Hyundai Sonata

• In Saudi city traffic, the Sonata is relaxed and easy. On King Fahd Road in Riyadh or the Corniche in Jeddah, the engine and transmission work together smoothly without hunting or hesitation.
• The 8-speed gearbox is a real improvement over the previous generation.
• At higher, three-digit speeds, the Sonata cruises with confidence and effortlessly. It has power in reserve for overtaking, and the engine does not feel strained on the long stretch from Riyadh to Dammam or southbound toward Khamis Mushait.
• Fuel efficiency is expected to be 11 to 12 km per liter in real driving conditions, which is decent for the sedan.

Some Realities

• The Sonata is not really a fun sedan to drive; there isn’t much engagement. Buyers coming from a sportier previous car will feel the difference quickly.
• Front-wheel drive is the only option across all Saudi trims.
• No hybrid is available in Saudi Arabia. The fuel efficiency gap between this and a Toyota Camry Hybrid becomes real money across three to four years of Aqsat payments and pump visits.

• On smooth Saudi highways, the Sonata is composed. The suspension absorbs road imperfections quietly, the cabin stays settled at speed, and the overall refinement is noticeably above what the price suggests. On the Riyadh to Jeddah highway, after two hours of driving, you arrive less tired than you expect.
• Wind and road noise suppression is well-managed. The Sonata is among the quieter sedans in this segment at highway speed, which contributes to how relaxed long journeys feel.
• The light, accurate steering makes city driving easy. Navigating congested streets near Al Balad in Jeddah or the busier intersections around Prince Sultan Road requires nothing of the driver.

Things That Matter More

• The comfort tuning that works on highways comes with a compromise in the city. Over sharp speed bumps in older residential areas of Dammam or the unmarked ones near Jeddah's industrial districts, the suspension absorbs the impact but takes a moment to settle afterward. It floats slightly where a firmer setup would stay composed.
• No adaptive cruise control below the Premium trim. Smart and comfort buyers on intercity drives manage speed entirely themselves.
• Body roll in sharper bends is present and easy to feel. The Sonata belongs on motorways and city roads; it is not a car for the switchbacks above Taif.

• The column-type gear shifter frees up the center console and gives the dashboard a clean, uncluttered look. The 3-spoke steering wheel, full-touch climate panel, and panoramic 12.3-inch curved display on the Comfort and Premium create a cabin that feels modern rather than just loaded with screens.
• The Smart trim includes 18-inch alloys with Pirelli tires, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifters, front and rear sensors, and a 6-speaker audio system. Offering Pirelli tires and a panoramic roof at this price is not common in the segment.
• The Comfort variant has leather seats, a rear camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and an auto-dimming mirror. The ambient lighting changes how the cabin feels at night on a long drive, and it works better than it sounds.
• At the top end, there is a full 12.3-inch panoramic display integrating instruments and infotainment, a 360-degree camera, lane assist, fingerprint ignition, dynamic welcome lights, and a smart electric trunk. Fingerprint ignition is truly unique at this price.
• The rear AC vents and rear USB Type-C ports are available across all trims.

What is Missing

• The Base trim at SAR 102,180 has dual airbags, manual air conditioning, fabric seats, and a basic audio setup. The gap between the Base and the Smart is wide enough that the Base feels like a different car. Buyers on a tight Murabaha arrangement should opt for the Smart; the Base is hard to recommend for long-term ownership.
• You won’t find wireless Apple CarPlay below the higher trims, and Android Auto is wired only on lower specifications. Wired connectivity on lower trims feels behind the curve in 2025.
• The full-touch climate controls look clean but require looking away from the road to adjust the temperature. Also, physical knobs remain safer and more practical for daily Saudi driving.

• ABS with electronic brake force distribution, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Hold Control, tire pressure monitoring, and seat belt reminders are standard across all Saudi Sonata trims.
• The Premium variant gets Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Warning, and a 360-degree camera. A real active safety feature that should not be exclusive to the top trim.
• The Base trim comes with only dual airbags. For a 2026 premium sedan, that is hard to defend. Any buyer with regular rear passengers needs to reach, at minimum, the Comfort trim. The price gap is real, but so is the protection gap.
• There is no independent crash test result specifically for the Saudi-market Sonata, which makes direct safety comparisons with rated rivals harder to make honestly.
• The resale value is lower than the Toyota Camry's. In this particular segment, buyers financing through Murabaha and planning a three- to four-year exit should take this into account before signing.