Compare the2024 Hyundai SonataVS 2024 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Sonata have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Sonata and 2 Series Gran Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sonata has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sonata and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Hyundai Sonata achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe’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 BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 62 more horsepower (290 vs. 228) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the 228i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Sonata uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 2 Series Gran Coupe requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Sonata has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Sonata higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3 to 7). This means the Sonata produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sonata stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the Sonata N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (245/40R19 vs. 235/35R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonata’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (111.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (35.9 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The design of the Hyundai Sonata amounts to more than styling. The Sonata has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (.27 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sonata get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonata a Large car, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe is rated a Compact.

The Sonata has 13.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (104.4 vs. 91).

The Sonata has .2 inches more front headroom, 4.7 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (15.6 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

The Sonata’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the BMW 2 Series by almost four to one during 2023.