2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan market with its bold and distinctive design, a result of Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design language. The car featured sharp creases and dramatic angles, making it easily recognizable. A unique Z-shaped dent in the doors, designed by Davis Lee, added to its character, breaking conventional design rules. The Elantra's appeal increased with higher trims, offering a more refined interior and advanced technology. The Limited and Hybrid Limited trims, with their gray interiors, provided a modern and upscale feel, contrasting with the drab black interior of the SEL with the Premium Package.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata evolved from its earlier iterations, which closely resembled the Honda Accord, into a more distinctive midsize sedan. The seventh-generation Sonata, redesigned for 2020, featured a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline, offering a unique look that divided opinions. Inside, the Sonata provided a functional and spacious cabin with clear gauges and average material quality. The Limited trim offered leather seats, though the tan upholstery was not universally appealing. The Sonata N Line added sporty touches, transforming the car's appearance with a body kit, gloss black accents, and N badging, while the interior featured dark chrome trim and red stitching for added personality.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, each catering to different driving preferences. The standard Elantra SEL featured a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While it provided adequate power for city driving, it struggled with highway merging and passing. The Elantra Limited Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with an electric motor, generating 139 horsepower. It offered impressive fuel efficiency, though mountainous terrain affected its performance. The Elantra N Line, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 201 horsepower, delivered a sporty driving experience with its manual transmission and sport-tuned suspension. The high-performance Elantra N, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 276 horsepower, offered exhilarating performance, thanks to its advanced features like the N Corner Carving Differential and electronically controlled suspension.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata presented a dual personality in terms of performance. The base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, produced 191 horsepower, providing a smooth and unassuming driving experience. The turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, available in SEL Plus and Limited trims, offered 180 horsepower, maintaining a balance between performance and efficiency. The Sonata N Line, with its 290-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, delivered a thrilling ride, enhanced by its sport suspension and tuned exhaust. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and while the N Line's performance was impressive, the absence of all-wheel drive was noted. Overall, the Sonata provided a competent ride, with a serene cabin and smooth handling.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious interior with a height-adjustable driver's seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat provided ample legroom, comparable to the larger Sonata, though the backrest lacked upper back support. The Elantra's trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the absence of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and hard plastic upper door panels were drawbacks. The Elantra also lacked rear-seat air conditioning vents and USB charging ports.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata boasted 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, earning it a "Large Car" classification by the EPA. The front seats offered excellent headroom and legroom, while the rear seat accommodated two adults comfortably. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, capable of holding a complete set of rolling luggage. A standout feature was the Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing the car to park itself with the press of a button on the key fob. This feature, standard on the Limited trim, was more of a novelty than a necessity but impressed onlookers.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra's technology offerings varied by trim. The SE, SEL, and N Line trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a digital instrumentation screen, offering a premium feel. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system was inconsistent, but the Bose premium sound system impressed with its audio quality. Hyundai Digital Key, available for the Elantra, allowed smartphone-based access and control of the vehicle.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology was directly linked to its trim level. The base SE came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims like the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The SEL trim included last year's Tech package as standard, adding features like Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was seamless, and the Bose audio system delivered exceptional sound quality, offering great value for the price.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform with multiple structural collision energy pathways. It came standard with SmartSense, Hyundai's suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades like cyclist detection and adaptive cruise control were available, with Highway Drive Assist offering impressive performance in the compact car segment.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata featured a comprehensive safety package, even on the base trim. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist and Safe Exit Assist, while the Limited trim offered a blind-spot view monitor and surround-view monitor. The Sonata received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA, with top ratings in side crash protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS rated the 2021 Sonata, structurally similar to the 2022 model, with top "Good" ratings in crash tests and "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention.