Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2022 Acura ILX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 ILX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Hyundai Sonata has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ILX doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sonata Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The ILX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sonata Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ILX only offers a rear monitor.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the ILX and the ILX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

The Sonata’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 ILX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sonata and the ILX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 and rearview cameras.

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 Acura ILX:

	Sonata	ILX
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	40%
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	166 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	768/623 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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Acura ILX:

	Sonata	ILX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	163	234
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	301	324
Hip Force	539 lbs.	699 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	288	299
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	577 lbs.	945 lbs.

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

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 ILX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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 ILX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the ILX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ILX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the ILX’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. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the ILX.

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonata’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Acura.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 96 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 28th.

Engine

The Sonata SEL Plus/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 89 more horsepower (290 vs. 201) and 131 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura ILX:

	Sonata	ILX
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.1 sec	17.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.2 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	94 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	133 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Sonata
	SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
	SEL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
ILX
	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sonata SE’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The ILX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Sonata uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ILX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sonata SE’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the ILX (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 ILX (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

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 Acura ILX (3). This means the Sonata produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

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 ILX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonata N Line	ILX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	11.1 inches

The Sonata stops much shorter than the ILX:

	Sonata	ILX
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ILX (245/40R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line has standard 19-inch wheels. The ILX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited has a standard space-saver spare (not available on SE/N Line) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the ILX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 4.6 inches wider in the front and 4.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ILX.

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the ILX A-SPEC pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the ILX’s (35.9 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonata a Large car, while the ILX is rated a Compact.

The Sonata has 15.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (104.4 vs. 89.3).

The Sonata has 2 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom, 4.3 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the ILX.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the ILX (16 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Sonata easier. The Sonata’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the ILX’s liftover is 28.7 inches.

The Sonata’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The ILX’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 ILX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The Sonata uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ILX 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.

Ergonomics

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 ILX doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sonata Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The ILX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sonata’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The ILX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Sonata and the ILX 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 ILX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

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 ILX’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Sonata detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ILX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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 ILX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 ILX doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Sonata and the ILX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sonata offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The ILX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 ILX 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 ILX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

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 ILX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonata is less expensive to operate than the ILX because typical repairs cost much less on the Sonata than the ILX, including $46 less for a water pump, $14 less for front brake pads, $323 less for a starter, $261 less for fuel injection, $209 less for a fuel pump, $195 less for front struts and $110 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

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 ILX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Acura ILX by almost 9 to one during 2022.

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