Used 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Some midsize sedans are just kind of there, working away in near-anonymity, as another car on the highway or in the parking lot. The 2023 Sonata is different.

Yes, it can perform all the usual sedan tasks with no issues whatsoever, yet there’s an extra dimension. The Sonata has an assertive, confident look — similar to a luxury car. The prices aren’t similar, though.

There’s substance beneath the style as well, with a generous amount of standard equipment and excellent warranties. The Sonata was also named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and awarded a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Sonata Hybrid sedan is reviewed separately.

Highway Driving Assist was available in the SEL Plus last year. For the 2023 Sonata sedan range, it’s only in the N Line and Limited. This feature helps keep the car centered in its lane, a useful addition to adaptive cruise control.

So drivers of the more affordable SEL Plus are obliged to raise their levels of engagement. Not that there’s much to engage with in the first place, given the mundane efforts of the 180-horsepower engine under its hood. The SE and SEL’s 191-horsepower engine is similarly subdued.

People don’t buy a new Sonata because of the way it drives. It merely does what’s necessary in this department — unless we’re talking about the N Line model. Yes, the sportier (firmer) suspension is only going to interest a small section of the great driving public, but it pairs well with a lively turbocharged 290-horsepower engine.

Although not the most spacious midsize sedan cabin, the 2023 Sonata should be roomy enough for most people. If passenger and cargo space is absolutely crucial, check out the slightly more accommodating Honda Accord.

We reckon most potential buyers will also find the interior design agreeable. It’s tidy and with a shrewd amount of flair. This year sees the SEL gaining a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. The base SE sticks with an 8-inch display.

It seems as if this generation of Hyundai Sonata (the seventh, which debuted for the 2020 model year) didn’t have its visual impact dulled or diluted by committees or focus groups before reaching the production stage. It’s one of the more arresting-looking members of the midsize sedan class. We mean that as a compliment.

The N Line comes with model-specific alloy wheels, extra aerodynamic tweaks to its bodywork, and a quad exhaust system.

1. Fuel economy
Even though we’ve not exactly been thrilled by two of the engines offered with the 2023 Sonata sedan, they are at least quite easy on gasoline, achieving up to 38 mpg on the highway.

2. Proximity key with push-button start
The second most affordable 2023 Sonata is the SEL trim, which is more recommendable than the base SE. It comes with extra features like this keyless entry/start feature that’s just really convenient.

3. Hyundai Digital Key
Possibly even more convenient, this digital key enables access by using a smartphone app in the case of Android devices or a key card for people with Apple iPhones. It’s part of an options bundle with the SEL or standard in the SEL Plus.

4. Digital driver information display
This smart 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster is also part of that SEL bundle or standard in the SEL Plus. It makes the cabin tech-richer.

5. Remote Smart Parking Assist
Only the Limited trim has this, allowing the driver to nose the Sonata into or out of a parking space while standing outside and pressing buttons on the key fob. Not the most useful feature, but a neat party trick at the very least.

6. Matrix-type LED headlights
Another Limited exclusive, these headlights have multiple LEDs that can automatically turn on or off to provide optimum illumination without dazzling other drivers.

The base engine — found in SE and SEL trims of the 2023 Sonata sedan — is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.

A 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine goes into the SEL Plus and Limited models. Although its output of 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque doesn’t seem especially different to the base engine, this is relatively more eager, thanks to a turbocharger.

The N Line version has its own setup, with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the only configuration with the 2023 Sonata. All three engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and regular gasoline is acceptable in every Sonata fuel tank.

2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (SE, SEL)
191 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
181 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/38 mpg (SE), 27/37 mpg (SEL)

1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (SEL Plus, Limited)
180 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/37 mpg

2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (N Line)
290 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
311 lb-ft of torque @ 1,650-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/33 mpg