2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue: MPG and fuel economy
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue is a hybrid rated at 52 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 50 MPG in the city and 54 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 67% better combined MPG than the average car in the Large Cars class for the 2021 model year (31.1 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model S Long Range at 120 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $5,000 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 52 MPG |
| City MPG | 50 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 54 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,150 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 172 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue compares
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue returns 52 combined MPG. Cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year average 31.1 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 67%.
The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model S Long Range at 120 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2021 model year (across all classes) returns 27.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2021 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 288.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $575 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,150 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $1,917 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue
The EPA has rated the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue across 5 model years, from 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue through 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 51 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 51 MPG | 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue |
| 2023 | 52 MPG | 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue |
| 2022 | 52 MPG | 2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue |
| 2021 | 52 MPG | this page |
| 2020 | 52 MPG | 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue |
Compare against other Large Cars for 2021
If you are cross-shopping the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model S Long Range leads this group at 120 MPG, 68 MPG ahead of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue.
Specifications
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (am-s6), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Large Cars
- Engine
- 2L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM-S6)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 5.7 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue.
-
Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue returns 52 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Large Cars class for the same model year by about 67%. -
What MPG does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue at 52 combined MPG, 50 MPG in city driving, and 54 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,150 for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue use?
The EPA lists the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue, 52 MPG) and most recent (2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue, 51 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 172 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 2,580 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue?
City driving returns 50 MPG and highway driving returns 54 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue?
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue has a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI; Hybrid). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue have?
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue comes with a automatic (am-s6) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Large Cars class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model S Long Range at 120 combined MPG. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue returns 52 MPG, a gap of 68 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.