Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
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 TLX 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 TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 TLX’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. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the TLX and the TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Sonata and the TLX 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, driver alert monitors and available around view 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 Acura TLX:

	Sonata	TLX
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	346	358
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	186 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	416/473 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 TLX:

	Sonata	TLX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	539 lbs.	539 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	288	464

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 TLX has not been fully tested, yet.

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 TLX’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 TLX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the TLX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the TLX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

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

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 19 points higher than the TLX.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

	Sonata	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.5 MPH	91.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Sonata
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		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
TLX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

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

Transmission

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 TLX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual 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 TLX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The Sonata stops much shorter than the TLX:

	Sonata	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the TLX’s (35.9 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The Sonata’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the TLX with 19/20-inch wheels’ (35.9 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 650 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Sonata Limited is quieter than the TLX Type S (69 vs. 71 dB).

Passenger Space

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

The Sonata has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (104.4 vs. 93.4).

The Sonata has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the TLX (16 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

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 TLX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

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

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 TLX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Sonata, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2021 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus higher than the Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD.

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 TLX isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Acura TLX by almost five to one during 2022.