Compare the2023 Hyundai Sonata HybridVS 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Sonata Hybrid Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord Hybrid 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.

The Sonata Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Sonata Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert 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 Honda Accord Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Accord Hybrid
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	33%	34%
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	378/216 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 Hybrid is safer than the Honda Accord Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Accord Hybrid
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	301	386
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	577 lbs.	756 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is safer than the Accord Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Accord Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	195	576
Head Peak Forces	no contact	77 G’s
Neck Tension	379 lbs.	424 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.54 in	2.13 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.57 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1138 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	111	279
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.46 in
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 124 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Accord Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

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 Accord 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 Honda covers the Accord 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 Accord Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata Hybrid 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 Hybrid.

Reliability

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 24th.

Engine

The Sonata Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 232) than the Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Sonata Hybrid
	Blue 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/54 hwy
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/51 hwy
Accord Hybrid
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	48 city/47 hwy
	Sport/Touring 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/41 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

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 Accord Hybrid are solid, not vented.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata Hybrid is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Accord Hybrid.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Accord Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The Sonata Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Accord Hybrid Touring’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.3 feet).

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

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

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 Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Accord Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

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

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 Accord Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

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