Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Mercedes CLA

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Sonata are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes CLA doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 CLA 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 CLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Sonata’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLA.

Both the Sonata and the CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 CLA has not been tested, yet.

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

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonata’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sonata has a standard 150-amp alternator (130-amp - Sonata 1.6T). The CLA’s 115-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 34 points higher than the CLA.

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 Mercedes vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Mercedes.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (290 vs. 221) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mercedes CLA:

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

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

The Sonata SE’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (14.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Hyundai Sonata, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the CLA.

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 CLA doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Sonata stops much shorter than the CLA:

For better traction, the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CLA (245/40R19 vs. 225/45R18).

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 CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonata’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the CLA (111.8 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CLA.

The Sonata N Line handles at .88 G’s, while the CLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CLA 250 4MATIC (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Mercedes CLA.

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

The Sonata has 15.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (104.4 vs. 89).

The Sonata has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the CLA (16 vs. 11.6 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 CLA’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

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

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sonata has standard extendable sun visors. The CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 CLA’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the Sonata owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sonata will cost $3300 to $6085 less than the CLA over a five-year period.

The Sonata will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sonata will retain 46.08% to 47.23% of its original price after five years, while the CLA only retains 41.76% to 41.79%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Sonata will be $13738 to $22593 less than for the Mercedes CLA.

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

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 CLA isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Mercedes CLA by over six to one during 2022.