If you’re looking for a sedan that’s big on sophistication yet kind on the family budget, the 2024 Hyundai SONATA and 2024 Honda Accord are excellent options. They’re both sporty-looking midsize sedans packed with a host of infotainment and safety technology. But which one’s the right family car for you? Our team at Huffines Hyundai Plano has compared the Hyundai vs. Honda sedans to help you make the right choice.
Engine
Hyundai and Honda offer appealing engine options in 2024. The SONATA’s standard 191 hp 2.5-liter I-4 is slightly less powerful than the Accord’s 192 hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. However, the SONATA’s base motor is available with all-wheel drive for the first time in 2024, something we still don’t see on any Accord model.
Both brands offer advanced engine options on specific trims. You’ll get the extra grunt you’re looking for in the SONATA N Line, which features a 290 hp 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor. In independent testing, it accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The N Line’s hybrid option pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined 192 hp. The hybrid powertrain is the only option on the Accord’s Sport trim. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors combine for 204 hp. It’ll go from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, which is fast enough for most families.
Space
On paper, the cabins of the SONATA and Accord are very similar, with the Hyundai measuring 104 cubic feet and the Honda measuring 103 cubic feet. However, the interior design makes all the difference.
Hyundai treats its driver and front passenger to a luxurious 62 cubic feet of space. That compromises space in the rear, but if you’ve got young children or regularly travel with just one passenger, it’s a sacrifice you won’t mind making. You may prefer Honda’s more even split if you have older children. The Accord has 53 cubic feet up front and 50 cubic feet in the rear, so teens and adult passengers shouldn’t feel cramped.
The Honda’s 17 cubic feet of trunk space is marginally larger than the Hyundai’s 16 cubic feet of rear storage space. While you might be able to squeeze an extra shopping bag in, it’s unlikely to make much difference to your daily life.
Interior
Both vehicles have stylish and well-organized interiors that make them feel more upmarket than their price tags suggest. The Honda Accord has not changed much, but its interior design is smart and streamlined. Supportive body-stabilizing front seats are a welcome new addition.
The Hyundai SONATA has had a more marked makeover, with a new steering wheel, dashboard, and center console, making it feel like a brand-new vehicle. The changes are as practical as they are stylish. For example, relocating the gear selector to the steering column boosts the cupholder and storage space. The new palm rest in the center armrest is another welcome ergonomic improvement. Hyundai has also updated its materials, ensuring the SONATA feels like a luxury vehicle even at the base trim.
Safety Features
The SONATA and Accord are popular family cars, so you’re probably keen to know which vehicle is the safest. Knowing they’ll likely carry precious cargo, both automakers have included comprehensive safety systems with many features other brands charge extra for. Hyundai SmartSense and Honda Sensing include the following features as standard:
- Forward collision warning.
- Automatic emergency braking.
- Lane departure warning.
- Lane-keeping assist.
- Adaptive cruise control.
In addition, Honda’s system offers traffic sign recognition, which displays information from recent signs, such as the speed limit, on the driver information interface. Not to be outdone, the Hyundai system is the only one with driver-attention warning to keep you alert and automatic high-beam assist.
The biggest difference at this stage is the 360-degree camera system that comes standard on the SONATA Limited. This system makes parking and pulling out easier and safer, showing you when vehicles, pets, pedestrians, and other obstacles are in your path. While similar cameras will be available in the 2024 Accord in Japan, Yahoo states we’re unlikely to see them in the United States until 2025.
Infotainment Technology
Whether using your sedan for daily commutes or long road trips, you’ll appreciate Hyundai and Honda’s infotainment technology. Both offer solid systems, but Hyundai delivers them better. All SONATAs have a pair of 12.3-inch screens: one displaying essential information for the driver and another with infotainment controls for the front passenger. For such a large screen on the Accord, you’ll need to select at least the Sport trim. The LX and EX have much smaller 7-inch touch screens, which are serviceable but less easily read at a glance.
Both vehicles are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, but only Hyundai offers wireless connections at all trim levels. This feature reduces interior clutter and is only available with the Honda Accord Sport and higher. Wireless smartphone charging is standard with the Hyundai SONATA but only available with the top-of-the-line Accord Touring.
While both brands offer a premium Bose 12-speaker stereo system, Hyundai makes excellent sound quality more accessible at all levels. Audiophiles can get the Bose system in a base SONATA SEL, while Honda reserves this system for its Touring trim. Furthermore, Hyundai’s standard sound system is much better. Compared to the Accord’s four-speaker stereo, the SONATA has a six-speaker system to ensure your favorite driving tunes always sound their best.
Book a Test Drive at Huffines Hyundai Plano Today
The SONATA and Accord are excellent midsize sedans that offer all the features most motorists look for at a price they can afford. While both sedans have advantages, the SONATA’s high-end features and option of all-wheel drive give it the edge. See for yourself at our Huffines Hyundai Plano dealership.
Our friendly sales team would love to book you a test drive so you can experience the 2024 Hyundai SONATA and all it offers. With special discounts for our local community, Plano’s best selection of new cars and used vehicles, and unparalleled customer service, there’s no better place to shop for your next family car.