Helping my parents choose between this and a 2025 Kia Sportage X-Line. The dealers are across the street from each other so we’ll check out both on Saturday. The Sonata is discounted at $26k vs. $33k for the Sportage. I’m trying to convince my parents to just get this because I think it’s a great deal for an AWD midsize sedan.
All black ‘24 Sonata always turns my head to look at on the road plus AWD is a great move from Hyundai. Think this company is finally moving in the right direction with added luxury, performance, and competitive pricing in the US.
Do they need a Sportage over a sedan?
Thorne said:
Do they need a Sportage over a sedan?
Gonna be for my mom mainly. She’s used to driving both their Santa Fe and my sister’s Tesla Model 3. She’s moving out this month, so that’s why my mom will need a car since my dad is out at work all day with the Santa Fe. Sonata is certainly bigger than the Model 3.
@Piper
I would do the Sonata then, if there’s already one SUV/crossover vehicle in the family there’s no reason to pay more for gas and insurance since usually bigger vehicles cost more to insure.
Thorne said:
@Piper
I would do the Sonata then, if there’s already one SUV/crossover vehicle in the family there’s no reason to pay more for gas and insurance since usually bigger vehicles cost more to insure.
That’s not necessarily true. The Tucson is one of the cheapest vehicles to insure. Sedans can often cost more to insure lately.
@Marlo
It probably depends on the area. In my area of California, when I was car shopping, my insurance gave me a higher quote for any SUV or Crossover while a sedan or compact was noticeably lower.
That’s comparing apples to oranges really. What do they need it for? Do they live in an area with lots of deep snow? Is this their only car? What matters to them in a vehicle?
Leith said:
That’s comparing apples to oranges really. What do they need it for? Do they live in an area with lots of deep snow? Is this their only car? What matters to them in a vehicle?
Doesn’t matter if it’s an SUV or sedan really. They have a Santa Fe as well.
@Piper
If they have a Santa Fe, then Sonata all the way. It’ll be cheaper to both buy and own, more comfortable to drive, still have plenty of space and all of the features they’d want. AWD in a sedan isn’t really all that relevant and this isn’t a performance car by any means, but it’ll help in bad weather for sure. Really, they’re buying a more comfortable, less expensive alternative to a Sportage/Tucson for most situations. They should try both, of course, but it’ll be more than enough for them.
@Leith
Thanks! Unless the Kia guy brings the price down significantly, $8k isn’t worth going Sportage over the Sonata.
@Piper
I have a '23 Santa Fe and a '24 red Sonata AWD SEL. I got over $5000 off and low interest. If color wasn’t a concern, then I would have waited until now for a better deal.
If you haven’t owned a GDI engine of any manufacturer, you need to check your oil every other tank. All GDI, Hyundai, Mazda, Honda, etc. Check your oil and use fuel system cleaner every 5-7000 miles. I change my oil every 6 months or 3500 miles, whichever comes first.
My only concern is the piano black grill. I haven’t seen anyone else complain about it, but I’m pretty sure it will get sand blasted over time. Hopefully not, but my experience with piano black in other places supports my theory.
We have to have AWD, not for snow, but because we can’t get up our driveway. I also didn’t want a sun/moon roof.
I like that it’s made in Korea. Not that I have hate for the US ones. It wouldn’t have kept us from getting one, just saying it’s my preference. If you don’t like the beeping for lane assist etc, it has haptic feedback in the steering. The SEL has a torque converter trans and avoids the DCT. I really like the twist-to-select gear shift.
Some things to be aware of. There might be others, just what comes to mind.
There is no built-in NAV. If you hit the map button it takes you to the phone projection screen for AA/CP.
There is no wireless charger, therefore no option to use a digital key. You can still do all the things using the Bluelink app, however, you’ll always have to have your fob with you to drive.
There is no HDA. It only pops up on the dash the speed limit and street signs for 30 seconds. There is no over speed limit warning. We have a lot of speed traps. It would be nice to have some warning when the speed changes from 65 to 35; I don’t always catch the signs, especially if I am keeping an eye on the actual traffic. They are notorious for making them less visible.
@Harley
Sonata is made in the US plant. And you can definitely get into your driveway just fine with a FWD or RWD car.
Kiran said:
@Harley
Sonata is made in the US plant. And you can definitely get into your driveway just fine with a FWD or RWD car.
Here is a window sticker for AWD and FWD. Before you start claiming you know something, verify it. Don’t pull facts out of your backside.
@Harley
I legit said you were right about that. Not everyone is so uptight and defensive, lil bro.
Kiran said:
@Harley
Sonata is made in the US plant. And you can definitely get into your driveway just fine with a FWD or RWD car.
What a tiny ignorant world you live in…
A lot of you don’t know what you’re talking about. Mine isn’t made in the US. I doubt that’s rare. The window sticker says 85% Korea. The tires are Michelin; that might be the 15%?
Wow, what an informative comment from your couch in the big city burbs. You don’t live at my house. I live in the woods on a lake, 1 mile from the mailbox and my driveway is 100ft at 12% grade, covered in crushed run, because asphalt would be a small fortune. The regular UPS has mastered it and will come up the drive. FedEx dumps packages at the bottom and USPS won’t drive out this far. When people visit and they can’t make it up, they park at the bottom and we shuttle them up.
Could we get by on 2WD? Most of the time, except when we get heavy rain or oddly not enough rain. No way in heck am I taking the chance of having to schlep groceries up my drive. Plus the 2WD vehicles always slip a little and tear up the drive anyway.
Thankfully, we don’t get more than a dusting of snow once a year. We had a couple inches that didn’t melt for a few days. Time to break out the chains.
@Harley
I stand corrected about the Korea thing. I thought only N cars were made there, but I guess not. And yeah, that’s because those people don’t know how to drive, lol. If a UPS truck can make it, a car can make it. A standard USPS truck has 90 hp, so your car has over double that, so yeah, it makes sense why that would struggle. I made a comment that is true and you go on a spiteful rant.
Such a hateful person, yikes.
I have one and it’s great. I honestly didn’t want the AWD but it was the only 2024 they had and got it for about the same price.
Been driving it for 4 months, love it, drives very smoothly in snow.
Just my opinion, but I feel like the generation that I have with the 2016 Sonata was the last good-looking one they had.