Compare the2023 Acura TLXVS 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Sonata doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Acura TLX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps 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 TLX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sonata doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the TLX and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	TLX	Sonata
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	514
Neck Injury Risk	20%	22%
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	33 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	258/267 lbs.	321/341 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 Acura TLX is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	TLX	Sonata
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	128	163
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	188 lbs.	305 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	498 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	181	301
Spine Acceleration	53 G’s	72 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	20 inches
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	484 lbs.	577 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the TLX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sonata is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 5 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The TLX has more powerful engines than the Sonata:

	Horsepower	Torque
TLX 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	272 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
TLX Type S 3.0 turbo V6	355 HP	354 lbs.-ft.
Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder	180 HP	195 lbs.-ft.
Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	191 HP	181 lbs.-ft.
Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	290 HP	311 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

	TLX	Sonata
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	7.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.3 sec	20 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.5 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the TLX Type S’ fuel efficiency. The Sonata doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regardless of its engine, the TLX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Hyundai only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Sonata SE.

The TLX has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sonata SE’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The TLX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sonata doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura TLX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Sonata.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	TLX	TLX Type S	Sonata	Sonata N Line
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.3 inches	12 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	11.2 inches	12.8 inches

The TLX stops much shorter than the Sonata:

	TLX	Sonata
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the TLX has larger standard tires than the Sonata (235/50R18 vs. 205/65R16). The TLX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sonata (255/35R20 vs. 245/40R19).

The TLX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires. The TLX Type S’ tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sonata SE. The TLX Type S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line.

The TLX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sonata doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The TLX 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TLX’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Sonata (113 inches vs. 111.8 inches).

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the Sonata SEL Plus pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Sonata SEL Plus (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

Chassis

The TLX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sonata doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The TLX has 1.2 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Sonata.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the TLX’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Sonata’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

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

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 40% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

Ergonomics

The TLX’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/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the TLX 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. The driver of the Sonata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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

The TLX 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/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line.

Both the TLX and the Sonata offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the TLX 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.

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