Compare the2025 Toyota CrownVS 2025 Hyundai Sonata

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Crown has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Crown has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sonata doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Crown has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sonata doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crown. But it costs extra on the Sonata.

The Crown (except XLE/Nightshade) offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sonata only offers a rear monitor.

The Toyota Crown offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Hyundai Sonata doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Crown and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Toyota Crown weighs 446 to 1038 pounds more than the Hyundai Sonata. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Crown is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Crown	Sonata
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	136	514
Neck Compression	16 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	179	356
Neck Injury Risk	26.1%	33%
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	189 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Crown is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Crown	Sonata
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	32	125
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	234 lbs.
Hip Force	344 lbs.	360 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	250
Spine Acceleration	54 G’s	60 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	704 lbs.	780 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 45 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crown’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Crown is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Crown’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Sonata’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

Engine

The Crown’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 45 more horsepower (236 vs. 191) than the Sonata’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Crown Platinum’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 50 more horsepower (340 vs. 290) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 311) than the Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Crown Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Crown	Sonata
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	14 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crown gets better mileage than the Sonata:

			MPG
Crown
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/41 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/32 hwy
Sonata
	FWD	SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		SEL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/36 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Crown’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sonata doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the Crown’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. Hyundai only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Sonata SE.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Crown higher (6 out of 10) than the Hyundai Sonata (4 to 6). This means the Crown produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sonata every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Crown has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sonata doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Crown	Sonata
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crown has larger tires than the Sonata (225/55R19 vs. 205/65R16).

The Crown’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sonata SE. The Crown’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sonata N Line.

Suspension and Handling

The Crown offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Sonata’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

Passenger Space

The Crown has .6 inches more front hip room and 4.1 inches more rear legroom than the Sonata.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Crown offers cargo security. The Sonata’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Crown. The Sonata doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Crown Platinum has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Sonata doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Ergonomics

The Crown has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Sonata doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Sonata doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Crown’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sonata doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Crown Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sonata doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Crown’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sonata’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sonata SEL/N Line’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Crown the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sonata can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Crown’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Sonata doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sonata’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Crown’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sonata’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Crown’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Hyundai only offers heated mirrors on the Sonata SEL/N Line.

When the Crown is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sonata’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Toyota Crown and Hyundai Sonata offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Crown features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Sonata’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Crown has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Sonata SEL/N Line. The Crown also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sonata.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Crown keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Sonata doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Crown’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Sonata doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Crown 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 Sonata SEL/N Line.

Both the Crown and the Sonata offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Crown has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Sonata doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Crown has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Sonata and isn’t available on the Sonata SE.

The Crown Platinum’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sonata doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Crown, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Sonata isn't recommended.

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