2013 Hyundai Sonata Total Car Score Analysis

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata earns an above average Total Car Score for the Midsize Sedans & Wagons segment. 
 
Hyundai pretty much knocked one out of the park with the redesign of its Sonata two years ago, turning what was just another me-too sedan into a stylish means of transport with cutting-edge powertrains and spacious passenger accommodations. If we may stretch the baseball metaphor a bit, Hyundai seems to still be trotting around the bases this year, enjoying the model’s success without tinkering with its winning formula.  
 
Underhood choices remain four-cylinder engines only, though thanks to direct injection -- and a turbocharger plumbed to the smaller of the two powerplants -- they deliver plenty of power and good (if not great) fuel economy.  
 
For the budget minded the base GLS sedan is available for just over $20,000, a bargain when you factor in the car’s lengthy list of standard features. Check enough of the option boxes, though, and the Sonata climbs over the $30,000 mark. But for that you’re getting a full complement of amenities: leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, navigation, backup camera, plus the hot turbo motor.  
 
This year heated front seats are standard equipment on SE and Limited models of the Sonata, and there are two sunroof options for the Limited.  
 
Since the 2013 Hyundai Sonata is just two years into its latest generation, we don’t expect any significant changes for a couple more years.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Model Line-Up

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata is a four-door five-passenger midsize sedan available in several trim levels and a choice of two engines. (A gas/electric Sonata Hybrid model is reviewed separately).  
 
The standard engine in the Sonata is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 198 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. (In SE models with a dual-exhaust system, output rises to 200 hp and 186 lb-ft). Optional in SE and Limited models is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are backed by six-speed automatic transmissions with manual-shift modes.  
 
The Sonata is available in GLS, SE and Limited trim levels. Standard equipment on GLS models includes 16-inch steel wheels; cloth upholstery; air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and door locks; Bluetooth connectivity (with audio and Bluetooth controls in the steering wheel); and a six-speaker, 104-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with iPod and auxiliary jacks and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system.  
 
The SE is the sporty Sonata model, fitted with a dual-exhaust system, a larger rear sway bar, paddle shifters for the transmission, front fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, leather upholstery with cloth seat inserts and heated front seats.  
 
The Limited rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels and has a sunroof, piano black or woodgrain interior accents (depending on the upholstery color), leather seats, heated rear seats, automatic climate control, and a seven-speaker, 360-watt audio system with HD radio.  
 
The EPA has found the 2013 Hyundai Sonata with the 2.4-liter engine to be the most fuel efficient, returning 24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. The 2.0 turbo motor is just a tick below at 22/34/26 mpg.

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