2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was considered one of the most attractive Corollas in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements such as sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint with a blue undertone further enhanced its appeal. However, the design had some quirks, like the hood shut line that visually truncated the front end and the over-styled rear bumper. The Apex Edition amplified these design oddities. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg. The SE and XSE trims, priced at $22,375 and $25,825 respectively, featured a more powerful engine, different transmissions, and sportier driving modes. The XSE trim's interior was a significant upgrade with soft leatherette, padded door panels, and robust switchgear, offering a clean, minimalist look but lacking practical storage.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a daringly distinctive look that was a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. The N Line treatment enhanced the Sonata's appeal with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, bold 19-inch wheels, and a four-outlet exhaust system. The result was a more appealing and stealthy visual suggestion of the car's performance enhancements. Inside, the Sonata N Line featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents. A standard panoramic sunroof added to the car's roominess and two-tone appearance. The interior was designed to balance comfort and lateral support, making it suitable for both spirited driving and everyday use.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a Dynamic Shift continuously variable transmission (CVT), paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. A six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching was also available for an additional $200. The XSE's CVT used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip, and its ten programmed ratios effectively masked the typical CVT traits. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics, with electric steering, vented front and solid disc rear brakes, and a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires. Despite its modest power, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling and engaging driving dynamics, similar to a Honda Civic or Mazda3. The EPA estimated 34 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing averaged 31.1 mpg.

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 lb-ft of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. This engine was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, and the car featured an Active Sound Design (ASD) engine note enhancement system. The Sonata N Line also had stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. It rode on 19-inch wheels with 245/40 all-season or summer performance tires. The Sonata N Line demonstrated impressive handling, with minimal understeer and body roll, and a comfortable ride quality. The EPA estimated 27 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing averaged 23.7 mpg.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE offered numerous upgrades over the SE trim, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This feature provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seat cushions offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents for rear passengers. The Corolla sedan's trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback version provided 17.8 cubic feet. However, there was no handle on the inside of the sedan's trunk lid.

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, making it comfortable for both front-seat occupants. The rear seat offered decent legroom and thigh support, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata's trunk volume measured 16 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature automatically opened the trunk lid when standing near the back of the car for three seconds. However, there was no handle on the inside of the trunk lid.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Every Corolla also included a free year of Safety Connect services and a three-month Wi-Fi hotspot trial. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE also offering Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE could be equipped with a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, while the XSE had dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical knobs and buttons for easy access. However, the radio knobs could be hard to grasp, and the JBL sound system lacked clarity.

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, and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system also offered HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it did not include a WiFi hotspot. The system had a power/volume knob but lacked a tuning knob, making it less user-friendly. The voice recognition technology was mostly accurate but had occasional issues. The Sonata N Line also featured Hyundai Digital Key, which worked only with Android devices.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also added standard rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance had some quirks, but overall, the safety features performed well. The 2020 Corolla earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model required re-testing due to the addition of new airbags.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense, which included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, 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-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The ADAS performed smoothly and accurately, reducing driver stress. The standard Sonata had high safety ratings, but the N Line required re-testing by the NHTSA and IIHS.