The all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata is a bumper-to-bumper head-turner. Its elegant sport coupe-inspired design, advanced technology, and astonishing interior appointments have made it an instant contender in this competitive segment. But how does it stack up against the apparent leader in the clubhouse – the 2020 Honda Accord?
Believe it or not, in several categories the Sonata stands toe-to-toe with the Accord and other midsize sedans. In others, it accelerates past the Accord, especially in offering Tampa automotive shoppers the best bang for their buck.
Let’s compare the Hyundai Sonata vs the Honda Accord. We’ll showcase what’s new for 2020, the trim levels offered, powertrain options, interior appointment, and safety systems with both contenders. In the end, we’ll explain why the 2020 Sonata builds on Brandon Hyundai’s tradition of offering auto buyers with the best value in Tampa, FL.
The Hyundai Sonata received a complete overhaul for 2020. It blends futuristic technology with opulent design, at a price that won’t put a dent in your wallet. The new 2020 Sonata offers consumers two gasoline powertrain combinations and a hybrid set-up that is a stand-alone product offering.
The Hyundai Sonata features an interior that is elegant and spacious, an exterior that is sleek and sexy, and technology that improves the driving experience while keeping drivers and passengers safer than ever before. For 2020, consumers have four trim levels to consider: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, and Limited.
The 2020 Honda Accord rests on its laurels – arriving at Tampa dealerships mainly unchanged since 2019. For the new year, it’s available in five trims: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring.
The new Sonata features a pair of fuel-efficient and reliable engine choices for 2020. The standard, available in the SE and SEL is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder normally aspirated engine that produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft of torque.
Front-wheel drive is standard – with power supplied via an 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®. This powertrain returns an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg highway.
The SEL Plus and Limited are both powered by a precision-tuned 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces 180 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft of torque. Like the standard powertrain, this engine is also paired with the eight-speed transmission and FWD. City driving fuel economy stays the same, while the highway mileage drops slightly to 36 mpg.
The 2020 Honda Accord likewise offers a pair of engines. The standard is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 192 horsepower and equal torque output. This engine can be paired with a six-speed manual or CVT. In manual transmission trim, it returns an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city / 35 mpg highway. The CVT returns 29 mpg city / 35 mpg highway.
The upgrade is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 252 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft of torque paired with the CVT. EPA-estimates are 30 mpg city / 38 mpg highway.
One of the major focus points for Hyundai engineers was to improve the driving experience with the redesigned Sonata. They succeeded in spades. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is more spacious and comfortable than in previous years. It features 16 cubic feet of cargo space, which allows you to fit seven carry-on suitcases inside the trunk – plenty of space for those family road trips.
The infotainment system is showcased on a crystal clear eight-inch touchscreen display. It’s also available with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. One of the most unique features is Hyundai’s Digital Key, which permits owners to use their smartphone app to unlock the vehicle and operate certain vehicle functions remotely.
Notably is the introduction of Smart Park, a revolutionary technology feature that allows you to park the vehicle in tight spaces with a simple click of a button.
The Honda Accord is likewise. However, it saves most of its upscale features for top-tier trim levels. Some of the available upgrades include heated rear seats, a head-up display, and heated and cooled leather front seats.
Hyundai has again stepped up the game with driver-assisted technology available with the 2020 Sonata. The inclusion of Hyundai’s SmartSense® package of driver-assistance features is now a standard offering throughout the line-up.
It includes automatic high-beam assist, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and a driver-attention warning system that can sense when drivers are drowsy or distracted.
Available driver-assisted features include blind-spot monitoring, and the Smart Park system. The Accord offers consumers a plethora of tech and safety systems. Automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are standard inclusions. Blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear-cross traffic alert are upgrades.
When you compare the two heads up – they stand toe-to-toe quite well. With all things being equal, the match-up could be considered a draw – except for one important detail; it’s starting price. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata begins at $23,600 while the 2020 Honda Accord’s opening price is $2,020 more. That said, the best bang for your buck appears to be in the Sonata’s favor.
Hyundai offers its new car buyers with America’s Best Warranty of 10 years/100,000 miles, and complimentary maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first). When you add these important criteria to the equation – the 2020 Hyundai Sonata gains momentum and pulls ahead.
The recently redesigned 2020 Hyundai Sonata is a worthy contender in the competitive midsize sedan segment. The best place to see them and test drive a new Sonata is Brandon Hyundai.
Our Tampa Hyundai dealership treats every visitor to our dealership with respect and dignity. We keep a large inventory of Sonata’s new and previously owned onsite, and always go above and beyond to deliver award-winning customer service.
If you’re thinking about investing in a high-quality mid-sized sedan, take time to visit Brandon Hyundai and discover why Hyundai continues as the #1 in the automotive industry in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index since 2010.
We offer a variety of financing and trade-in tools to help make your buying experience as seamless as possible. Get your free credit score in under five minutes, with no social security number required, by clicking through to the button below. With our trade-in valet service, you can sell us your car today for guaranteed cash to use toward your new purchase. At Brandon Hyundai, we hope to make your financing or leasing experience as easy as possible.
