Should You Get a 2020 Hyundai Elantra or Sonata? 5 Key Differences

Dec 2, 2020

2020 Sonata at Crain Hyundai of Bentonville

2020 Elantra Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville Arkansas

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra and the 2020 Sonata have good reviews from both buyers and industry publications. However, you should be aware of their significant differences before trying to decide which model best suits your needs. Here are the major factors that you will probably want to consider.

1. Size

Although the Sonata is a full-sized sedan, while the Elantra is a compact, both cars seat 5 passengers. So let’s look a little closer at where the differences are.

Interior

If the driver or one of the regular passengers is taller than average, it might be important to have extra room inside the car. Both front and rear seats of the Sonata provide 2 inches more shoulder room than the Elantra, and the Sonata’s front seat has 4 more inches of leg space, as well.

Exterior

The Sonata is 2.3 inches wider and 11 inches longer than the Elantra. So the size of your garage, or anywhere you frequently need to park, will make a difference here. Something else to think about is that the Elantra is officially classified as a compact vehicle, so that may come in handy if you often park in places where there are special spots reserved for compact cars.

2. Safety

The Elantra has advanced safety features even on its base model, such as:

Lane-keeping assist
Lane-departure warning
Automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available as upgrades, and standard on higher trims.

Standard safety features on the Sonata include:

Forward-collision avoidance
Lane-keeping assist
Automatic high-beam assist
Adaptive cruise control
Driver-attention warning

Blind-spot monitoring is available as an upgrade (and standard in the SEL trim). Automatic parking is standard in Limited trim.

3. Features

If size hasn’t narrowed your choice between the two models, then maybe the features available in each will help you decide.

Elantra

Standard features in the Elantra include:

Dual-zone climate control
An updated suspension
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) option that is new for this model
5-inch dashboard screen, with 7-inch touchscreen in higher models and 8 inches available with navigation and wireless phone charging
Superb fuel economy and handling

Sonata

You’ll find standard in the Sonata:

Competitive handling and fuel economy
CVT option
8-inch touchscreen

A Digital Key that lets you unlock the car with your phone is offered in SEL trim and higher.

4. Engine

While both models have 4 cylinder engines in their base models, the Sonata has 191 hp and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the base Elantra has 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque. However, the Elantra can be upgraded to 201 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque.

5. Base Price

The larger Sonata has more features, but also a higher price tag. It’s starting price is a few thousand dollars more than the Elantra.

Visit Crain Hyundai of Fayetteville today for a test drive of either of these great cars. Find the one that fits your budget and driving needs today!