Key Points:
- The 2026 Sonata starts at $28,545, $400 more than the 2025 model, and the Sonata Hybrid costs $30,295 (all prices include $1,245 destination fee).
- Hyundai has introduced the new SEL Sport and Blue Hybrid trims for the Sonata.
The Hyundai Sonata sedan rolls into the 2026 model year with a trim-level shake up. The base 2026 Sonata starts at $28,545, and Hyundai has merged the SEL and SEL Convenience trims into the SEL Sport on the gas-only model. A new entry-level Blue trim lowers the price of the hybrid to $30,295.
Related: 2025 Hyundai Sonata N Line Review: Banish Boring
What’s New?
The trim shakeup in the Sonata lineup results in a few new features for certain trims, such as wireless phone charging, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and 18-inch alloy wheels on the SEL Sport; it’s the only variant that can be optioned with all-wheel drive.
The most noteworthy change happens in the Sonata Hybrid. The Hybrid Blue is the new, less expensive entry point, and it returns a Hyundai-estimated 51 mpg combined (the other hybrid variants top out at 47 mpg combined, though official EPA estimates for 2026 are not yet available).
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid are on sale now. Full pricing for the lineup is as follows, with 2025 prices in parentheses:
Sonata
- SE: $28,545 ($28,145)
- SEL Sport: $30,245 (new)
- N Line: $37,145 ($36,745)
Sonata Hybrid
- Blue: $30,295 (new)
- SEL: $33,545 ($32,495)
- Limited: $39,345 ($38,945)
Safety Features and Trim Levels
Every 2026 Sonata comes with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist tech, including forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, intersection assist that watches for oncoming traffic during turns, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane departure steering assist, lane-centering steering, driver attention warning, automatic high beams, safe exit assist and a rear-seat reminder.
The base Sonata SE has 16-inch aluminum wheels, LED front and rear lighting, and keyless entry and start. It’s upholstered in cloth and has manually adjustable front seats, as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite radio and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The new SEL Sport blends the features of the discontinued SEL and SEL Convenience. It rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels and has heated side mirrors, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and wireless phone charging. It also comes with a column-mounted gear shifter and paddle shifters.
The N Line builds off the features of the SEL Sport but rides on 19-inch wheels and has unique front and rear exterior styling, a quad-outlet exhaust, rear spoiler and revised steering. It has a panoramic moonroof, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, navigation, synthetic-leather sport seats, aluminum pedals, ambient lighting, a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Digital Key 2.0, which allows the owner to use a paired smartphone as the vehicle key.
The Blue Hybrid mirrors the features of the base SE, while the SEL Hybrid mostly matches the SEL Sport in content, except the hybrid has a panoramic moonroof.
The loaded Limited Hybrid has 17-inch wheels but upgrades inside to leather upholstery and adds the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, navigation, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a 360-degree camera system, blind spot cameras, automated parking, a head-up display and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Read More About the Hyundai Sonata:
- Is the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a Good Car? 6 Pros, 3 Cons
- Which Used Cars Have the Best Crash-Test Scores?
- How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2025 Hyundai Sonata?
- What Are the Best Used Cars for $20,000?
- Research the Hyundai Sonata
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The 2026 Sonata can be had in three different powertrains: a gas-only 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid.
The base Sonata SE and new SEL Sport use the carryover 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pounds-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels, but AWD is available for $1,500 on the SEL Sport. Hyundai says the Sonata SE returns the same EPA-rated 28/38/32 mpg city/highway/combined as the 2025 model; the SEL Sport is rated at 25/36/29 mpg with FWD and 24/33/27 mpg with AWD.
The Sonata N Line adds a sportier option with a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter four that boosts output to 290 hp and 311 pounds-feet. Only available with FWD, the N Line gets an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic for quicker shifts and is rated at 23/32/27 mpg.
The Sonata Hybrid has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and a battery pack for a combined output of 192 hp. A six-speed automatic sends power to the front wheels only. The Blue rates at 47/56/51, while the SEL and Limited rate at 44/51/47 mpg.
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