Comparison
Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Sonata
.webp?width=490&name=Toyota%20Corolla%20(1).webp "2023 Toyota Corolla XSE")
Toyota Corolla
Pictured: 2023 Toyota Corolla XSE
.webp?width=490&height=388&name=Hyundai%20Sonata%20(1).webp "Hyundai Sonata 2023 Grey")
Hyundai Sonata
Pictured: 2023 Sonata
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Starting MSRP
Corolla
$21,700 (2023)
Sonata
$25,450 (2023)
Our TakeCorolla
The Toyota Corolla, currently in its 12th generation, is the best-selling car in the world. It's practical, fuel efficient and has a long history of Toyota reliability.
Toyota's done a fantastic job over recent years upping the compact commuter sedan's excitement factor with great styling, sporty trims and the new hot-hatch model the GR Corolla.
We've called the 2023 model "an exceptional model year" in our XSE review.
At the end of the day, you really can't go wrong with the Toyota Corolla. Always an excellent choice for those looking for a compact sedan, its safety and tech upgrades make the 2023 model feel like a new Corolla and one that's an exceptional value.
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.
What's NewCorolla
For 2023, the Corolla arrives with some notable updates. They include exterior design tweaks, new exterior colors and newly standard LED daytime running lights, along with terrific technology and safety upgrades that include a new standard 8-inch multimedia touchscreen with Toyota's next-gen multimedia system and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.
The lineup also expands with four new hybrid grades, including a more powerful hybrid system and available all-wheel drive. (The XLE is now hybrid-only.) The L grade goes away for 2023 and the LE becomes the base model (the most popular grade). It's now equipped with a more powerful and efficient gas engine.
SE and XSE grades also come with upgraded standard equipment.
Deciding between a new or used Corolla? Here's a list of our Corolla 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.
Pros
Corolla
- Much lower base starting price
- More fuel efficient
- Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Larger standard TFT driver display on base trim
- Excellent track record of reliability
Sonata
- Larger with more passenger space (including front seat head- and leg-room) and more cargo space
- More powerful engine
- Available 10.25-inch color touchscreen
- More available driver assistance technogloy
- Better warranty
Cons
Corolla
- Not as powerful
- Not as roomy
Sonata
- Not as fuel efficient
- More expensive starting MSRP
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CombinedCityHighway
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Multimedia / Audio
Standard
- 4.2-in. Color TFT Multi-Information Display
- 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia
- 6-speaker sound system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatible, SiriusXM® availability
- Integrated Backup Camera with projected path
Available
- 7-in. Color TFT Multi-Information Display
- 9 speaker JBL® Premium Audio w/8-in. touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay®, wireless Android Auto™ & Amazon Alexa compatible
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
ConnectivityStandard
- One 12V auxiliary power outlets
- Two front and two rear USB C ports
Available
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Available wireless charging
- Auxiliary MP3 input/ USB/iPod jacks Front center stack bin (1)
- Rear USB charge port
- 12-volt Outlet Front Console (1)
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Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Standard ADAS
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, with low light pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and road edge detection with Sway Warning System
- Auto High Beams
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control - - Road Sign Assist
- Lane Tracing Assist
Available
- Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) (LE & SE Package; XSE Standard)
Active Safety
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Star Safety SystemTM – includes Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brack-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST)
- Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
- Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
Standard ADAS
Hyundai SmartSense
- 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)
Safety-Interior- Ten airbags – includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver knee airbag, front passenger seat cushion airbag, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags
- Three-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger belts
- Adjustable front shoulder anchors, driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
- Driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening (WIL) seats
- LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats
- Child-protector rear door locks
- Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
- Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones with side-impact door beams
- Head-impact protection structure
- High-tensile-strength steel body panels
- Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
- Engine Immobilizer
- 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
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Length
182.3"
192.9"
Width (in)70.1"
73.2"
Height (in)56.5"
56.9"
Horsepower (hp)LE, SE, XSE: 169 horsepower
SE/SEL: 191 horsepower
SEL Plus/Limited: 180 horsepower
N LINE: 290 horsepower
Torque (lb-ft)LE, SE, XSE: 151 lb.-ft.
SE/SEL: 181 lb.-ft.
SEL Plus/Limited: 195 lb.-ft.
N LINE: 311 lb.-ft.
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal)LE, SE, XSE: 13.2 gallons
SE: 14.8 gallons
SEL/Limited PLUS/Limited/N Line: 15.9 gallons
All hybrids: 13.2 gallons
Curb Weight (lbs)2,955 lbs. (LE)
3,110 lbs. (SE)
3,150 lbs. (XSE)
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.
TowingN/A
N/A
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