Hyundai Elantra vs Hyundai Sonata

Elantra

$20,950

Sonata

$25,450  

Elantra

The Elantra is an award-winning compact sedan that was named 2021 North American Car of the Year following its all-new, edgy, redesign. 

While the base engine is lackluster when it comes to horsepower, the lineup has more powerful options including an N Line and performance N model.  The lineup also offers a hybrid variant.

The Elantra sits low to the ground and provides sportier driving dynamics than some of the competition. 

The Elantra offers excellent technology and driver assistance features for a great value, with the lineup starting from roughly $21,000, though you'll cross the $27,000 mark for the top-of-the-line model.

Overall, the Elantra is a value-packed compact sedan with a sporty style that is anything but boring.

Sonata

The 8th-generation Hyundai Sonata sedan receives a refresh for 2024 with its last major overhaul in 2020.

Its 2020 redesign delivered new edgy looks and a comfortable interior along with terrific technology and driver assistance features.

Four engine options include a hybrid model. While the Sonata delivers a sportier ride than some of its competitors, it's also a smooth and quiet ride on the highway.

The Sonata offers excellent technology and driver assistance features for a great value, with the lineup starting from roughly $25,000, though you'll pay north of $35,000 for the top-of-the-line model.

Overall, the Sonata is a value-packed mid-size sedan with impressive technology.

Elantra

A refreshed 2024 Elantra goes on sale this fall. It includes design tweaks inside and out as well as more standard safety and expanded tech offerings. 

For 2023, the Elantra was a carryover model with minor changes. 

Deciding between a new or used Elantra? We've reviewed it several times since 2019. Here's a list of those reviews. 

Sonata

A refreshed 2024 Sonata goes on sale in the winter of 2024.  It features a sportier design, a new "floating theme" interior, and a new available panoramic curved display.  The 2024 Sonata will also offer Hyundai's front-wheel drive based all-wheel drive system - a first for a Hyundai sedan in the U.S.

The Sonata was a carryover model for 2023 with only minor updates and upgrades.

Deciding between a new or used Sonata? We've reviewed it several times since 2019. Here's a list of those reviews. 

Elantra

• Lineup has a lower starting point
• Better fuel economy
• Smaller turning radius so easier to maneuver
• Offers track-performance inspired N variant

Sonata

• Roomier cabin and cargo area
• Standard LED headlights across lineup
• Larger available LCD instrument gauge cluster
• More standard and available Advanced Driver Assist Features

Elantra

• Fewer standard or available Advanced Driver Assist features
• Not as roomy for passengers or cargo
  
  

Sonata

• Smaller base model digital gauge cluster
• The lineup offers an N Line variant but not a performance N model.

SE:  37 mpg

SEL/LIMITED: 34 mpg

BLUE HEV: 55 mpg

LIMITED HEV: 50 mpg

N LINE:  31 mpg

SE: 32 mpg

SEL/SEL PLUS/LIMITED:  31 mpg

N LINE: 27 mpg

For complete mpg information click here.

SE:  33 mpg

SEL/LIMITED: 33 mpg

BLUE HEV: 53 mpg

LIMITED HEV:49 mpg

N LINE:  28 mpg

SE: 28 mpg

SEL/SEL PLUS/LIMITED:  27 mpg

N LINE: 23 mpg

For complete mpg information click here.

SE:  42 mpg

SEL/LIMITED: 40 mpg

BLUE HEV: 56 mpg

LIMITED HEV: 52 mpg

N LINE:  26 mpg

SE: 38 mpg

SEL/SEL PLUS/LIMITED:  37 mpg

N LINE: 33 mpg

For complete mpg information click here.

Standard

• Standard 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD)
• Standard 8-inch Display Audio system High Resolution Touchscreen with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance and Bluetooth, HD radio
• Standard 4 speaker audio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 

Available

• 10.25-inch color TFT-LCD
• 10.25-inch Navigation system with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance, AM/FM/HD/SirusXM® Satellite Radio/ Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, 
• 6 speaker audio
• Bose 8 speaker audio
• Dynamic Voice Recognition
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
  
  

Standard

• Standard 3.5-inch color TFT-LCD cluster on base trim
  
• 8-inch Display Audio Color touchscreen AM/FM/MP3, HD Radio, smartphone integration, and rearview camera
• Standard 6 speaker audio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 

Available

• 4.2-inch or 12.3-inch full LCD dual curved integrated display meter cluster
• 10.25-inch Color touchscreen Navigation System with AM/FM/MP3 Audio, 6 Speakers sound system, HD Radio, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Blue Link, smartphone integration, and rearview camera
• 10.25-inch Color touchscreen Navigation System with Bose® premium audio w/ 12 speakers (1 center channel, 2 dash, 2 front tweeter, 4 door mounted, 2 rear mounted speakers + 1 rear mounted subwoofer), with HD Radio Technology, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Blue Link, smartphone integration, rear view camera and Dynamic Voice Recognition
• Dynamic Voice Recognition

• Available wireless charging
• Standard Dual USB ports (1 charge + data, 1 charge)
• 12-volt Outlet
• Available Bluelink Connected Car Services

• Available wireless charging
  
• Auxiliary MP3 input/ USB/iPod jacks Front center stack bin (1)
• Rear USB charge port
• 12-volt Outlet Front Console (1)

Standard ADAS

• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA)
• Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
• Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert

Available

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian, Cyclist and Junction-Turning Detection (sensor fusion type)
• Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go (SCC & S&G)
• Parking Distance Warning – Reverse & Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Reverse (PCA-R)
• Highway Drive Assist (HDA)

 Active Safety

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
• Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Brake Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Standard ADAS

• Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection & Junction Turning
• Rear Occupant Alert (Door logic Type)
• Safe Exit Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Follow Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• High Beam Assist  

Available

• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear 
• Blind-Spot View Monitor  
• Surround View Monitor
• Head-Up Display
• Remote Smart Parking Assist
• Highway Driving Assist

Active Safety

• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) w/ Traction Control System (TCS)
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist
• Hillstart Assist Control
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)  

• Airbags:
  • Driver (1) 
  • Front Passenger 
    Occupant Classification System (OCS)
  • Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (2)
  • Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) 
• Event Data Recorder
• 3-point/ELR Driver seat belt
• 3-point/CLR front passenger and rear seats
• Adjustable Front-seat Shoulder Belt Anchors
• Front Seatbelt Pretensioners
• LATCH Lower Anchors and Upper Tether Anchors
• Power Window Lock-out Button
• Child safety locks (rear)
• Energy-absorbing Steering Column
• Front and rear Crumple Zones
• Body side Reinforcements
• Shift Interlock System
• Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry and Panic
• Emergency Trunk Release
• Front crash box and straightened side members
• High-tensile steel and hot-stamping method for side body
• Front seatbelt anchor pre-tensioner
• Rear door dual beams
• Smart Pedal

• Advanced Airbags
  • Driver (1)
  • Front Passenger (1)
  • Driver’s Knee (1)
  • Occupant Classification System (OCS) Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (4)
  • Side Air Curtains (front & rear passengers) (2)
• 3-point ELR- driver seat
• 3-point CLR - passenger seat
• 3-point CLR - rear seatbelts
• Height Adjustable Front-seat Shoulder Belt Anchors
• Front Seatbelt Pretensioners and Force Limiters
• LATCH Lower Anchors (2 rear) and Upper Tether (3 rear) Anchors
• Rear seat low-profile head restraints (rear, center, left)
• Power Window Lock-out Button
• Energy-absorbing Steering Column
• Front and rear Crumple Zones
• 5-MPH Bumpers
• Hood Buckling Creases and Safety Stop
• Bodyside Reinforcements
• Shift Interlock System
• Steering Wheel Locks When Key is Removed
• Emergency Internal Trunk Release (Bright Yellow)
• Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry System and Panic
• Immobilizer

184.1"

192.9"

71.9"

73.2"

55.7"

56.9"

SE / SEL / LIMITED: 147 horsepower

N LINE: 201 horsepower

N: 276 horsepower

Hybrid:

BLUE HEV/LIMITED HEV: 104 horsepower

SE/SEL: 191 horsepower

SEL Plus/Limited:  180 horsepower

N LINE: 290 horsepower

SE / SEL / LIMITED: 132 lb.-ft.

BLUE HEV/LIMITED HEV: 109 lb.-ft

N LINE: 195 lb.-ft.

N: 289 lb.-ft.

SE/SEL: 181 lb.-ft.

SEL Plus/Limited:  195 lb.-ft.

N LINE: 311 lb.-ft.

SE, SEL, LIMITED, BLUE: 12.4 gallons

BLUE/LIMITED HEV: 11.0 gallons

N LINE/N: 12.4 gallons 

SE: 14.8 gallons

SEL/Limited PLUS/Limited/N Line: 15.9 gallons

All hybrids: 13.2 gallons

SE, SEL, LIMITED: 2,725 – 2,868 lbs.

LIMITED HEV: 3,069 lbs.

N Line Manual: 2,954 / N LINE Automatic: 3,020 pounds.

N Manual: 3,186/ N Automatic: 3,296 pounds.

SE 2.5T :  3,120 lbs.

SEL 2.5T : 3,192 w/o sunroof 3,266 lbs. w sunroof

SEL PLUS 1.6T: 3,230 lbs.

LIMITED 1.6T : 3,336 lbs.

N LINE 1.6T: 3,552 lbs.

BLUE 1.6T: 3,325 – 3,530 lbs.

SEL 1.6T: 3,404 – 3,530 lbs.

LIMITED 1.6T: 3,505 – 3,530 lbs.

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