Compare the2022 Hyundai Sonata HybridVS 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

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 Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Sonata Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

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

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 Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

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

The Sonata Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

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

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata Hybrid for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Avalon Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is faster than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata Hybrid gets better mileage than the Avalon Hybrid:

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

The Sonata Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Sonata Hybrid has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata Hybrid is 1.8 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Avalon Hybrid.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Sonata Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Avalon Hybrid Limited’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

The Sonata Hybrid is 3 inches shorter than the Avalon Hybrid, making the Sonata Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Sonata Hybrid has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is lower than the Avalon Hybrid (.27) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sonata Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonata Hybrid a Large car, while the Avalon Hybrid is rated a Mid-size.

The Sonata Hybrid has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom and .7 inches more rear headroom than the Avalon Hybrid.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Sonata Hybrid. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

The Sonata Hybrid’s power window and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon Hybrid’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Avalon Hybrid’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Sonata Hybrid 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 Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will be $3447 to $5475 less than for the Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Toyota Avalon by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.