Compare the2024 Hyundai SonataVS 2024 Toyota Crown

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Crown Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Sonata and the Crown have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 Crown’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Crown. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Crown ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

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.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Crown 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

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

The Sonata has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

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 Crown 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 Crown doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Sonata stops shorter than the Crown:

For better traction, the Sonata N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crown (245/40R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The Sonata N Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crown’s optional 45 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Crown’s (35.9 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the Toyota Crown.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonata a Large car, while the Crown is rated a Mid-size.

The Sonata has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crown (104.4 vs. 98).

The Sonata has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Crown.

The front step up height for the Sonata is 1.7 inches lower than the Crown (15” vs. 16.7”). The Sonata’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Crown’s (15” vs. 16.3”).

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the Crown (15.6 vs. 15.2 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 Crown’s liftover is 30.3 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Sonata’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Crown’s useful trunk space.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Crown doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sonata uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crown 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.

The Sonata is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Crown doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Toyota Crown by over two to one during 2023.