Hyundai entered the US market in 1986 and has grown since those early days to become one of the top automobile brands.
Reliability, resale value, and value for money are prime reasons for Hyundai’s popularity, but what about performance? How much horsepower does each model have?
The average horsepower of a Hyundai is 198 hp. The car with the most horsepower is the Hyundai Palisade at 291 hp, and the model with the least horsepower is the Hyundai Venue at 121 hp.
With Hyundai’s growth and presence in the US car market, there’s proof that the average American car buyer is more impressed by low running costs, reliability, and good resale value than by performance and power.
Nevertheless, it’s good to look at what each Hyundai offers prospective owners in horsepower and economy, so let us take an in-depth look at each model.
The Horsepower of Hyundai Cars – All Models
With Hyundai’s extensive range of cars, each table presented below will show the horsepower of the various Hyundai models in a specific vehicle category, namely:
- Hyundai SUV Models
- Hyundai Sedans
- Hyundai Hatchbacks
- Hyundai Hybrids
- Hyundai Electric Cars
The Horsepower of Hyundai SUVs
The average horsepower for the Hyundai SUVs is 197 hp.
| Hyundai Model | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona | 147 hp |
| Hyundai Kona N | 276 hp |
| Hyundai Nexo | 161 hp |
| Hyundai Palisade | 291 hp |
| Hyundai Santa FE | 191 hp |
| Hyundai Tucson | 187 hp |
| Hyundai Venue | 121 hp |
The Horsepower of Hyundai Sedans
While Hyundai’s SUVs form the backbone of their product range, their sedans have achieved a reputation for reliability, low operating costs, and excellent value.
The average horsepower for the Hyundai Sedans is 184 hp.
| Hyundai Model | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Accent | 123 hp |
| Hyundai Elantra | 147 hp |
| Hyundai Elantra N | 276 hp |
| Hyundai Sonata | 191 hp |
The Horsepower of Hyundai Hatchbacks
The average horsepower for the Hyundai Hatchbacks is 250 hp.
| Hyundai Model | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GT | 201 hp |
| Hyundai Veloster | 275 hp |
| Hyundai Veloster N | 275 hp |
The Horsepower of Hyundai Hybrids
The average horsepower for the Hyundai Hybrids is 184 hp.
| Hyundai Model | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | 139 hp |
| Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid | 139 hp |
| Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid | 226 hp |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 192 hp |
| Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | 226 hp |
The Horsepower of Hyundai Electric Cars
The average horsepower for the Hyundai electric cars is 187 hp.
| Hyundai Model | Horsepower (hp) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai IONIQ Electric | 134 hp |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 225 hp |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | 201 hp |
Let’s take a look at the various Hyundai models in more detail.
Hyundai Venue
| Specs | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Horsepower @ RPM | 121 @ 6300 RPM |
| Torque @ RPM | 113 @ 4500 |
| Top Speed | 115 mph |
The cheapest Hyundai SUV is the Hybrid Venue. It’s available in three different models, the SE, SEL, and Limited Versions. All have the same horsepower; they differ only in the level of trim offered.
The SE as the base model has excellent built-in safety devices such as Lane Keeping Assist, Front Collision Avoidance, and Pedestrian Detection, but lacks the LED head and taillights of the Limited edition, the tilt-and-slide sunroof of both the SEL and Limited versions, and the 17-inch alloy wheels also found on the two other versions.
Hyundai Kona Models
| Model | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona | 147 hp |
| Hyundai Kona N | 276 hp |
Available as a 2-liter, 147hp SUV or a fully electric-powered vehicle, the Kona is tiny, with a length of 165.9 inches, but 6.8 inches longer than the Venue.
The Kona N is the performance version, packing a 276hp punch, with 19-inch alloy wheels, an 8-speed gearbox, and ready for the track – dynamite in a small package!
Hyundai Santa FE Models
| Model | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa FE | 191 hp |
| Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid | 226 hp |
The Santa FE is powered by an inline 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 191hp at 6100 rpm. It’s also available as a hybrid with a 1.6 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor, giving a combined power output of 226 hp.
Hyundai Tucson Models
| Model | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Tucson | 187 hp |
| Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | 226 hp |
The latest available figures show that in the entire 2021 year, the Tucson was Hyundai’s best-seller, with 152 000 units sold in the US of Hyundais 738,081 total sales.
Available with FWD or AWD and powered by a 2.5-liter inline four with 187 hp at 6100 rpm, the Tucson also comes in a hybrid version and has five trim levels.
The broad range of options is one of the reasons for the popularity of this family-sized SUV, both as a daily driver and a vehicle with good off-road ability.
Hyundai Palisade
| Specs | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Horsepower @ RPM | 291 @ 6000 |
| Torque @ RPM | 262 @ 5200 |
| Top Speed | 132 mph |
The Palisade is a big, ultra-spacious 7- or 8-seater with exceptional features and luxury trim.
As a front-wheel drive powered by a 291 hp V-6, it’s the most powerful ln Hyundai’s SUV gas-engined range. However, it has the worst fuel economy of all the available Hyundai models.
Special features of the Palisade include the Passenger Talk function allowing the driver to talk to passengers in the third row through the car’s audio system – perfect for Mom’s taxi!
Hyundai Ioniq 5
| Specs | Measurements |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 225 hp |
| Torque | 350 Nm (258 lb.-ft.) |
| Top Speed | 115 mph |
Hyundai’s flagship all-electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5, is available only in limited numbers in the US. At 4,630 lbs, it’s the heaviest Hyundai available.
Technologically the most advanced of the Hyundai range, this compact SUV is available as a rear-wheel drive, or as an all-wheel drive, with dual electric motors producing a combined 225 hp.
The RWD versions have a range of 303 miles, while the dual-motor Ioniq 5 will cover 266 miles on a single charge.
Hyundai Elantra Models
| Model | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 147 hp |
| Hyundai Elantra N | 276 hp |
| Hyundai Elantra GT | 201 hp |
| Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | 139 hp |
The four Elantra models, including the hybrid and the performance N model, have proved to be the second-most popular Hyundai on the American market, with 117,177 sales in 2022.
As a compact sedan, the Elantra is part of a shrinking segment, but sales were very close to the sales recorded in previous years.
Hyundai Sonata Models
| Model | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata | 191 hp |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 192 hp |
The Sonata has a reliability rating of 81 out of 100 and is rated 4th best mid-sized sedan in the US. It enjoys a high loyalty score, with owners sticking with the Sonata when buying a new car.
JD Power also rated the Sonata as the most reliable mid-sized sedan, and this reputation has helped Hyundai win the award as the most dependable brand in the US market.
Conclusion
The average Hyundai has 198 horsepower. If we compare this to some of Hyundai’s competitors, it’s not that much:
- Kia – Average Horsepower: 226hp
- Nissan – Average Horsepower: 291hp
- BMW – Average Horsepower: 392hp
However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, performance and speed is the last thing you think about when it comes to Hyundai cars.
While Hyundai isn’t rated as a performance brand, they remain a firm favorite in the American market due to its quality, reliability, and resale value.
Knowing the horsepower of the various models will hopefully provide some helpful background information if you’re looking at a 2023 Hyundai.
