Compare the2025 Hyundai SonataVS 2025 Toyota Crown

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

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. 9KWFN-7F8XX 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/06/23

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Hyundai Sonata 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 Toyota Crown has not been tested.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sonata has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Sonata and the Crown 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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

	Sonata	Crown
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	36.5%
Neck Stress	171 lbs.	248 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/341 lbs.	425/507 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	174 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	457/490 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 Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Toyota Crown:

	Sonata	Crown
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	223 lbs.	582 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	264	293

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Crown:

	Sonata	Crown
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	-89 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.54 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	669 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	95	220
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.02 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.02 in	1.46 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	469 lbs.	759 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sonata, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.6% less likely to roll over than the Crown, which received a four-star rating.

The Hyundai Sonata (Built after November 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Crown has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Warranty

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

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

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Crown (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Crown 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	Sonata	Crown
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Sonata SE and the Crown have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Sonata SEs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Sonata uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Crown Platinum requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Sonata has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Hyundai Sonata, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Crown.

The Sonata offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Crown doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sonata N Line’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Crown doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sonata N Line	Crown
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	12.5 inches

The Sonata stops much shorter than the Crown:

	Sonata	Crown
70 to 0 MPH	180 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	146 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sonata N Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crown (245/40R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The Sonata N Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crown’s optional 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Sonata N Line handles at .87 G’s, while the Crown Limited pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the Toyota Crown.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sonata a Large car, while the Crown is rated a Mid-size.

The Sonata has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crown (104.4 vs. 98).

The Sonata has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Crown.

The front step up height for the Sonata is 1.7 inches lower than the Crown (15” vs. 16.7”). The Sonata’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Crown’s (15” vs. 16.3”).

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the Crown (15.6 vs. 15.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Sonata easier. The Sonata’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Crown’s liftover is 30.3 inches.

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

Servicing Ease

The Sonata uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crown 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.

Model Availability

The Sonata is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Crown doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonata second among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Crown isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Sonata outsold the Toyota Crown by over three to one during 2024.

See Available Inventory