Compare the2024 Volkswagen JettaVS 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jetta has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sonata doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Jetta and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Jetta	Sonata
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	247	514
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/106 lbs.	321/341 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 Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Jetta	Sonata
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	163
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	188 lbs.	305 lbs.
Hip Force	317 lbs.	498 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	72 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	20 inches
HIC	239	288
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	38 G’s

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 Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Sonata:

	Jetta	Sonata
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	12 MPH	13 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Jetta third among compact cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Sonata isn’t in the top three in its category.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Jetta
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/42 hwy
	Auto	S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		SE/SEL 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/40 hwy
Sonata
	Auto	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

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Sonata (5 to 7). This means the Jetta produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sonata every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Volkswagen Jetta as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Hyundai Sonata is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Brakes and Stopping

The Jetta stops shorter than the Sonata:

	Jetta	Sonata
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Jetta S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta Sport handles at .87 G’s, while the Sonata SEL Plus pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Volkswagen Jetta may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 500 pounds less than the Hyundai Sonata.

The Jetta is 6.4 inches shorter than the Sonata, making the Jetta easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Jetta uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sonata doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Jetta Sport is quieter than the Sonata Limited (75 vs. 78 dB).

Ergonomics

The Jetta’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sonata’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta SE/R-Line/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Sonata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sonata’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Sonata doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta SEL has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sonata doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Jetta and the Sonata offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sonata.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Jetta owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Jetta with a number “3” insurance rate while the Sonata is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Jetta is less expensive to operate than the Sonata because typical repairs cost less on the Jetta than the Sonata, including $114 less for a timing belt/chain and $80 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Jetta and the Hyundai Sonata, based on reliability, safety and performance.