Compare the2025 Hyundai Sonata HybridVS 2025 Honda Accord

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda Accord, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Accord has not been tested.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Accord only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Sonata Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata Hybrid has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the Accord’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Sonata Hybrid and the Accord have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Sonata Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Accord’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Accord. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Sonata Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Accord’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata Hybrid for 2 years and 24,000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the Accord (3/36,000 vs. 1/12000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Honda.

The Sonata Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 79 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 192) than the Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sonata Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 247) than the Accord Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is faster than the Honda Accord turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata Hybrid gets better mileage than the Accord:

For better stopping power the Sonata Hybrid’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord:

The Sonata Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Accord are solid, not vented.

The Sonata Hybrid stops much shorter than the Accord:

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata Hybrid is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Accord.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited handles at .83 G’s, while the Accord pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Accord Sport-L Hybrid (27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Accord’s (35.9 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sonata Hybrid Limited is quieter than the Accord:

The Sonata Hybrid has .5 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Accord.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Sonata Hybrid’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Accord’s useful trunk space.

The Sonata Hybrid’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata Hybrid’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sonata Hybrid Limited also has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Accord doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The Sonata Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Sonata Hybrid and the Accord have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonata Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Accord prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sonata Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Accord doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Sonata Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord EX-L/Touring.

The Sonata Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring.

Compared to the Honda Accord, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to the Honda Accord’s traditional radio, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Accord Sport/EX-L/Touring offers wireless charging.

The Sonata Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Accord doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Honda Accord, based on reliability, safety and performance.