Compare the2023 Hyundai Sonata HybridVS 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

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

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 Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corolla Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

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 Corolla Hybrid only offers a rear monitor.

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

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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Corolla Hybrid.

Both the Sonata Hybrid and the Corolla 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid weighs 475 to 655 pounds more than the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Toyota Corolla Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Corolla Hybrid
	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 Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Corolla Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Corolla Hybrid
	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.

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sonata Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corolla Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

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 Corolla 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 Toyota covers the Corolla 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 Corolla Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

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

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 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 Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (192 vs. 134) and 115 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 156) than the Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Sonata Hybrid
	FWD	Blue 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/54 hwy
		2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/51 hwy
Corolla Hybrid
	FWD	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/43 hwy
	AWD	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	47 city/41 hwy

The Sonata Hybrid has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Hybrid (13.2 vs. 11.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonata Hybrid	Corolla Hybrid
Front Rotors	12 inches	10.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.2 inches

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 Corolla Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Sonata Hybrid stops much shorter than the Corolla Hybrid:

	Sonata Hybrid	Corolla Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata Hybrid is 4.1 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Corolla Hybrid.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited handles at .83 G’s, while the Corolla Hybrid LE pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Corolla Hybrid LE (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.1 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Sonata Hybrid has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Corolla Hybrid (.28) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sonata Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

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

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

The Sonata Hybrid 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, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Corolla Hybrid (16 vs. 11.3 cubic feet).

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

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 Corolla 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 Corolla 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

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

The Sonata Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sonata Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sonata Hybrid’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 Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Sonata Hybrid Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Consumer Reports rated the Sonata Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Corolla Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

When the Sonata Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Sonata Hybrid’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 Hybrid doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sonata Hybrid Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Corolla Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Corolla Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sonata Hybrid’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 Hybrid doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Sonata Hybrid and the Corolla 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 Corolla 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 Corolla Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.