Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 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 2 Series Gran Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sonata has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

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.

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 Sonata’s reliability 14 points higher than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

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/N Line’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 headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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.

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.

Insurance will cost less for the Sonata owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sonata will cost $1920 less than the 2 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Sonata will be $13379 to $14710 less than for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonata second among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the BMW 2 Series by almost five to one during 2022.