This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE. 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

  • The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car saves around $3,750 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 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE. 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 42 MPG
City MPG 40 MPG
Highway MPG 46 MPG
Annual fuel cost $1,400
Tailpipe CO₂ 212 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE compares

The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE returns 42 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 35.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 17%.

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2019 model year (across all classes) returns 26.8 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 2019 model year is on its own page.

2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE
42 MPG
Class average, 2019
35.9 MPG
Class best, 2019
136 MPG
Average new car, 2019
26.8 MPG

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 357.1 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $700
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $1,400
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $2,333

Year-over-year MPG for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE

The EPA has rated the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE across 4 model years, from 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE through 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE. 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. The peak rating came with the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE at 42 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2019 42 MPG this page
2018 42 MPG 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE
2017 42 MPG 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE
2016 41 MPG 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE

Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2019

If you are cross-shopping the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize 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 Hyundai Ioniq Electric leads this group at 136 MPG, 94 MPG ahead of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE.

Specifications

The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (am6), 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
Midsize Cars
Engine
2L 4-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic (AM6)
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
7.1 barrels per year
Start-stop system
Yes

Common questions about the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE.

  • Is the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE fuel efficient?
    Yes. The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE returns 42 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 17%.
  • What MPG does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE get?
    The EPA rates the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE at 42 combined MPG, 40 MPG in city driving, and 46 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 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,400 for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE. 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 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE use?
    The EPA lists the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE 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 SE become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE, 41 MPG) and most recent (2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE, 42 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 212 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 3,180 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE?
    City driving returns 40 MPG and highway driving returns 46 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
  • What engine is in the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE?
    The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE has a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI; Hybrid).
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE have?
    The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE comes with a automatic (am6) transmission and front-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2019 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 combined MPG. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE returns 42 MPG, a gap of 94 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.