Compare the2022 Hyundai SonataVS 2021 Honda Accord

The Sonata Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord 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 Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems 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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Honda Accord:

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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Honda Accord:

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

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 Accord’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Accord. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Accord’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Accord.

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 19th, 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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The Sonata N Line’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (290 vs. 252) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 273) than the Accord’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda Accord 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Honda Accord 2.0:

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata gets better mileage than the Accord:

The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons).

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 Accord doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sonata N Line’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Accord doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Sonata’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

The Sonata stops much shorter than the Accord:

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Accord.

The Sonata N Line handles at .88 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Accord (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Accord LX/EX-L’s (35.9 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The Sonata’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the Accord 2.0T’s (35.9 feet vs. 39.6 feet).

The Sonata is 3.2 inches shorter than the Accord, making the Sonata easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sonata Limited is quieter than the Accord Sport:

The Sonata has .5 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom and 1.1 inches more rear headroom than the Accord.

The front step up height for the Sonata is 1.5 inches lower than the Accord (15” vs. 16.5”).

The Sonata’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord LX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Accord doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sonata uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Sonata and the Accord have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonata is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Accord prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sonata’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Accord’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sonata Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Accord doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Accord doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Sonata owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Sonata with a number “5” insurance rate while the Accord is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Sonata will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sonata will retain 44.63% to 47.02% of its original price after five years, while the Accord only retains -377.8% to 54%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonata is less expensive to operate than the Accord because typical repairs cost much less on the Sonata than the Accord, including $10 less for a water pump, $2 less for front brake pads, $242 less for a starter, $246 less for fuel injection, $247 less for a fuel pump, $109 less for front struts and $273 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata and the Honda Accord, based on reliability, safety and performance.