Compare the2024 Hyundai SonataVS 2024 Toyota Camry

The Sonata has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Camry’s blind spot costs extra.

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. Toyota charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the Camry.

The Sonata’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Camry doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sonata and the Camry have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Camry:

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 Camry’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 Camry. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Camry ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Camry’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 Camry (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

The Sonata has more powerful engines than the Camry:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Camry 4 cyl.:

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

The Sonata has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camry AWD’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Camry 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 Camry doesn’t offer launch control.

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

For better traction, the Sonata N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Camry (245/40R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The Sonata has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Camry doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Camry.

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Camry LE’s (35.9 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Sonata’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Camry AWD SE/XLE/XSE’s (35.9 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

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

The Sonata has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Camry (104.4 vs. 100.4).

The Sonata has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Camry.

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the Camry (15.6 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

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 Camry’s useful trunk space.

The Sonata’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

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 Camry doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sonata’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Camry’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Sonata has a standard Proximity Key that 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. Smart Key System costs extra on the Camry.

The Sonata’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota charges extra for heated mirrors on the Camry.

The Sonata has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Sonata has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is not available on the Camry TRD.

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

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 Camry isn’t in the top three.