Compare the2022 Toyota CamryVS 2021 Hyundai Sonata

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/04/30

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Camry have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Sonata doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Toyota Camry has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Camry has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sonata doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Camry has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sonata doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Camry offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sonata doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Camry and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Camry is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Camry	Sonata
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	140	514
Neck Injury Risk	20%	22%
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	335	346
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33%
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	189 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Camry is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Camry	Sonata
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	163
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	136 G’s	305 G’s
Hip Force	296 lbs.	498 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	289	301
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	72 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	20 inches
HIC	164	288
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	38 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Camry its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 63 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sonata is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

There are over 50 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Camry’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Camry’s reliability 40 points higher than the Sonata.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 7th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Hyundai is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Camry has more powerful engines than the Sonata:

	Horsepower
Camry AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	202 HP
Camry 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP
Camry XSE AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	205 HP
Camry XSE 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	206 HP
Camry 3.5 DOHC V6	301 HP
Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder	180 HP
Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	191 HP
Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	290 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Camry 4 cyl. is faster than the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Camry	Sonata
Zero to 30 MPH	2.7 sec	2.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.6 sec	13.2 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.9 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.4 MPH	87.5 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

The Camry stops much shorter than the Sonata:

	Camry	Sonata
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	167 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Camry has larger standard tires than the Sonata (215/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Camry LE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Camry LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sonata SE.

Suspension and Handling

The Camry TRD handles at .94 G’s, while the Sonata Limited pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Camry SE is quieter than the Sonata Limited (72 vs. 78 dB).

Passenger Space

The Camry has .8 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Sonata.

Ergonomics

The Camry’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sonata’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Camry the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sonata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Camry owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Camry will cost $455 less than the Sonata over a five-year period.

The Camry will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Camry will retain 47.56% to 51.62% of its original price after five years, while the Sonata only retains 44.63% to 47.02%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Camry is less expensive to operate than the Sonata because it costs $27 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Camry than the Sonata, including $267 less for a muffler.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Camry will be $971 to $8010 less than for the Hyundai Sonata.

Recommendations

The Toyota Camry has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Camry	Sonata
Consumer Reports® Recommends	Top Pick	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Camry first among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Sonata isn’t in the top three.