2020 Toyota Camry vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents and bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite these improvements, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $25,380, not quite reaching the luxury or sport sedan status.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2020 model year, resulting in a distinctive and bold appearance. The N Line treatment further enhanced its look with larger air intakes, gloss black accents, and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The interior featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, and dark chrome accents. A panoramic sunroof added to the sense of space and luxury. The Sonata N Line's design aimed to balance sportiness with comfort, making it an appealing choice for those seeking a stylish and functional sedan.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD, the same engine with AWD, a FWD 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim) and was lighter, making the XSE trim nearly as fun to drive as the TRD. The AWD system, similar to that used in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, improving traction in slippery conditions. The front-drive Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD and 26 mpg for V6 models.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. The Sonata N Line offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, and featured an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system. The car's sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and 19-inch wheels with performance tires contributed to its impressive handling and driving dynamics. The EPA estimated the Sonata N Line's fuel economy at 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 23.7 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use, with most controls falling easily to hand. 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. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger compartment, as Toyota modified the floor structure and fuel tank to accommodate the system.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts for comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, making it comfortable for both front-seat occupants. The rear seat offered less legroom and thigh support compared to the Elantra N Line, but included rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The trunk volume was a roomy 16 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Sonata N Line also included Hyundai’s Smart Trunk hands-free release feature.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto compatibility to its standard features, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. The system was functional and quick to respond, but the graphics and navigation software felt dated. Higher trims offered a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were also available.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. The system lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for some users. The Sonata N Line also offered Hyundai Digital Key, which worked with Android devices to unlock the doors and start the engine.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Toyota Safety Sense, featuring a pre-collision system with emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars with 2.5-liter engines.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with Hyundai’s SmartSense, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high beams. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata received high safety ratings, but the N Line had not been separately rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.