Which Hyundai is Better: Sonata or Elantra?

With a design based around the notion of passenger comfort, both the 2021 Hyundai Sonata and Elantra deliver big on driving enjoyment. However, there are still some differences between the two Hyundai vehicles.

For instance, one is a midsize car with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, while the other is compact and offers a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower.

If you’re wondering, ‘is Sonata better than Elantra?’ Read our comparison guide to see how they measure up against each other.

2021 Hyundai Sonata vs. 2021 Elantra: Performance

Sonata: The Hyundai Sonata offers a choice of three engine options. The first is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower, 181 lb-ft of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. This engine is standard on the Sonata SE, and SEL trims.

The Sonata SEL Plus and Limited trims offer a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. For its part, the Sonata N Line is equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good enough for up to 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine ships with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Elantra: The Hyundai Elantra comes with a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This engine is standard on the SE, SEL, and Limited trims. The Elantra Hybrid Blue and Hybrid Limited offer a hybrid powertrain with a 1.6-liter engine and 139 horses. This engine links to a six-speed automatic.

With the Elantra N Line, customers get a 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter engine paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The more robust Elantra N trim has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. Users will also have to choose between a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.

2021 Hyundai Sonata vs. 2021 Hyundai Elantra: Style & Comfort Features

In terms of style, both vehicles have a road presence, thanks to their bold design and clean proportions. With regards to occupants’ comfort, the Sonata seats five people and can be had with available heated and ventilated front seats, suede-and-leather or leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated steering wheel, etc.

Likewise, the Elantra offers seating for five with available leather upholstery and heated front seats. That being said, the Sonata provides more available comfort features than the Elantra.

2021 Hyundai Sonata vs. Elantra: Tech & Safety

To enable drivers to stay in total control, the Sonata and Elantra offer a long list of driver assistance systems. These features include blind-spot monitoring, forward collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, etc.

On the tech front, the Sonata offers a standard 8-inch touchscreen, HD radio, a USB port, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay^®, Android Auto^™, and a six-speaker stereo. The Elantra has a similar list, including an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay^®, Android Auto^™, HD radio, Bluetooth, two USB ports, voice recognition, and a four-speaker stereo.

If you’re considering an economy car that delivers modern equipment and a comprehensive range of safety amenities, please visit us at Brandon Hyundai, Tampa, FL, to check out our Hyundai Sonata and Elantra models.