[5] Billboard wrote that "Hello Again" goes "back to the staccato synth beat and wry mannered style that typified the group's singles before 'Drive' changed all that.

"[6] "Hello Again" was retrospectively described as "eccentric" by AllMusic critic Greg Prato, who also cited the track as a highlight from the Heartbeat City album.

"[2] Guarisco added that it "represents the Cars striking a unique balance between their gift for pop hooks and their love of experimental sounds.

[10] Dianne Brill and John Sex of the downtown New York scene made cameos.

It was played in medium rotation on MTV for a few months,[12] before reaching heavy in October,[13] and ended up spending at least 23 weeks on the playlist.