2016 Hyundai Sonata
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and hybrid and plug-in hybrid power. The EPA lists 8 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 24 to 41 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600 to $2,700 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Large Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 24-41 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 41 / 24 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,600-$2,700 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 101-365 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 6-9 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2016 Sonata costs about $1,600 to $2,700 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,081. Over five years that is about $10,406 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Sonata configuration saves about $3,500 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of large cars in this dataset is about 29 MPG. The Sonata sits roughly 3 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata Hybrid SE | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 41 MPG | $1,600 |
| Sonata Hybrid | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 40 MPG | $1,600 |
| Sonata Plug-in Hybrid | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 40 MPG | $1,600 |
| Sonata | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 31 MPG | $2,100 |
| Sonata | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 29 MPG | $2,250 |
| Sonata Sport Limited | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Sonata | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 26 MPG | $2,500 |
| Sonata Limited | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $2,700 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2016 Sonata records tailpipe CO₂ of 101-365 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 6-9 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating, and an EPA electric range of 600 to 600 miles when running on battery. The EPA classifies it as large cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2016 Sonata up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2016 Hyundai Sonata overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.