2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Toyota Camry

Hyundai's 2021 Sonata, reimagined in 2020, elicited strong opinions due to its bold redesign. Its daring aesthetics were evident from the broad grille to the tapered tail, ensuring the Sonata stood out as a uniquely identifiable model. The N Line treatment brought both functional and visual enhancements, making the Sonata more appealing while toning down controversial aspects.

For instance, the restyled front fascia incorporated larger air intakes, improving engine cooling and diverting attention from the unconventional daytime running lights that extended onto the hood. Gloss black side mirrors, window surrounds, and striking 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels defined the car’s profile. At the rear, subtle enhancements like a gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a lower diffuser panel flanked by a four-outlet exhaust system suggested the car's performance capabilities without being overly flashy.

The Sonata N Line's interior was equally impressive, boasting sport front seats with premium Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, accented with red stitching on the seats and steering wheel. Aluminum pedal covers and dark chrome accents added to the upscale feel, while a standard panoramic sunroof contributed to a spacious and airy cabin environment.

The 2022 Toyota Camry also made bold visual statements, especially the Camry TRD model in eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint. This vivid hue, exclusive to the performance-tuned TRD variant, grabbed attention in a way no Camry had before. The 2022 updates included standard heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control for all trims except the TRD, along with a new paint choice called Ice Edge. The SE Hybrid trim further offered a Nightshade Edition package that blacked out the car’s exterior trim and wheels.

The Camry lineup offered 13 versions, starting at just over $26,000 for the base LE trim and going up to nearly $37,000 for the sporty XSE. The TRD variant featured an aerodynamic body kit with a front splitter, side skirts, a pedestal-style rear spoiler, and a more aggressive rear diffuser. Matte-black 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers, accent stripes, badges, and polished stainless steel exhaust outlets matched the avant-garde design. The gloss black grille with its mesh insert distinguished the TRD’s front end.

Inside, the Camry TRD aimed for a distinctive look with its red gauge illumination, which, however, felt mismatched and a bit tacky alongside the rest of the cabin’s white and blue lighting. The center console layout was driver-oriented, albeit less polarizing than the exterior's assertive styling.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was fortified with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. This powerhouse, paired with a new eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) featuring paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system, directed the power to the front wheels. Driving modes included Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, allowing the driver to tailor the car's behavior.

The Sonata N Line also included Active Sound Design (ASD) to enhance engine noise. The accompanying sport-tuned exhaust created an exciting auditory experience akin to that of a Subaru WRX when accelerating—a compliment indeed. Significant improvements included stiffer engine and transmission mounts, quicker rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes with high heat capacity, and a sport-tuned suspension. The vehicle sat on 19-inch wheels with either all-season or summer performance tires.

On the winding roads of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, the Sonata N Line displayed impressive agility. The increased stiffness, responsive steering, and robust brakes enhanced the driving pleasure on twisty routes. Despite being front-wheel drive, the summer tires and a strategic driving style minimized understeer. The suspension effectively managed body roll, providing a confident and connected driving experience without compromising comfort, making it a suitable daily driver. During the test drive, the car averaged 23.7 mpg of fuel economy.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD came with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, promised engaging performance. The TRD model featured Sport transmission and driving modes, with paddle shifters to enhance driver engagement. Its EPA fuel economy rating was 25 mpg combined, and the actual test drive returned an impressive 24.8 mpg.

The TRD’s V6 engine, taut suspension with stiffer sway bars, reinforced underbody braces, and TRD-tuned shocks demonstrated a truly track-inspired drive. Larger, more responsive brakes and a sport dual exhaust system further amplified its athletic capabilities. The TRD rode on 19-inch matte-black alloy wheels with summer performance tires, enhancing grip and handling.

The structural enhancements provided a solid and secure feel, allowing the TRD to navigate winding roads with agility. Despite the nose-heavy tendency in sharp corners, the car was enjoyable to drive. The suspension offered good feedback, taming road irregularities without sacrificing daily comfort. Though missing AWD, the TRD’s FWD setup did occasionally lead to front wheel slippage and tire squeal. Nonetheless, the Camry TRD was well-engineered, matching its bold looks with commendable performance.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line's interior balanced comfort with sporty aesthetics. The heated front sport seats, while not excessively bolstered, offered a good mix of comfort and support, with Dinamica suede inserts keeping occupants in place during spirited driving. The front passenger seat provided manual height adjustment for added convenience.

While the Sonata seemed roomier than the Elantra N Line, rear seat accommodations didn't significantly excel in legroom or thigh support. Rear air conditioning vents and a USB port were valuable additions, along with a panoramic sunroof that boosted the cabin's airy ambiance. Interior materials were of higher quality, though the hard plastic front seatback panels could be uncomfortable for taller passengers.

Storage space in the Sonata N Line was practical and ample. The trunk provided a generous 16 cubic feet of volume, expandable with a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The Smart Trunk hands-free feature added convenience, though the lack of an interior trunk handle might be bothersome in dirtier conditions.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD’s interior was sporty but didn’t go overboard with seat bolstering, matching the comfort levels of a standard Camry SE. Red accent stripes and embroidered TRD logos decorated the cabin, and both front seats offered power height adjustments. The low-slung driving position and firm seating comfort, paired with minimized body roll, ensured drivers weren’t tossed around even during dynamic driving.

The Camry’s rear seat accommodated two adults comfortably, although it lacked air vents and offered less flexibility because of the fixed seatback—a compromise for structural rigidity. Trunk space was somewhat limited at 15.1 cubic feet compared to the Sonata N Line, which offered more cargo room.

In contrast, the Camry boasted ample interior storage, including a large bin beneath the center armrest and strategic stash points throughout the cabin.

The technology suite in the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was robust, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system were standard. The infotainment system supported HD Radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and included a complimentary three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it missed out on a WiFi hotspot.

Ergonomically, the lack of a tuning knob was a drawback, with the volume control’s placement sometimes causing inadvertent touch inputs. The voice recognition technology worked reasonably well, though it wasn’t impeccable. Unique features like Sounds of Nature offered ambient noise tracks to reduce stress, and the Hyundai Digital Key allowed Android users to use their smartphones as car keys.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD was equipped with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system—small for modern standards but functional. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. The straightforward approach with volume and tuning knobs was user-friendly, complemented by shortcut buttons flanking the screen.

Buyers could upgrade to a 9-inch touchscreen, which added Remote Connect and Service Connect plans and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. Despite its bass-heavy output, the system provided decent sound quality. The TRD did not offer dynamic connected navigation or advanced voice recognition but supported smartphone-based voice assistants seamlessly.

Additional tech available on other Camry models, such as a 10-inch head-up display and a 360-degree surround-view monitor, was not offered on the TRD variant.

Safety in the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was paramount, with Hyundai’s comprehensive SmartSense ADAS suite. It included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention warning, and automatic high beams.

Advanced features like Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist underscored the safety-centric design. The Sonata’s ADAS performed smoothly, reducing stress and boosting driver confidence during high-traffic scenarios. While the NHTSA had yet to rate the N Line specifically, the standard Sonata’s high ratings in crash tests were reassuring.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and more. While effective, some features, like lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist, could be overly cautious, causing occasional driver irritation.

Standard on the TRD, the blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert added an extra layer of safety. Toyota’s Safety Connect provided a year of free subscription services, including automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside help, and stolen vehicle locator.

In crash safety, the Camry excelled, earning a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings across all NHTSA tests.