2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2020-present Hyundai Sonata is the DN8 generation, built on Hyundai's third-generation platform with a much lower, wider stance and a distinctive light signature running along the hood edge. Engines are the 2.5-liter Smartstream four-cylinder, a 1.6-liter turbocharged unit, and a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in the N Line producing 290 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic or dual-clutch. A hybrid with an available solar roof sits in the range, and all versions drive the front wheels.

This generation brought a dramatic improvement in interior design and technology, with available digital displays and a remote parking function operated from the key. The N Line gave the Sonata performance credentials it had not previously had. A facelift for 2024 revised the front-end styling substantially.

As a used buy, the DN8 Sonata is a well-equipped and distinctive mid-size sedan in a shrinking segment, which keeps used prices reasonable. The Smartstream engines are a newer family than the Theta II units that caused problems in previous generations. The relevant ownership consideration for earlier years is the theft vulnerability affecting certain Hyundai and Kia models built without an engine immobilizer, and confirming that a specific car received the software remedy is worthwhile.