One Of The Best Cars For A Retiree Is A Reliable Vehicle With An Affordable Price

Affordability and reliability are top of mind for most people when shopping for a new car, and there are plenty of unreliable cars plagued with quality issues out there. Luckily, there's one vehicle on the market that checks both those boxes nicely, and could be of particular use to retirees on a fixed income. The Hyundai Sonata made it onto U.S. News & World Report's list of "Best Cars for Older Drivers in 2025." The stylish sedan scored an 8.9 out of 10, and also came in at No. 2 for the website's roundup of the year's best midsize cars. Seeing as Kelley Blue Book recently reported the average transaction price of cars in the U.S. has passed $50,000, the Sonata's starting MSRP of $26,900 shows just how viable of a budget option this vehicle is for retirees.

Consumer Reports predicts the 2025 Hyundai Sonata will be more reliable than the average new car based on data from 2022, 2023, and 2024 models, scoring it an 89 out of 100. For context, the 2024 Sonata got a 4.0 out of 5 reliability rating from Repair Pal, putting it above average in the midsize car category. This means the Sonata isn't likely to become a popular vehicle retirees instantly regret buying. Instead, drivers will appreciate that this sporty ride was named a 2025 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+, and that it landed a positive score in almost every one of the organization's safety categories.

There are lots of car brands retirees regret buying, but Hyundai's reputation stands above them all. Some of the features that set the Hyundai Sonata apart from its competition are its power and handling. You can get the Sonata with either a gas or hybrid powertrain, and both options provide a smooth, quiet ride paired with top-notch efficiency. Hybrid models can get up to 47 miles per gallon combined, while gas versions still offer up to a combined 29 miles per gallon, depending on the trim. The peppy four-cylinder engine delivers 191 horsepower in gas models and 192 in hybrid variants, but moving up to the sportier N Line turbo trim jumps the horsepower to 290. Front-wheel drive is standard, but if you need more grip, higher trims offer an all-wheel-drive system.

Inside, retirees can enjoy the large 12.3-inch touchscreen display that connects wirelessly to a smartphone so you don't have to mess around with cords. That's considerably larger than some comparable 2025 sedans — the base model 2025 Honda Accord's touchscreen is only 7 inches — while remaining user friendly enough that retirees won't feel intimidated by the car's infotainment system. The Sonata's hands-free trunk also makes it a breeze to load or unload groceries or luggage. Perhaps best of all, the Sonata comes at a considerably lower price than its competitors: You'd pay at least $29,000 for a base Toyota Camry, and the lowest sticker price on a 2025 Accord is pushing $29,000 as well.