2024 Hyundai Sonata COTY Review: Keeping Track of HTRAC

For as good and diverse as it is, the Hyundai Sonata lineup has been missing one key element that many of its competitors have offered for some time: all-wheel drive. Hyundai has finally remedied that by adding the brand’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system to the Sonata’s SEL trim. While it doesn't revolutionize the sedan’s driving experience, it does what it needs to do—provide prospective Sonata buyers in cold-weather states with an AWD option.

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The Sonata was updated in the styling department, as well, and it proved to be a hit or miss proposition with the judging crowd. Some found it to be a striking and refreshing upgrade to the old catfish look of the prior model, with guest judge and design expert Chris Theodore calling it “a significant improvement that looks fresh and futuristic.” Others disagreed and thought it to be more than a tad overwrought, with one editor going so far as to call it “utterly ridiculous.” Ouch.

Either way, the Sonata’s aggressive and sporty style writes a check that its 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft has a hard time cashing. There were complaints about a wheezy power delivery and an eight-speed transmission that was often stuck in its lower-middle gears in an effort to keep the car motivated. That said, several judges thought it more than acceptable for a base-level commuter sedan. Opinions differed about how smooth or refined it was next to competitors such as the new hybrid-only Toyota Camry, which also comes with AWD and was on hand for this year’s event.

Most judges felt the Sonata SEL with HTRAC offered a solid, well-balanced chassis and suspension that proved neither too soft nor too harsh over rough surfaces. While this Sonata at least is no sport sedan, several judges felt it handled itself more than acceptably on the track segment of our evaluation loop. “The steering wheel loads up well through bends with great feel and feedback from the road, while its body roll is well-managed,” features editor Christian Seabaugh said. As for the HTRAC itself, deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa had this to say: “The all-wheel drive is similar to the Camry’s e-AWD in its behavior. You can tell there’s more traction available, but on pavement, at least, that traction merely neutralizes some of the platform’s understeer.” What it will do is help neutralize the fear of owners who feel they need more traction in inclement weather.

Inside, most folks found the Sonata more than acceptable and impressive, with a clever instrument panel, new steering wheel and controls, a wide and curved display screen with Hyundai’s top shelf infotainment tech, and the gear selector moved to the steering column to free up space. Overall, the judges considered the updated Sonata a perfectly reasonable and capable midsize sedan for what it is, and the addition of AWD made it that much better. But as it turned out, the AWD Camry scored higher against our criteria (with much higher mpg). What if we could get a smoother hybrid with AWD, Hyundai?

This review was conducted as part of our 2025 Car of the Year (COTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.

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