What Are the Hyundai Sonata's Variants, and Which One Should You Actually Buy in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia: The Hyundai Sonata in Saudi Arabia is available in four petrol variants and one hybrid, spanning a price range of SAR 102,180 to roughly SAR 156,000 for the top trim. The right choice depends heavily on whether you are buying in cash, through Murabaha financing, or via Aqsath installments, and what features you actually use.

Variant Lineup and Pricing

Variant	Price (SAR)	Engine	Key Additions vs Previous Trim
Base	102,180	2.5L Petrol	Rear camera, cruise control, 12.3-inch screen
Smart	115,635	2.5L Petrol	Panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, power driver seat
Smart HEV	103,155	2.0L Hybrid	Hybrid powertrain, better fuel economy
Comfort	122,535	2.5L Petrol	Ventilated seats, heated seats, 360° camera, blind spot warning
Premium	144,385	2.5L Petrol	HUD, adaptive cruise, lane tracing, ambient lighting
N Line Comfort	144,385	2.5T Turbo Petrol	Sport tuning, 287 hp turbo engine, sport seats

Financing 

Most buyers in Saudi Arabia do not pay cash, and the typical way is through Islamic financing options at local banks or through Wallan Trading Company finance partners:

• Murabaha: The bank buys the car and sells it to you at an agreed profit margin; you pay in installments. Pretty common at Al Rajhi, SAB, and Riyad Bank
• Aqsath (installment plans): The dealer- or bank-arranged monthly payments, typically 36 to 60 months
• Ijara: A leasing arrangement where you pay monthly but technically don't own the car until the end of the term. Less common for personal use, more popular in corporate fleets

Monthly installments for the base trim start from approximately SAR 1,482 for 60 months with a standard down payment. The Comfort trim rises to roughly SAR 1,850–2,000 monthly depending on the bank and the down payment amount.

Which Variant Makes Sense 

Pick Smart HEV if you drive more than 100 km a day in city traffic. The fuel savings over three years will cover the price difference over the base petrol. The math is especially clear in Riyadh, where traffic is heavy and fuel costs accumulate.

Choose Comfort if you have a family and care about safety. It adds the blind spot system, the 360° camera, and ventilated seats, the three features that genuinely improve daily Saudi driving. This is the best value trim.

Think of Premium if you spend a lot of time on motorways. The adaptive cruise and lane tracing assist make long runs like Riyadh to Qassim or Jeddah to Taif genuinely easier.

Try to avoid Base unless budget is the only priority. Two airbags and no active safety systems is a compromise you will feel eventually.

Don’t forget to check at the showroom.

• Is the price inclusive of VAT (15%) or exclusive?
• What's the service contract option? Is there a 5-year service plan available?
• What's the estimated resale value in three years? Ask for a realistic number, not an optimistic one

Takeaway

The Comfort trim at SAR 122,535 is where the Sonata becomes real. It is not the cheapest, but it offers enough safety in the Hyundai Sonata variants, with comfort, and tech to justify the extra spend over the Smart. If you are doing it on Aqsat, the monthly difference between Smart and Comfort is manageable, and the day-to-day ownership experience is noticeably better.

Also Read: From Design to Cabin Quality, Does the Hyundai Sonata Feel Truly Premium?