Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Toyota Corolla

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
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 Corolla doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Corolla 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 Corolla only offers a rear monitor.

The Sonata 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Corolla’s blind spot costs extra.

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. Toyota charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Corolla.

Both the Sonata and the Corolla 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, 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, 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 is safer than the Toyota Corolla:

	Sonata	Corolla
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	346	356
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	165 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	301/156 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Toyota Corolla:

	Sonata	Corolla
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	577 lbs.	623 lbs.

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

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 Corolla’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

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

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

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

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sonata has a standard 760-amp battery. The Corolla’s standard 295-amp battery and largest (SE/XSE) 360 amp battery aren’t as powerful.

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.

Engine

The Sonata SEL Plus/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (180 vs. 169) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 151) than the Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sonata’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (191 vs. 169) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (181 vs. 151) than the Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 121 more horsepower (290 vs. 169) and 160 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 151) than the Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Corolla:

	Sonata	Corolla
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	8.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	20 sec	22.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.8 sec	8.8 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.1 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	87 MPH
Top Speed	135 MPH	118 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Corolla 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 Corolla 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 Corolla (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 Corolla (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

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 Corolla doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonata	Sonata N Line	Corolla
Front Rotors	12 inches	13.6 inches	10.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	12.8 inches	10.2 inches

The Sonata stops much shorter than the Corolla:

	Sonata	Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

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

Suspension and Handling

The Sonata has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Corolla doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonata’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the Corolla (111.8 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Corolla.

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the Corolla XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Corolla XSE (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Sonata amounts to more than styling. The Sonata has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Corolla (.31) 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 Corolla:

	Sonata	Corolla
At idle	37 dB	42 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	71 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Sonata has 15.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla (104.4 vs. 88.6).

The Sonata has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 4.1 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the Corolla (16 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

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

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 Corolla 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 Corolla 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

When two different drivers share the Sonata Limited, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

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 Corolla 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 Corolla doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sonata’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Corolla’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Sonata’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Corolla’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. 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 Sonata’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota charges extra for heated mirrors on the Corolla.

When the Sonata Limited is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corolla’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Sonata’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Corolla doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

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 Corolla 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 Corolla doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Sonata and the Corolla 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 Corolla doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonata is less expensive to operate than the Corolla because typical repairs cost much less on the Sonata than the Corolla, including $137 less for a starter, $87 less for fuel injection, $129 less for a fuel pump, $34 less for front struts and $407 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata and the Toyota Corolla, 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 Corolla isn’t in the top three in its category.

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