Compare the2023 Toyota Camry HybridVS 2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Camry Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Camry Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Camry Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.

Both the Camry Hybrid and the Sonata Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 Hybrid is safer than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Camry Hybrid	Sonata Hybrid
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 Hybrid is safer than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Camry Hybrid	Sonata Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	163
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	136 lbs.	305 lbs.
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 Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 87 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sonata Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

There are over 49 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Camry Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated below average.

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 overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 6th.

Engine

The Camry Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 16 more horsepower (208 vs. 192) than the Sonata Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Camry Hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

	Camry Hybrid	Sonata Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	8.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.3 sec	21.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.1 sec	9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.7 sec	4.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.1 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	88 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Camry Hybrid LE gets better fuel mileage than the Sonata Hybrid (51 city/53 hwy vs. 45 city/51 hwy).

Transmission

The Camry Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Camry Hybrid SE/XLE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sonata Hybrid (235/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The Camry Hybrid XSE’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata Hybrid SEL/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Camry Hybrid XSE has standard 19-inch wheels. The Sonata Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

Chassis

The front grille of the Camry Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Camry Hybrid has .8 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Sonata Hybrid.

Ergonomics

The Camry Hybrid offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Camry Hybrid’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 Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sonata Hybrid SEL/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Camry Hybrid 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 Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Camry Hybrid XLE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sonata Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Camry Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Camry outsold the Hyundai Sonata by over three to one during the 2021 model year.