Elantra 2025 or Sonata 2024?

I’m looking to buy my first car :D, I’m not sure which I like more. I like the sporty look of the Elantra, and I think the interior is also really nice, but the Sonata was faster and more modern. I genuinely like both cars, and the exterior of both are really cool. I’m not the biggest fan of the interior but I think I can fix that through several mods. So I think I will base my decision off of which is more reliable, looks cooler, and is more fun to drive. Let me know your thoughts :D.

I personally like Sonatas better.

Another vote for the Sonata. It’s not much more and it’s a bigger car that will soak up bumps in the road better. It’ll be a little safer in an accident too.

You say the Sonata is faster, but that depends on the trim. The Elantra N-line is way faster than all the Sonata trims except the N-line Sonata which is the fastest of all of them. The N-line trims for both cars are the best version to get IMO. Although the Elantra Limited has a lot more features for the price.

I was either going to get a 24 Sonata SEL or a 24 Elantra N-line. The prices were kinda similar (I was trading in my 24 Kona).

I went with the Elantra N-line as it had more features than the Sonata SEL. It has a moon roof, Bose speakers, etc, and is a lot more fun to drive. The Sonata armrests are softer and more comfy.

The Sonata costs more for the higher trims and has more space than the Elantra, but the Elantra is easier to park and maneuver.

@klausmark1
Sorry, I don’t know much about cars so my answer might not be the best. I asked my dealer and he said both cars are the middle trims (not lower or higher), and he said that in this dealership they don’t have specific trim names??? I’m not sure​:sweat_smile::sweat_smile:

@SueJohnson
Sounds like your salesperson(s) don’t know what they are talking about. I ran into that myself when buying my Hyundai; she was a super nice lady but I was teaching her about the cars she was selling.

If I were you, I would not be considering buying a car with a BS answer like that. They need to give you specifics, what the trim level is and the engine type. Is it a hybrid, or an internal combustion engine (regular gas) plus I’d make them go over all the feature differences.

The sticker on the car should show what the trim is. By the sounds of it, they are trying to sell you an SEL or an SEL with the convenience package (assuming you are in the US). The SEL convenience is smack dab in the middle of the trims and tends to be the one they have the most stock of. It offers a balance of features at a reasonable price. The convenience package adds a moon roof and a couple of other things over the regular SEL.

Sonata hands down. I like the Elantra, it’s more sporty and so on. But it’s a tier below the Sonata in material quality and interior comfort. And the Sonata has a lot more space.

Which trim? Are you aiming for both also?

@barak
I’m not quite sure😅but they both have the same features.

SueJohnson said:
@barak
I’m not quite sure😅but they both have the same features.

Double check. For example, an Elantra limited might be better value in features over a Sonata SEL without the convenience package.

@barak
I asked my dealer and he said both cars are the middle trims (not lower or higher), and he said that in this dealership they don’t have specific trim names??? I’m not sure​:sweat_smile::sweat_smile:

SueJohnson said:
@barak
I asked my dealer and he said both cars are the middle trims (not lower or higher), and he said that in this dealership they don’t have specific trim names??? I’m not sure​:sweat_smile::sweat_smile:

Ask another dealer or ask to talk to his manager. Trim names are assigned from Hyundai, not from the dealer.

Also, the fact that they aren’t giving you trim names is sketchy and unprofessional. Whatever price they give you, cross-check it at another dealer to make sure they aren’t ripping you off since you sound clueless as well. Car dealers love clueless people.

Get the Sonata. You’ll appreciate having more room.

I feel the same way but I’m looking at the 2025 Elantra N and 2024 (maybe 2025) Sonata N Line. I’m pretty stuck between these two but they are some of the best sportier cars on the market for under 40k.

@Michael
I like the look of the Sonata N-Line more, but the performance of the Elantra N more.

@Michael
Sonata if you prefer fast but comfy. Elantra if you prefer performance and cornering ability. The Bose speakers in the Sonata are better (12 vs 8) and obviously has more space. The Elantra is still plenty comfy though and enough space for me most of the time. I’d wager that it’s much easier to find a Sonata N-line and make a deal on it than the EN.

IVT vs 8 speed traditional auto.

Go Sonata - boo belts.

Unless you are talking N trims, then ignore me.

Love my 2021 Sonata. Extra space and stylish, and nothing on the road looks like it.

If money isn’t a factor, I take the Sonata every time. Looks more premium, drives better, and is a lot more comfortable IMO. This all comes at a significant price increase though.