Difference Between Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord

Honda Accord vs. Hyundai Sonata

There has been so much advancement in the world of automotive engineering, that there has been no clear cut ‘leader of the pack’ for a very long time, and this is evident in the mid-sized sedan market, which is considered as the family sedan segment. For decades, only one name has been lording over its class, and that is the Honda Accord. Pretenders and contenders have come and gone, yet the Honda Accord still keeps raising the bar. This time around, we take a look if the surging Hyundai Sonata can keep up with the leader of the pack. As a matter of fair play, we take a peek at each car’s entry-level models.

We start with the base model, the Honda Accord LX, which has a 2.4L inline-4, which produces 177 horsepower at 6,500rpm, and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. This thrifty engine has a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon for city and highway driving. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for this model starts at $21,765.

The base model, Hyundai Sonata, on the other hand starts at just $18,700, and for this, you get a vehicle of good value. A standard 2.4L inline-4, with a 16-valve engine, powers the car, which gives out a modest 175hp at 6000 rpm. Twenty five miles per gallon is the fuel efficiency capability of this model, and a 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, although, there is an option to choose a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

Both cars offer 4-wheel ABS on ventilated disc brakes. Both are front wheel drive, with 16-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 215/60 All-Season tires. In terms of curb weight, the Accord LX comes out in a slightly trimmer 3230 lbs., compared to the Sonata, which weighs in at 3292 lbs. with the manual gearbox, and tops out at 3327 lbs. if you opt for the automatic transmission.

One must remember though, that all these numbers are for the entry-level models only. Things get a bit more upscale, more competitive and pricier as you go up the different trim levels. The Accord offers three different trim levels, namely, the base LX, the upgraded EX, and the top of the line EX-L, which offers premium features such as leather upholstery and an optional navigation system.

The Sonata, on the other hand, is available in 5 trims, which include the base GLS, the SE and SE V6, and the Limited and the Limited V6, which practically offer all the amenities its counterpart here has to offer, at an even lesser price tag. Having knowledge of that fact, makes choosing the best valued car a bit of a headache, so let’s narrow everything down to just one question. Creature comforts aside, what does one have that the other does not? The answer: The Honda Accord has a great track record.

The Accord is notorious for being a perennial ’10 Best Cars of the Year’ and ‘Car of the Year’ contender. Its reliability and build quality is unquestioned, and it is competitively priced as well. Needless to say, it will be a good investment in the long run. However, as for the Hyundai Sonata, its reputation is still unproven, thus it might not be as good for the budget conscious buyers for now.

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