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Unfairly or not, mid-size sedans sometimes
get labeled as boring cars.
Sure, they're great for families,
provide lots of space, and have some pretty cool features,
but beyond that, there's often not much to catch your eye--
wait!
What the heck is that thing?
OK, so it turns out the 2020 Hyundai Sonata
actually does catch your eye.
But then, the way the 2020 Honda Accord drives
is just as exciting as the way this model looks.
So should we just throw out that old "boring" word altogether?
Let's find out.
I'm Ryan from Edmunds.
Each year, we painstakingly test and review hundreds of cars,
while CarMax experts buy, sell, and appraise
thousands and thousands.
We're combining our car testing knowledge with their experience
to help you find the right car.
Before we get started, make sure to throw us a like
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don't miss any CarMax videos in the future.
If you want to read an in-depth article on these two cars,
click the link in the description below.
We have a lot to cover, so let's start
with the more mysterious of the two, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata.
Once upon a time, the Sonata had really dramatic styling.
Then, it got kind of boring.
Now, it's back to being wild again.
That face is like nothing else in its class,
and the sloping roof line provides some added benefit
that we'll show you later.
On average, CarMax sells 2020 Sonatas for about $23,000,
depending on things like the trim level, mileage, options,
and other factors.
The 2020 Accord is more of a known commodity,
but that's not a knock against it at all.
Due to our years of testing Accords,
we know to expect a comfortable ride, solid power
under the hood, and some of the best handling you
can buy at this price.
In fact, the Accord was the Edmunds top-rated sedan
for several years running, until 2021 when it came in second.
I can't wait to show you more about it.
Carmax sells the 2020 Accord for an average of around $27,000--
again, depending on the trim level, mileage, options,
and other factors.
These are two of the most refined sedans
around on the inside.
Let me show you what I mean.
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There is a lot to like about the Sonata interior.
This is a relatively based version of the car,
but it still makes a good first impression.
For instance, I really like this metal strip
along the door that turns into the handle,
and the steering wheel has a really unique and visually
interesting design to it.
There's also lots of space.
Up front, there's plenty of room to move around and get
comfortable, and there's a tilting and telescoping
steering wheel so you can find a good driving position.
In the center stack here, the controls
are nice and easy to reach and use.
In the back, if you're 6 feet tall or more,
you will need to duck to get under that sloping roof line.
But once inside, there's plenty of room.
On paper, the Accord has a big advantage
when it comes to leg room, but we found in our testing
that they're both comfortable for people 6 feet
or even taller.
Apple Car Play and Android Auto come
standard, as does this 8-inch touchscreen.
There's also a high-resolution backup camera and a great suite
of standard driver seats that includes adaptive cruise
control, lane keep assist, and more.
Overall, there is a bit of a clash
between appearance and reality.
For instance, these seats look nice,
but they're pretty firm, and on a long drive, that
could get uncomfortable.
Also, on the door, there's pretty hard plastics.
This great-looking steering wheel
would be a lot nicer if it had softer materials,
and there's lots of gloss black plastic on the points
that you're going to be touching a lot.
And that can easily get smudgy and greasy, which is not good.
If you opt for the Limited trim, you'll
find nicer materials inside.
Plus, it comes with both heated and cooled front seats.
The Sonata looks refined inside, but when
you put refinement to use, you get comfort.
And we wish it went a little bit further in that department.
Now, let's check out what the Accord has to offer.
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At first glance, the interior of the Accord
could fool you for a luxury car.
But does it hold up to a closer look?
Well, the materials quality is impressive, with far more
soft touch points and a lot less of that smudgy black plastic.
Compared to the Sonata, the buttons
are also bigger and clearer, plus the infotainment
system is easy to use, as is the climate control.
The only issue, really, are these steering wheel controls.
There's just a lot going on here,
and it's somewhat tricky to figure out.
Both Apple Car Play and Android Auto come standard,
but the base touchscreen is 7 inches,
which is smaller than that in the bass Sonata.
You can upgrade to an 8-inch unit, which we have here.
Driving aids that comes standard include adaptive cruise control
and lane keep assist, but we found in our Edmunds testing
that they are much more sensitive than those
in other sedans.
There's lots of space in here, and it's
easier for taller folks to get into the back.
When it comes to the seats, I think
these are very good for the class,
but compared to the Sonata's firm seats,
these feel downright plush and supple.
Now, the Accord does have its fair share of hard plastics,
but there's far less of it throughout
a comfortable interior.
So where the Sonata gets an A for effort,
the Accord gets one for execution.
Here's how they stack up on the inside.
The Sonata almost pulls off a convincing copy of a luxury
interior, but there are so many standard features,
like a great-looking touch screen and all
those standard driving aids, that it evens it out.
In the Accord, this is how it's done when it comes
to interior space and quality.
There are some frustrations in the user experience,
like a finicky touch screen.
What about behind the wheel?
Here's how these cars behave on the road.
