- Hyundai quietly introduces the 2026 Sonata featuring a revamped lineup.
- SEL and SEL Convenience have merged into the new $29,000 SEL Sport.
- New entry-level Sonata Hybrid trim debuts with a $29,050 starting price.
Family sedans have largely fallen by the wayside, but the Hyundai Sonata continues to resist the SUV onslaught. It’s getting a little extra help for 2026 as there are new Sport and Hybrid trims.
Kicking things off is the Sonata SEL Sport, which begins at $29,000. It appears to replace the $28,000 SEL and $31,050 SEL Convenience.
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While it’s more expensive than the old SEL, the new SEL Sport incorporates a number of features from the SEL Convenience. This includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charger, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Buyers will also find LED lighting units, heated side mirrors, and laminated front side glass. They’re joined by heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Rounding out the highlights are paddle shifters, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The model comes with a host of driver assistance systems including Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection. They’re joined by High Beam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Safe Exit Warning, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist.
Despite being billed as a Sport variant, the model has a familiar 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine developing 191 hp (142 kW / 194 PS) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which can be paired to front- or all-wheel drive.
A New Blue Hybrid
While the gas-powered lineup has been simplified, the Sonata Hybrid gains a new entry-level Blue trim. It starts at $29,050, which makes it significantly cheaper than last year’s base model that began at $31,250.
It’s essentially a Sonata SE with a hybrid powertrain as well as a few extra goodies including paddle shifters and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Of course, the big story is the hybridized 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a combined output of 192 hp (143 kW / 195 PS).
This enables the car to return 47 mpg city, 56 mpg highway, and 51 mpg combined. That’s a slight improvement over the SEL and Limited Hybrids, which return 44 mpg city, 51 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined.
Besides the two new trims, the SEL Hybrid gains a newly standard panoramic sunroof. Pricing has also gone up as the model now starts at $32,300, which is an increase of $400.