Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Hyundai SONATA VS 2015 Acura TLX Near Scottsdale, AZ

Both the Sonata and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

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 TLX’s 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the TLX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the TLX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

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

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonata’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonata first among midsize cars in their 2013 Initial Quality Study. The TLX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata Eco gets better fuel mileage than the TLX 4 cyl. (28 city/38 hwy vs. 24 city/35 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Sonata SE with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the TLX 4 cyl. (25 city/37 hwy vs. 24 city/35 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Sonata uses regular unleaded gasoline. The TLX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sonata has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Sonata stops shorter than the TLX:

For better traction, the Sonata Sport 2.0T’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TLX (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R17).

The Sonata Sport 2.0T’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TLX V-6’s 50 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sonata’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the TLX (110.4 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the TLX V-6’s (35.8 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Sonata’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the TLX SH-AWD’s (35.8 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

The Hyundai Sonata may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Sonata is rated a Large car by the EPA, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The Sonata has 12.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (106.1 vs. 93.3).

The Sonata has 3.2 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The Sonata has a much larger trunk than the TLX (16.3 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata’s available trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The TLX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Sonata Limited/Sport 2.0T detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The TLX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Both the Sonata and the TLX offer available heated front seats. The Sonata also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the TLX.

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