Compare the2024 Hyundai SonataVS 2024 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Sonata’s 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. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the C-Class Sedan.

Both the Sonata and the C-Class Sedan 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, 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 C-Class Sedan’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 C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the C-Class Sedan’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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the C-Class Sedan.

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.

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 29 points higher than the C-Class Sedan.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes 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 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 18 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (290 vs. 255) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder AWD gets better fuel mileage than the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC (25 city/34 hwy vs. 23 city/33 hwy).

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

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 C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Sonata N Line’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

The Sonata stops much shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

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

The Sonata has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 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 C-Class Sedan; 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 C-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the C-Class Sedan.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the C-Class Sedan’s (35.9 feet vs. 37.6 feet).

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 500 pounds less than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan.

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

The Sonata has 11.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (104.4 vs. 93).

The Sonata has 4.4 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (15.6 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

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

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Mercedes C-Class by 39% during 2023.