Compare the2022 Hyundai SonataVS 2022 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Sonata are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sonata are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Sonata Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 2 Series Gran Coupe only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Sonata and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 121 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Sonata comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonata’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 6 places higher in reliability than BMW.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

The Sonata SE’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Sonata higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3 to 7). This means the Sonata produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

The Sonata offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sonata stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (245/40R19 vs. 235/35R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonata’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (111.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (35.9 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The design of the Hyundai Sonata amounts to more than styling. The Sonata has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (.27 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sonata get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sonata Limited is quieter than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe:

The Sonata has .2 inches more front headroom, 4.7 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (16 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

The Sonata Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sonata’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sonata has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sonata Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Sonata (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Sonata Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus higher than the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe.