2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2022 Hyundai Sonata

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Initially criticized for its lack of originality and quality, Hyundai gradually improved the Sonata by learning from its competitors. By the seventh generation, the Sonata showcased a distinctive design with a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with clear gauges and average material quality. The Limited trim featured comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. For those seeking a sportier look, the Sonata N Line provided aggressive styling and unique interior touches, including dark chrome trim and red stitching.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, particularly in the Touring trim, impressed with its elegant exterior and near-luxury appearance. The redesigned model featured a sleek exterior with a more upright front grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and a long, flowing roofline. The interior adopted a layout similar to the Civic and CR-V, with a strip of honeycomb mesh trim hiding the air vents and a convenient row of buttons for climate control. The Accord Hybrid Touring came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless device charging, and a black leather interior. The front seats provided excellent support, while the rear seats offered generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was slightly compromised by the tapering roofline. The trunk space was ample at 16.7 cubic feet, making it easy to load and unload cargo.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, standard on the SE and SEL trims, provided adequate performance for everyday driving. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata N Line, however, stood out with its 290-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the ride quality was smooth and quiet, offering a serene cabin experience.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, delivering a combined 204 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. While the Accord Hybrid lacked all-wheel drive, it provided smooth and efficient performance, seamlessly switching between electric and gas power. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, offering a balanced ride that was neither too firm nor too soft. The regenerative braking system featured six levels of regen, making it easier for drivers to fine-tune their braking experience. The Accord Hybrid's agile handling and ease of parking added to its overall driving comfort.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, though shoulder room was average. The rear seats provided adequate space for two adults, but a third passenger might find it cramped. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making tight parking spots more manageable.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's interior adopted a layout similar to the Civic and CR-V, featuring a strip of honeycomb mesh trim hiding the air vents and a convenient row of buttons for climate control. The Touring trim came with heated and ventilated seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and a black leather interior. The front seats provided excellent support, while the rear seats offered generous legroom and shoulder room. However, the sleek tapering roofline slightly compromised headroom for taller passengers. The trunk space was generous at 16.7 cubic feet, with a low load floor making it easy to load and unload cargo.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. The SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The Limited trim also included Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was quick and easy, and the Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless device charging pad, "Hey Google" virtual assistant, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. The Touring trim included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports. The infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-navigate graphics and physical volume and climate control buttons. The advanced tech features in the Touring trim justified the higher price, offering a comprehensive suite of modern conveniences.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assistance. The Limited trim included a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and surround-view monitor. The Sonata received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests from the IIHS.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured the Honda Sensing bundle, which included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a rear-seat reminder. The Touring trim added a multi-angle rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a head-up display. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional on all trims. The Accord Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests and high scores for crash avoidance and mitigation.