Hyundai has made changes to the Sonata for 2024. Instead of the strange ones that ran parallel to the hood, there are now unique daytime running lights that run the length of the front bumper. The most important change is on the inside, but the taillights and rear bumper cover have also been updated. Two 12.3-inch touchscreens for entertainment can now fit on a single curved display mount. The wheel has a different look now, too. Hyundai moved the gear selector from the center panel to a steering column knob that sticks out. All-wheel drive is now mechanically possible, but it’s only on cars with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. There is still a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 290 horsepower in the sporty N Line trim level of the Sonata, but Hyundai has taken out the 180-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four.

Pros

• Modern look on the outside.
• Most big screens use this technology.
• At this time, it can be reached through AWD.

Cons

• Even though it doesn’t look new.
• Possible problems with improving the spring.
• I do not have an N-Line AWD.

There are many engine choices for the Sonata, such as a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 192 horsepower and a turbo four with 290 horsepower. Most models come with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be added to the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Accord and Nissan Altima are better at handling the road than the Sonata, but it is still a calm and quick car. It’s great that Hyundai keeps offering a standard automatic transmission in its family car. A big chunk of the class has switched to continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs), which are noisy but work well. We liked how fuel-efficient the Sonata hybrid was, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a motor-generator that makes 192 horsepower. Still, it took a lot of work to switch between gas and electric power sources. With 290 horsepower, the N Line is one of the fastest front-drive cars we’ve tried, and it’s fun to drive. The N Line went from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, tenths of the time it took the Honda Civic Type R.

Hyundai offers a set of basic driver-assistance technologies called SmartSense. These include adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam assist, and a driver-attention warning system that can tell when a driver isn’t paying attention or is tired. You can wait for the Sonata outside, and it can still get in and out of a parking spot. But the top-of-the-line Limited trim is the only one that has this feature. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about Sonata’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are:

• Emergency brakes that work on their own and regular forward crash warnings.
• Regular lane guidance and warnings as you exit.
• You can choose not to have blind-spot detection and back cross-traffic alerts.

In 2024, the Sonata’s cabin will get a lot of changes. The most important change is the new center console, which goes with the new steering wheel, dashboard, infotainment, and driver-information screens. The revised Sonata moves the gear switch to the steering column to make it more comfortable. This makes room for more storage and cupholders than before. The middle armrest, which has a lot of elbows, gets an extra palm rest to give the driver more space to relax. New materials that cover the panel and go into the back passenger area make the Sonata look like an even better deal than it was before.

If you buy the hybrid Sonata, the EPA says it can get up to 44 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. Sonatas that aren’t hybrids and have front-wheel drive can get up to 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. If you add all-wheel drive, that number drops to 34 mpg. The EPA says that Sonatas with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine will get 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. As part of our strict testing process, our most recent hybrid got 51 mpg on the highway, which was the same as its number on our 75-mph fuel economy route.

Hyundai’s infotainment system is similar to BMW’s. It has two 12.3-inch screens mounted on a big display module in the dashboard. One tablet is for the entertainment system, and the other is for the driver, not with a cord. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are built in, as is wireless charging for smartphones. You can add a 12-speaker Bose sound system if you want to.

If you want to get the most out of your Sonata, pick the N Line option. This is the only trim level that comes with the new turbo-four engine, better tires, and bigger wheels. The N Line looks sportier thanks to its unique 19-inch wheels, four exhaust outlets, and bigger and stronger front and back bumpers.