date, but in 2018 it received a refresh that we think ended up making it the best year for the Hyundai Sonata.
A massive grille was put in place to give the Sonata a more authoritative look and a new turbocharged engine was added for an Eco trim model. This gave the Sonata the edge it needed to put it right up with the rest of its competition.
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata Competition
- Ford Fusion
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Altima
- Kia Optima
- Subura Legacy
- Mazda MAZDA6
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Trim Levels/Powertrain/Gas Mileage
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata comes with 10 different trim levels and 11 different configurations:
Sonata SE, Sonata SEL, SEL+, Sport+, Sport, Limited: Is offered with 185 horsepower coming from a 2.4-liter I-4 that’s connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and auto-manual. The EPA-Estimated combined fuel economy is set at 28 / 25 city / 36 hwy mpg.
Sonata Eco: Is offered with 178 horsepower coming from a 1.6-liter I-4 connected to a dual-clutch 7-speed auto-shift manual with overdrive and auto-manual. The EPA-Estimated combined fuel economy is set at 31 / 28 city / 37 hwy mpg.
Sonata Sport 2.0T, Limited 2.0T+, Limited 2.0: Is offered with 245 horsepower coming from a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 that’s connected to an 8-speed automatic with overdrive and auto-manual. The EPA-Estimated combined fuel economy is set at 26 / 23 city / 32 hwy mpg.
What Trim Level is Best for You?
Looking at the list of trim levels, we would have to say if you’re going to go with the best value, you should aim for the Eco trim model. This comes with a powerful 1.6-liter engine that can help you save on gas money, and it’s no slouch in the features department either.
If you’re looking for something that gives you plenty of power and a lot more creature comforts, if you don’t mind spending a little extra money, the Limited 2.0T trim model is a very nice choice. Still priced very well, you get a lot of good stuff like heated and ventilated seats, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, and an intuitive suite of advanced safety driver aid features. We also don’t want to overlook the power of the turbo engine that can get you from 0-60 in 7.1 seconds.
2018 Hyundai Sonata Saftey Highlights and Features
Safety is always a huge concern for most when shopping for a new or used vehicle. So it’s nice to talk about a car we recommend that has nothing but good things going for it in the safety department making it our pick for the best year for the Hyundai Sonata.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Accataion (NHTSA) gave the Sonata the highest rating of five stars overall. The Sonata also received a 2018 Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Insitute of Highway Safety.
Thanks to Automatic Emergency Braking the Sonata received the highest rating of Superior in front crash prevention by avoiding 12 and 25 mph frontal collisions. In one area it received the best rating of Good were not just sedans, but even crossovers and SUV suffered was in the headlights evaluation tests.
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata comes standard with Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Assist. As you move up in trim, you receive safety features like Steering Responsive Headlights, Automatic High Beams, rear parking sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control with start/stop, Lane Keep Assist, and an electronic parking brake.
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2018 Hyundai Sonata Reliability
With all of the technology and features that vehicles receive these days, you’d be hard pressed to find a vehicle that doesn’t have a recall at least two years from its release date. But this is one more reason we pick 2018 as the best year for Hyundai Sonata, it has no recalls on file with the NHTSA.
Huge Note: There are hybrid versions of the Hyundai Sonata we did not cover in this article and it does have some recalls.
How Much Will it Cost to Insure a 2018 Hyundai Sonata
All things considered, you will probably get a nice premium for the Sonata. It’s one of the safest cars on the road, its price tag is pretty decent, and the engine sizes are what insurance companies like to see. Of course, for everyone, it will be a little different - depending on age, your insurance company, the coverage you go with, and the deductible you choose - pricing will vary.
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When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat. We’ve factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list of the 8 best used minivans on the market today.
Average Pricing for a Used 2018 Sonata
You can expect to pay somewhere between $11,682 - $20,730. This all depends on the trim level you are looking at, the shape the sedan is in, how many miles it has, and of course if you’re buying from a dealer or a private owner.
What Kind of Warranty Will I Receive
Hyundai is known for their good warranties from the factory, but they do have a lot of stipulations when a vehicle’s ownership is transferred. As always check with the owner of the vehicle about all warranties or talk to the salesman at the dealership about what warranties are left, what can be extended, and if you can purchase more protection.
How Much Technology Do I Get?
You will be right up there with all the rest of the competitors. Sure, you’ll have to go up in trim levels for the most amount of technology, but depending on your circumstances, it might be well worth it.
Most trim levels will see a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto compatibility. Moving up to the Limited trim, you will score two USB ports as opposed to one standard on other trims, a 4.2-inch color gauge instrumental display, the touchscreen is beefed up to 8.0 inches, two 12-volt outlets are included, and a wireless cell phone charger.
Final Words
We think that the 2018 model is the best year for the Hyundai Sonata because of its affordability, has great safety scores, and reasonable power engine choices. For a small family or a single lifestyle, anyone should feel right at home with one of these sedans.
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