2014 Hyundai Sonata Life Expectancy - How Many Miles Will It Go?

The seventh generation of the Sonata has been one of the most successful. It entered production in 2014. Then, in 2017, it went through a facelift. In 2019, it was replaced by the eighth generation of the model which is being sold now in the US. Though, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata wasn't discontinued completely, it's still produced in a lot of countries and is sold pretty well.

The 2014 Sonata is one of the most successful generations of the model, it sold on average 200,000 cars a year in the US only. After the facelift, the vehicle started losing its clients but it's still a very popular car that deserves our attention. Today, we'll be talking about the life expectancy of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata. We'll see the most common problems that may change the lifespan of the car.

Here's what we are going to talk about:

• 2014 Sonata trims - what could you choose from?
• What's the estimated longevity of the 2014 Sonata?
• What are the best and the worst engines and transmissions for the Hyundai Sonata?
• How long will the body last? Rust questions
• What should you do to drive your Sonata for more time and miles?

Let's get started!

Is the seventh-gen Sonata actually a good car?

For the US market, the Sonata was produced in Alabama. The base trim was presented with the 1.6 T-GDi engine (a turbocharged version of the formerly popular 1.6 GDI with direct injection). But most vehicles were powered by the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated GDi engine with direct injection. The engine was coupled with the 6-speed automatic transmission while the 1.6L offered a DCT (dual-clutch) transmission.

The 2-liter turbocharged engine was only available in special trims that were thought to be sport trims of the 2014 Sonata. The FWD was the only option, no all-wheel-drive trims or packages were available. The hybrid version came out in 2016.

Here's what we can say about the vehicle:

• the traditional design and pretty spacy interior make this vehicle ideal for nearly all situations;
• it's a comfortable car that goes smoothly and offers a variety of trims to choose from for the best match;
• the vehicle was a competitor for the Passat, Fusion, Optima, and some other popular cars in this class;
• the interior could be different - some trims had leather seats, great additional features like an expensive infotainment system;
• overall, the longevity of the interior units wasn't better or worse than in previous Sonata cars;
• also, the 2014 Sonata generation had pretty reliable technologies which helped it become even more popular.

A lot of companies bought the Sonatas as their fleet cars. This is one more important fact we should remember when talking about longevity. Also, the vehicle hasn't been involved in really bad recalls and other scandals that we should remember here, in this article, when talking about the longevity of the car.

Driving the 2014 Hyundai Sonata is a pleasure. This vehicle is quick, easy to steer, it doesn't feel sluggish or clumsy on the road. Its suspension is ideally tuned for different driving conditions, and you will get pleasure in both city driving and long-distance traveling.

What about the estimated longevity?

The durability of the 2014 Sonata depends much on the engine and transmission you have in your car. But we can come up with the average lifespan of this car at about 180,000 miles. Not a lot for the class, but still not that bad.

If you want to use your Hyundai Sonata for more miles and years, you should be careful with choosing the engine. Not all units proved to be reliable and good. Also, the eventual longevity of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata depends on whether you provide TLC for your vehicle or not. "Tender Loving Care" is needed.

We'll talk more about the care and also about different engines and trims to choose from if you want to buy a used Sonata with certain mileage on it.

What engines and transmissions of the 2014 Sonata are the best?

Well, you will love all engines in terms of driving quality. We mean, every engine is fast and good to drive. But some of them are not as durable as others. Let's look at all three available engines and additionally at the hybrid powerplant:

• 1.6 TGDi. This is a turbocharged engine with decent power and torque. But it's a low-displacement unit and such engines nearly never show good longevity. After just 130,000 miles you will start getting problems. This engine is the least durable. Also, it's equipped with a dual-clutch transmission that may break as soon as after 100,000 miles of driving.
• 2.4 GDi. This is our recommendation for those who want longevity. Your 2014 Sonata will go over 220,000 miles and even much more with this engine. Moreover, it's equipped with a decent automatic transmission that will last approximately the same as the engine.
• 2.0 Turbo. This is a sports version and we perfectly know that performance engines are not going to last long. After 120,000 miles, a lot of owners start reporting issues and some of these problems are really hard to solve. So, this is not a good deal, especially when you are looking for a used Sonata.
• Hybrid Sonata. We've seen many reviews with unbelievable figures but we are still sure that the hybrid Sonata can go about 200,000 miles. After that, you will start getting problems and the economy of driving this car will become questionable.

So, summing up here is not a hard task. If you want longevity, the best engine-transmission couple you can get under the hood of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata is the 2.4 GDi naturally aspirated engine and the traditional 6-speed automatic transmission.

Also, a hybrid version of the Sonata is not a bad choice. But be sure you are buying the seventh-generation Sonata Hybrid because in 2014 and 2015 the manufacturer still produced the sixth-gen hybrid which wasn't that good.

Rust questions for the 2014 Sonata

Well, speaking about rust, the 2014 Sonata will be just an average vehicle with no proper protection from body damage. Rust may develop after approximately 60,000 miles in the form of small rust spots on wheel arches, under the vehicle. Over time, these small spots will grow into big problems.

Also, rust may develop much faster after any physical damage to the body. Accidents and body repair will mean very rapid rust formation. Also, scratches and dents will catalyze the rust problem for your Sonata. The painting protection is not the best and not the worst in the world of cars.

If you see these rust spots, you should visit a car paint shop and talk to a specialist. Maybe, a cheap spot repair will prolong the life of your car. Once the Sonata gets big rust and holes, it loses its residual value rapidly.

How to care for your 2014 Sonata to let it live longer?

Tender loving care is needed here. This car will love it if you maintain it regularly and keep it clean. If not, it will deteriorate quite fast and become a big set of problems for you.

We can think of several important things you should remember with your Korean sedan:

• Change oil and filters even more often than stated by the manufacturer. This will prevent the engine and other parts from failing prematurely.
• Have your car diagnosed once every year to find small problems and prevent them from developing into big issues.
• Avoid collisions at all costs. Damaged Sonatas don't live long, they have rust issues, geometry problems, etc.
• Repair small problems at once. If you know your Sonata is having some problem, don't just wait until it develops into a huge issue.
• Avoid low-quality fuel. Direct-injection engines will suffer from carbon buildup even with good fuel, so bad gasoline will make the death of your car much closer.
• Avoid bad-quality parts. Better choose OEM parts and fluids at all times when you can do this.

These are just some tips that will help you drive your Hyundai longer and cover more miles with your car. But if you understand that the vehicle gets a lot of money out of your pocket for minor repairs, better get rid of it. Soon, it may surprise you with a big problem that will be too expensive to solve.

Final words

If you own or are going to buy a Hyundai Sonata 2014-2019 (seventh-gen), you should read this article carefully. We've tried hard to gather all the available information from owners, repair shop mechanics, official sources, and also forums to provide you with up-to-date info on the longevity of these vehicles. Now you know what you should expect from your Sonata and what mileage you should consider high.

Take care of your car to prolong its life. And avoid buying any high-mileage Hyundai Sonata because it will only bring you some problems and expenses.