2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive look that was immediately recognizable. The N Line version further enhanced this design with functional and stylistic changes, such as a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and bold 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The interior featured sport front seats with premium Nappa leather bolsters, red stitching, and dark chrome accents, creating a sporty yet comfortable environment.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class maintained its sleek and elegant design from the previous year’s complete makeover. The S-Class, rooted in a long history of luxury sedans, showcased a low profile and a long distance between the front axle and the dashboard, exuding elegance. The interior was adorned with high-quality materials, including a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the center stack, complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The cabin was meticulously fitted and assembled, providing a luxurious and serene environment.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 rpm to 4,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a launch control system. The car offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, and boasted significant improvements in engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Sonata N Line delivered a thrilling driving experience, especially on winding mountain roads, and maintained a balance between performance and comfort. The EPA estimated its fuel economy at 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 23.7 mpg.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, specifically the S500 model, featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, providing an additional 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the engine’s 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 model came with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, also benefiting from the EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. Despite its weight, the S500 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds. The S-Class offered a smooth and responsive driving experience, with fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined for the S500 and 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined for the S580.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts, providing a balance between comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, enhancing comfort for both front-seat occupants. However, the rear seats were not significantly more accommodating than those in the Elantra N Line, with limited legroom and thigh support. The Sonata offered generous interior storage space and a 16-cubic-foot trunk with a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was convenient, though the lack of an interior handle on the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled in providing a luxurious and spacious cabin. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds, a Panorama Sunroof, and a 13.8-cubic-foot trunk. The cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row. The driver and front passenger benefited from active multicontour seats with massage, memory, lumbar support, and comfort headrests. The Luxury Line added features like a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, and the “Energizing Comfort” system. The Executive Line, exclusive to the S580, upgraded the rear seats and included a high-end rear-seat entertainment system. The S-Class also had soft-close doors, enhancing convenience and luxury.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came equipped 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. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and had some user experience issues with the volume control knob and voice recognition technology. The Sonata N Line also offered the Sounds of Nature feature and Hyundai Digital Key, though the latter only worked with Android devices.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen interface for the MBUX infotainment system, offering superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable visual themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest, while the augmented video for navigation and available augmented reality head-up display enhanced the driving experience. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system delivered high-fidelity audio, with an available 4D Surround system adding headrest speakers. The S-Class also featured advanced powertrain and chassis technologies, including EQ Boost and rear-axle steering.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The Sonata N Line’s ADAS performed smoothly and accurately, reducing driver stress. However, the NHTSA and IIHS had not yet rated the 2021 Sonata N Line at the time of review.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety features, including Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, Pre-Safe Plus, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side. The S-Class also featured car-to-x communication, sharing warning messages about road conditions. For rear passengers, the S-Class offered available rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bags, enhancing safety for all occupants.