2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was a standout in the compact sedan category, thanks to its bold and distinctive design. It embraced Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design language, featuring sharp creases and dramatic angles that gave it a unique and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the car's doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to break conventional automotive design rules and add character to the vehicle. The Elantra's styling was further enhanced by its trim levels, with the higher trims offering a more refined and high-tech cabin experience. The Ultimate trim, in particular, stood out with its modern and upscale interior, featuring light gray seats and contrasting black elements that created a sophisticated atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved from its earlier iterations, which closely resembled the Honda Accord, into a midsize sedan with its own distinct personality. The seventh-generation Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, featured a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline, giving it a unique appearance. The Sonata's interior was functional and spacious, with comfortable seating for five passengers. The N Line variant added sporty touches, such as a body kit, gloss black accents, and N badging, transforming the Sonata's look from mild to wild. Inside, the N Line featured dark chrome trim, red stitching, and sport seats, enhancing its sporty character.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, catering to different driving preferences. The standard Elantra was equipped with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While it provided adequate power for city driving, it felt underpowered during highway merging and passing. The Elantra Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle engine combined with an electric motor, delivering 139 horsepower. It offered impressive fuel efficiency, averaging 5.6 L/100 km, although it fell short of the expected 4.4 L/100 km due to mountainous terrain. The Elantra N Line, with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 201 horsepower, provided a sportier driving experience, while the high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine generating 276 horsepower, delivered exhilarating performance and precise handling.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, like the Elantra, offered a range of engine options. The base engine was a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower, providing a smooth and unassuming driving experience. The turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, available in the Sport and Luxury trims, offered 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, delivering adequate performance. However, the Sonata N Line stood out with its 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, sport suspension, and tuned exhaust, providing a thrilling and dynamic driving experience. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and while the N Line's performance was impressive, the absence of all-wheel drive was a missed opportunity.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was classified as a midsize car by Natural Resources Canada, offering a spacious interior with ample legroom and foot space for rear-seat passengers. The driver's seat was height-adjustable, and the steering wheel was tilt/telescopic, ensuring a comfortable driving position. However, the lack of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and hard plastic upper door panels were notable drawbacks. The Elantra's trunk offered 402 litres of cargo space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. Some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release, although the absence of a grab handle inside the trunk was a minor inconvenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, classified as a "Full-size Car" by Natural Resources Canada, boasted a spacious cabin with 2,956 litres of passenger space. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the class, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The Sonata's 453-litre trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, available on the Ultimate grade, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward in tight parking spots, adding a touch of convenience and amusement.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of infotainment options, with most models featuring an 8-inch touchscreen system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Ultimate trim offered an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen. This setup provided a premium feel, with features like dynamic natural voice recognition and a Sounds of Nature function. However, the larger screen required a wired connection for smartphone integration. A Bose premium audio system was available, delivering impressive sound quality for the price.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. Base SE versions came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the N Line and Ultimate Hybrid trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The Bose system provided excellent audio quality, and pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was seamless. The Sonata's infotainment system offered a user-friendly experience, with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging, and BlueLink connected services.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform with multiple structural collision energy pathways for enhanced safety. Most Elantra models, except the base, were equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Warning. The Elantra's Highway Drive Assist, a Level 2 ADAS, provided smooth and accurate lane-centring assistance.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came with a comprehensive package of safety features, even on the base trim. Standard features included forward collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Sonata received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with five stars for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings in all crash tests. The Sonata's advanced driving assistance systems worked seamlessly, providing a safe and confident driving experience.