2025 Hyundai Sonata vs 2025 Lucid Air
The Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 68.4, on fuel & range. The Hyundai Sonata is ahead on safety.
2025 Hyundai Sonata
The 2025 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid, is E…
2025 Lucid Air
The 2025 Lucid Air is sold in the U.S. as an electric large sedan with 9 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Air G Touring XR AWD with 19 i…
2025 Lucid Air
Clear winThe Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 68.4, on fuel & range. The Hyundai Sonata is ahead on safety.
| Category · weight | 2025 Hyundai Sonataoverall 68.4 | 2025 Lucid Airoverall 76.2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 33.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 94.4 | 58.3 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 68.4 | 76.2 | ||||||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Lucid Air
Lucid Air: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Hyundai Sonata: base trim SE FWD · Lucid Air: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Lucid Air wins
- It is rated 146 combined against 47 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($500 against $1,450).
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (17 against 28 filed with NHTSA).
Where the 2025 Hyundai Sonata answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 61).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
44 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $26,900 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | Smartstream 2.5L GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | — |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | — |
| Torque | 181 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 28 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 32 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 38 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.195 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | — |
| Overall length | 193 in | — |
| Overall width | 73.2 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 120 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 46.1 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 34.8 in | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-and-Pinion | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.9 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electronic (Button) | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 285 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/65R16 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Blue Link | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.9 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56.1 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
99 features · differences first, then sharedSafety32 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control w/ Start/Stop | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BSW) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection & Junction Turning | std | — |
| Advanced Airbags - Driver (1) and Front Passenger (1) | std | — |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (4) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rearview Monitor | std | — |
| Side Air Curtains (front & rear passengers) (2) | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning | std | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | — |
| Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry System and Panic | std | — |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Blind Spot Collision Warning (BSW) - Outside Mirror Indicator | std | — |
| Brake Assist (ESC-equipped models) | std | — |
| Driver's Knee (1) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Emergency Internal Trunk Release (Bright Yellow) | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing Steering Column | std | — |
| Front and Rear Seatbelt Pretensioners and Force Limiters | std | — |
| Height Adjustable Front-seat Shoulder Belt Anchors | std | — |
| LATCH Lower Anchors (2 rear) and Upper Tether (3 rear) Anchors | std | — |
| Parking Brake - Electronic (Button) | std | — |
| Power Window Lock-out Button | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (Door logic Type) | std | — |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) w/ Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Phone Controls | std | — |
| 12.3-inch HD touchscreen AM/FM/MP3 Audio System 6 Speakers, HD Radio, smartphone integration, and rearview camera | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay & Android Auto capability (Wired and Wireless) | std | — |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Mode, Seek) | std | — |
| Auxiliary MP3 input/USB/iPod jacks - Front center stack bin (1) | std | — |
| Blue Link Gen 2 | std | — |
| HD Radio Technology with multicasting | std | — |
| Over-The-Air Updates | std | — |
| Rear USB charge port (X2) | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna with SiriusXM reception | std | — |
| Sirius XM | std | — |
Convenience8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity Key Entry w/ Push Button Start | std | — |
| 12-volt Outlet - Front Console (1) | std | — |
| Cruise Controls (steering wheel-mounted) | std | — |
| Hands-free Smart Trunk | std | — |
| Power Door Locks (auto-lock function can be enabled by user) | std | — |
| Power Windows - Driver Auto Up/Down | std | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry System with Alarm/Panic | std | — |
| Remote Releases - Hood, Trunk, Fuel Filler Door | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Defogger | std | — |
| Cabin Air Filter | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning / Heating | std | — |
Seating4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way Adjustable Driver's Seat | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable front Passenger's Seat | std | — |
| 60/40 Split Fold-Down Rear Seats | std | — |
| Premium Cloth Seating Surfaces | std | — |
Interior20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster display | std | — |
| Center Armrest with Dual Cup Holders (rear) | std | — |
| Central Dome Light (door activated option) | std | — |
| Cloth Roof Trim | std | — |
| Door Armrest - Integrated | std | — |
| Door Pockets - Small map w/ bottle holders | std | — |
| Door Sill Scuff Plates - Plastic | std | — |
| Floor Mats - Carpeted or All-weather (PIO) | std | — |
| Front Center Console Fixed Armrest Storage Box | std | — |
| Front Map Lights - Regular | std | — |
| Glove Compartment Light, Cargo Area Light | std | — |
| Liquid Chrome Interior Accents | std | — |
| Rubber Covered Gas & Brake Pedals | std | — |
| Seatback Pockets (passenger side) | std | — |
| Sunvisors w/ Illuminated Vanity Mirrors & extensions | std | — |
| Trunk Lid Liner | std | — |
| Manual Day/Night Rearview Mirror | std | — |
| Tilt & Telescopic | std | — |
| Trip Odometer | std | — |
| Full Cut-pile Carpeting | std | — |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| LED Headlights (Projector-Type) | std | — |
| Acoustic film windshield | std | — |
| Folding Mirrors - Dual Power | std | — |
| Front Windshield, variable intermittent, speed sensitive wipers | std | — |
| Gloss Black Side Rocker Panels | std | — |
| LED DRL | std | — |
| LED Rear Combi (Taillight LED Only) | std | — |
| Rear Exhaust Chrome-tipped Twin Tip Single / Twin Tip Dual | std | — |
| Solar Control Glass | std | — |
| Sport Front Bumper Fascia | std | — |
| Sport Rear Diffuser | std | — |
| Automatic Light Control | std | — |
| Rear Window Defroster, electronic w/ timer | std | — |
| Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) | std | — |
| Compact Temporary Use T125/80D16 | std | — |
| Rear Spoiler | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
| Idle Stop & Go (ISG) | std | — |
| Shift-By-Cable (Console Mounted) | std | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air |
|---|---|---|
| Motor-Driven Power Steering - Column-mounted | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Sonata
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Lucid Air
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V540000 · 27,185 vehicles
- high Electrical System 26V309000 · 2,039 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V193000 · 3,627 vehicles
- high Power Train 25V669000 · 225 vehicles
- high Electrical System 24V836000 · 1,539 vehicles
- minor Back Over Prevention 26V017000 · 10,816 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai SonataSE FWD | Lucid Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26,900 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $26,900 – $37,700 7 trims | — |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Sonata Hybrid | Air Pure RWD with 19 inch wheels |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 47 | 146 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,450 | $500 |
| EV range | — | 420 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata or the 2025 Lucid Air?
The Lucid Air wins clearly, 76.2 to 68.4, on fuel & range. The Hyundai Sonata is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Lucid Air scores 76.2 and the 2025 Hyundai Sonata 68.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata or the 2025 Lucid Air?
2025 Hyundai Sonata: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2025 Lucid Air: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 7 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Hyundai Sonata and the 2025 Lucid Air?
Where the 2025 Lucid Air wins: it is rated 146 combined against 47 (EPA mpg or MPGe), costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($500 against $1,450), and has drawn fewer owner complaints (17 against 28 filed with NHTSA). Where the 2025 Hyundai Sonata answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 61). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.