For us to consider the Sonata a legitimate contender
in its class, this is the crucial part.
It needs to be as smooth and comfortable as its competitors.
You can choose from a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine
or a turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder.
This one has the 2.5-liter, and it's pretty lackluster
on the road.
Our advice is look for the turbo.
It's more refined, has no trouble keeping up
with traffic, and is slightly faster
than competitors with comparable engines.
0 to 60 miles per hour is right around average
for the class at 7.5 seconds.
The rest of the experience is unremarkable.
There isn't much driving feel.
The steering is accurate and smooth,
but the Sonata also has a lack of personality or verve
that falls short against the Accord.
The ride is also stiff--
not sporty stiff, just stiff, with no handling plus side.
It's also a bit louder inside than expected.
It's a nice ride.
It's just not Accord nice.
Overall, the Accord sets a high bar
that even it struggles to me.
Here's the good and the bad.
We heard you like turbos, so there's a 1.5-liter turbo
and a 2.0-liter turbo, which is in this model.
Both of the available engines respond quickly when you hit
the gas pedal, but the 2.0-liter is genuinely quick,
at 5.9 seconds to 60 miles per hour.
When it comes to brakes, the stopping distance
from 60 miles an hour is about average
for the class in our Edmunds testing,
and the steering slightly lags.
We're tough graders, but we expect a lot
when it comes to the Accord.
The ride is a bit on the firm side,
but it's less busy than that of the Sonata.
And some versions of the Accord have upgraded suspensions
that elevate the ride.
Regardless of the model, the Accord
is nice and quiet inside.
From behind the wheel, there's a clear winner
and a clear runner-up.
The Sonata feels modern, even when
it's used, and well worth the price,
but the wow factor isn't there like it is with some rivals,
in the Accord, even though it's not a perfect ride,
it makes up for it with great responsiveness.
That's a huge plus in our book.
When you're looking for storage and fuel economy,
these are two great options.
Storage and fuel economy, after all,
are two of the main reasons the Sonata has
this dramatic roofline.
So does that really make a difference?
Open up the trunk, and you get 16 cubic feet
of storage capacity, which is good for the class.
Plus, there's a large opening and rear seat levers.
This is a family sedan, but take a look at this.
The child seat anchors are difficult to find and use.
It's a small but noteworthy issue
for a vehicle that should be optimized for families.
Bonus-- if you opt for the Limited
trim on the Sonata, that comes with Remote Smart Parking
Assist, which can remotely move the Sonata in
and out of tight parking spaces, even if you're
standing outside of the car.
You may remember this from one of our previous videos
about the Sonata.
Feel free to ignore those dance moves.
With the engine we have in this car, which
includes automatic engine start-stop,
you get an EPA-estimated 32 MPG combined.
Be warned, though, that we've had trouble
achieving that number when we tested it on our fuel economy
route.
If you opt for the turbocharged engine instead,
fuel economy goes down to 31 MPG,
which is still pretty good.
Long a champion of utility in this class,
the Accord is as good as ever, with a little bit of room
to improve.
Yes, it has more overall cargo space than the Sonata,
but only by a hair, at 16.7 cubic feet
compared to 16 cubic feet.
You might not even notice it, but you
will notice this big opening.
It makes it easy to load things inside.
There are also levers in the trunk
to fold down the rear seats.
As opposed to those tricky Sonata latches,
child seat access in the Accord is easy
thanks to these visible anchors.
Just click in and go.
You want the 1.5-liter for the best fuel economy ratings,
which top out at an EPA-estimated 33 MPG with
the CVT.
You might be attracted to the 1.5-liter engine for its higher
fuel economy rating versus the Sonata,
but be warned that both of Honda's engines underperformed
versus their rating during our testing.
So in real-world driving, the Accord's MPG advantage
isn't as definite as it may seem.
Do either of these sedans make your life easier?
Well, the Sonata has great space for daily use,
and there's a lot of helpful technology, too.
Its fuel economy ratings are also good
but can be hard to match in the real world.
The Accord simply nails the fundamentals.
Its trunk space and size are excellent,
and there's lots of room for child seats, too.
If we had one wish, it'd be for higher fuel economy
ratings in the Sport model.
The Hyundai Sonata is still trying
to prove itself among the best midsize sedans you can buy,
and the Honda Accord is trying to hold on to its crown
at the top of the pack.
So which one does a better job?
If it comes down to price for you,
then this may be a no-brainer.
The Sonata offers a lower average price
and a lot of standard features, which
means you may be able to get the same features or more
for a lot less money than in the Accord.
On the other hand, in our extensive testing
the Accord has proven itself again and again.
It costs more than the Sonata based on Carmax averages,
but that additional cost gets you a nicer, larger,
and more functional package.
That's why we feel the Accord is worth every penny.
Let us know which sedan you've owned
and which one you might buy next in the comments below.
Thanks for watching.
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And if you'd like to read an in-depth article about the pros
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below.