Honda Pilot vs. Hyundai Sonata

Finding the perfect car for your family is tough. You want to make sure that the car is reliable and safe, but you also want to enjoy driving and riding in it. If you're trying to figure out what kind of vehicle you would like to purchase, we'll go over two popular models that are perfect as family cars. 

The Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Sonata both have a lot of safety features, plus a comfortable design. However, the Pilot is an SUV, and the Sonata is a midsize sedan. So, depending on your driving preferences, you may prefer one over the other. 

If you're trying to decide between the two options, we'll go over the main details of each. We will also compare the pros and cons of the Pilot and Sonata to illustrate your choices clearly.

Honda Pilot (2023)

The Honda Pilot is a reliable SUV with a durable exterior. It has an upscale cabin with comfortable seating and great safety and technology features. The Pilot is available to be purchased in five trim levels–the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite. The base trim level can be bought for $39,150, while the highest trim level is sold for $52,030.

There are a lot of standard safety features on the Pilot, giving drivers more peace of mind. Some of the safety features you can expect on even the most basic trim level are the Honda Sensing features (forward collision warning, lane departure warning, etc.), a multi-angle rearview camera, and a seat belt reminder for all seats.

There are also cool features like a push-button start, power door and tailgate locks, and a timed rear window defroster available on all trim levels. There are also stylish and comfortable features throughout the cabin, like a leather-trimmed steering wheel and floor mats on every trim level. For higher-end trim levels, you can enjoy ambient lighting and a four-inch head-up display. 

Hyundai Sonata (2023)

The Hyundai Sonata is a sleek and stylish sedan that's also reliable and safe. It's available in five different trim levels–the SE, SEL, SEL Plus, N Line, and Limited. If you are interested in the base trim level, it will cost you $24,950. For the highest trim level available, it will cost you $34,975.

The Sonata comes equipped with a lot of intuitive safety features, like forward collision avoidance and pedestrian detection, driver attention warning, and a safe exit warning. 

The cabin of the Sonata is outfitted with upscale finishes like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a ten-inch touchscreen display, and a rearview monitor with parking guidance.

How Do They Compare?

If you're trying to decide on the Honda Pilot vs. Hyundai Sonata, we'll go over some of the pros and cons of major categories, including design, fuel economy, performance, and technology.

The Hyundai Sonata Is the Most Fuel-Efficient Option

If you are looking for the most fuel-efficient option, then you'll appreciate the mileage you'll get with the Sonata. It has an estimated 27 City/ 37 Highway mpg. In comparison, the Honda Pilot has an estimated 19 City/ 27 Highway mpg. 

The Honda Pilot Can Handle Tough Road Conditions

If you live in a place where you expect snow every year, you'll prefer the Honda Pilot vs. Hyundai Sonata. The Pilot is more equipped to handle tough road conditions than the Sonata. It has an optional all-wheel drive option as well as all-season tires. It also has different drive modes that include snow, ECON, tow, sport, and trail & sand. 

The Honda Pilot Can Seat up to Eight People

If you need extra cargo space or passenger seating to fit your lifestyle, then you'll want to go with the Honda Pilot vs. the Hyundai Sonata. One of the big benefits of driving an SUV is all the available seats and cargo space options. Its design is more versatile, so if you need to fold up seats for extra cargo room, then that's an option. If you need all the seats for passengers, you'll be able to seat up to eight people. 

In comparison, the Hyundai Sonata is only able to seat five passengers. The Sonata does have 60/40 rear folding back seats for more cargo space, though it's not close to the amount of cargo space the Pilot offers.

The Honda Pilot Has a More Powerful Engine on Base Trims

The Honda Pilot comes with a powerful engine on all trim levels. It is capable of generating up to 285 horsepower. In contrast, the Sonata is only capable of producing 190 horsepower on all lower-end trims. However, on the N Line trim level, the model is able to generate 290 horsepower. 

The Pilot also has significant towing capabilities and can tow up to 3500 pounds. 

The Honda Pilot Has the Most Convenient Features on Base Trims

The Honda Pilot comes with more stylish upgrades and technology features on base trim levels than Hyundai Sonata. The Pilot's cabin has leather-trimmed steering wheels, a timed rear window defroster, a cargo area light, and a push-button start. While the Sonata has many standard safety features, it lacks these extra upgraded features in the base trim levels.

If you're considering the Honda Pilot vs. Hyundai Sonata, then you'll have to consider your lifestyle, preferences, and needs. If you prefer driving a smaller car that has excellent fuel efficiency, then you'll probably want to go with the Hyundai Sonata. It also has a more affordable price range. However, if you want a high-quality SUV that is able to withstand harsh driving conditions, has a lot of space, and is packed with a ton of standard technology features, then you'll want to consider purchasing a Pilot.