2008 Hyundai Sonata: MPG and fuel economy
The 2008 Hyundai Sonata is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 25 combined MPG, with 21 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Large Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata. 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. The EPA rates 3 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 43% better combined MPG than the average car in the Large Cars class for the 2008 model year (17.5 MPG class average).
- The Hyundai Sonata has gained 11 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1989 Hyundai Sonata at 21 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata. 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.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 3 variants side by side.
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 | 25 MPG |
| City MPG | 21 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 31 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 355 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2008 Hyundai Sonata compares
The 2008 Hyundai Sonata returns 25 combined MPG. Cars in the Large Cars class for the same model year average 17.5 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 43%.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2008 model year (across all classes) returns 19.1 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 2008 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2008
The EPA rates 3 separate variants of the 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 MPG | 21 MPG | 31 MPG | $2,400 |
| 2.4L, 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | 30 MPG | $2,500 |
| 3.3L, 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 MPG | 19 MPG | 28 MPG | $2,700 |
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 600 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,200 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,400 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Hyundai Sonata
The EPA has rated the Hyundai Sonata across 35 model years, from 1989 Hyundai Sonata through 2023 Hyundai Sonata. 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.
The 1989 Hyundai Sonata returned 21 MPG. The most recent 2023 Hyundai Sonata returns 32 MPG. That is an improvement of 11 MPG over 34 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
Compare against other Large Cars for 2008
If you are cross-shopping the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 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.
Specifications
The 2008 Hyundai Sonata runs a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a manual 5-spd, 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
- 2.4L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Manual 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2008 Hyundai Sonata.
-
Is the 2008 Hyundai Sonata fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2008 Hyundai Sonata returns 25 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Large Cars class for the same model year by about 43%. -
What MPG does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata get?
The EPA rates the 2008 Hyundai Sonata at 25 combined MPG, 21 MPG in city driving, and 31 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 2008 Hyundai Sonata per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,400 for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata. 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 2008 Hyundai Sonata use?
The EPA lists the 2008 Hyundai Sonata as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Hyundai Sonata become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Hyundai Sonata, the 1989 Hyundai Sonata, returned 21 combined MPG. The most recent 2023 Hyundai Sonata returns 32 MPG, an improvement of 11 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 355 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,332 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?
City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 31 MPG, a gap of 10 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 2008 Hyundai Sonata?
The 2008 Hyundai Sonata has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata have?
The 2008 Hyundai Sonata comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How much more does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2008 Hyundai Sonata will cost about $1,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.
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.