2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vs 2020 Toyota Camry

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its status as a top contender in the sedan market. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty edge. The interior featured high-quality materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. While the Camry wasn't a luxury car, it offered a blend of sportiness and comfort, with leather and wood accents in higher trims that rivaled entry-level Lexus models. Despite its improvements, the Camry's reputation had been challenged by competitors like the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata, but it was on the right track to regain its former glory.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, on the other hand, was a strikingly elegant vehicle that turned heads with its sleek, fastback profile and tailored body. Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi, the Sonata Hybrid showcased Hyundai's transformation from a brand known for low-quality cars to one that produced stylish and high-quality vehicles. The Sonata Hybrid featured unique design elements like the coolest LED running lights and a solar roof option, which added to its aerodynamic appeal. Inside, the Sonata Hybrid boasted a luxurious interior with big screens, ambient lighting, and high-quality materials, making it feel more like a luxury car than a mainstream sedan.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered a range of powertrains, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, as well as a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim) and was lighter, making the Camry more agile. The AWD system, similar to that in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's torque to the rear wheels when needed, enhancing traction. The Camry's fuel economy varied, with the FWD four-cylinder achieving 31 mpg combined, while the V6 managed 26 mpg.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine running on the Atkinson cycle, paired with a 51-hp electric motor and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery, producing a total of 192 hp. The Sonata Hybrid used a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a more traditional driving feel compared to the CVTs found in most hybrids. The hybrid system allowed for smooth transitions between electric and gasoline power, with the ability to run on battery alone at highway speeds. The Sonata Hybrid excelled in fuel efficiency, with the Blue trim achieving 50 mpg city, 54 mpg highway, and 52 mpg combined, while the SEL and Limited trims returned 45/51/47 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use, with controls that were intuitive and easy to reach. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation, but the rear seat had less legroom and overall passenger volume. The trunk space was also smaller, at 15.1 cubic feet, which was less than some competitors. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, as Toyota made structural modifications to accommodate it.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited trim featured solar panels that could generate extra driving range and run the air conditioning when parked. The interior was spacious, with ample rear-seat legroom and a quiet, comfortable cabin. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space, accessible via a button hidden in the "H" logo. The Sonata Hybrid's interior was well-designed, with a push-button gear selector, dual-zone climate control, and a digital dash with a 10-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. The base trim had analog gauges and an 8-inch screen.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Amazon Alexa compatibility and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system, while functional, felt dated with low-resolution graphics. The Camry offered a 7-inch standard screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were available on higher trims. The Camry also featured an optional 10-inch head-up display for enhanced driver focus.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's infotainment system on the Limited trim was a standout feature, with a soothing color scheme and intuitive interface. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Hyundai Blue Link were standard, allowing remote operation and diagnostics. The Sonata Hybrid offered a digital key, live camera feeds for blind spots, and voice recognition with online searches. The Highway Driving Assist provided semi-automated driving, and the head-up display showed detailed information. The Sonata Hybrid's technology package made it feel like a more expensive vehicle.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Toyota's Safety Sense suite, featuring a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, and blind-spot monitoring was optional. The Camry had 10 airbags and standard safety features like stability control and a backup camera. It received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. There was one recall for leaking engine coolant affecting some models.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four stars in the frontal crash test. The regular Sonata was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. The Sonata Hybrid came standard with lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and more. Parking sensors and Highway Driving Assist were available on the Limited trim. A driver's knee airbag was standard.