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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Base Price | $29,612–$38,199 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2025 Hyundai Sonata Base is a sedan that earns a Carivo score of 8.0/10 — rated Recommended. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 8.4/10, while Performance at 7.2/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 8.3/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 8.4/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
With 7.2/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. At 7.7/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $29,612–$38,199, 33 MPG, seating 5, the Hyundai Sonata Base sits in the mid-market bracket of the sedan segment. Its value score of 8.4/10 confirms that the price reflects the quality — you're getting a lot for your money here. At 1 year old, it's recent enough that the core feature set holds up well against current competition.
Verdict: Nothing about the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Base will scare a sensible buyer off. It scores consistently across the board, and it does what a good sedan should — quietly and competently.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2025 Hyundai Sonata Base ranks #201 of 1310 sedans in the Carivo database — better than 85% of the segment. Its 8.0/10 overall score is 0.5 points above the segment average of 7.5/10. Its $29,612 starting price is about 7% above the segment's median of $27,664.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sedan ranking → · Best Sedans under $35k →
Smart-money pick: the 2022 Hyundai Sonata Base scores 7.7/10 — within striking distance of the 2025's 8.0 — and starts roughly $2,500 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (this review) | 8.0/10 | $29,612 | |
| 2024 | 7.8/10 | $28,750 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.8/10 | $27,887 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.7/10 | $27,025 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.8/10 | $26,162 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.8/10 | $25,300 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.6/10 | $24,437 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.5/10 | $23,575 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.5/10 | $22,712 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.6/10 | $21,850 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.3/10 | $20,987 | Read review → |
We rate the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Base's reliability 8.3/10 — one of the stronger records in its class.
It scores 8.0/10 overall, ranking #201 of 1310 sedans in our database (better than 85% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2025 Hyundai Sonata Base starts at $29,612 and ranges up to $38,199 across trims (MSRP when new). At 33 MPG, expect roughly $1,591/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Hyundai models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.