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Identifying the First-Gen Ford MustangHybrid Heads-Up – Camry vs Sonata at $15,000
Two affordable used hybrids, the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry, go head-to-head at a price tag of $15,000.
Affordable Used Hybrids
Cars can serve as more than transportation. They can also function as personality tests illustrating the workings of their owners’ minds. Sports cars belie a free spirit drawn to exhilarating experiences. Pickups demonstrate values of toughness and industriousness and, perhaps, comfortability with excess. A ten-year old hybrid commuter car demarks practicality, studiousness, and exactitude in its owner or simply their desire not to have to think about their car at all.
If you’re in the latter crowd of set-it-and-forget-it car shoppers, the Hyundai Sonata hybrid and Toyota Camry hybrid deserve to be at the top of your list of possible purchases. Both get roughly 40 mpg, offer pleasant, commodious interiors, and ride smoothly and quietly. Given their similarities, we’re offering a side-by-side comparison to determine which is the best used hybrid for the money. Judging these two cars on an even playing field included setting a price point of $15,000 as our ceiling. That limit meant looking at the 2016 model year Sonata and comparing them to the slightly older but equivalently priced 2014 Camry.
Driving & Performance
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata hybrid is powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and one electric motor combine for 193 horsepower. A six-speed automatic does an inconspicuous job shifting gears. Fuel economy for the Sonata hybrid is at its best in the base SE trim which gets up to 40 city and 44 highway mpg. The Limited trim gets a slightly worse 39 city and 43 highway mpg. The Sonata hybrid features decent steering and a pleasant ride quality that dims only in comparison with the Camry’s exemplary on-road qualities. The mediocre acceleration, especially in highway settings, is a bit annoying but it’s also typical of the segment as a whole.
The 2014 Toyota Camry hybrid gets a 2.5L four-cylinder paired with a single electric motor which combine in this case for 200 horsepower. The Camry hybrid LE nets 42 city and 38 highway, notably less than the Sonata, while the XLE, with its larger wheels and tires, gets 40/38 mpg. The Camry’s suspension offers an exemplary combination of comfort and athleticism, though the steering isn’t as communicative as it could be. The CVT (continuously variable transmission) tends to hang revs, as they are wont to do, but is otherwise unobtrusive.
Another point of departure between the Sonata and Camry is the transition between electric and gas propulsion. The Sonata’s hybrid system does a decent job in jumping from electric to gas power (from low speed to 5 mph-plus) but the Camry’s hybrid is just smoother and less noticeable than the Hyundai’s.
Interior & Comfort
The interiors of the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry match up closely in terms of quality while departing in spaciousness. The Sonata’s cabin is fitted with superior quality materials and the seats are among the most comfortable in the segment. The design is clean if a bit on the conservative side. The ride is pleasantly quiet as tire and wind noise are sufficiently muted. The Limited with Blue Pearl Interior gussies up the Sonata with niceties like wood trim, fending off the rental car vibes of lower trims. The Sonata offers 35.6 inches of rear seat legroom and 13.3 cubic feet of trunk space.
The Toyota Camry hybrid likewise features high-quality materials in its interior. The cabin’s design and layout are clearly engineered for ease of use, a strong suit for the Camry. There fails to be a appreciable difference aesthetically between the two cars as the Camry likewise takes a conservative approach to styling. The Camry’s seats are equally as comfortable as those of the Sonata but rear-seat legroom measures 38.9 inches, a clear win in the Toyota’s favor. Trunk space shows only the most marginal differences, measuring 13.1 cu.-ft. in the Camry’s case.
Trims & Features
The Hyundai Sonata hybrid is offered in technically three trim levels with one, the Limited with Blue Pearl Interior, being mostly cosmetic. The SE trim features a seven-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, blind spot mirror, heated mirrors, keyless entry, dual-zone AC, and satellite radio. The Limited trim adds a rear spoiler and a host of options that include navigation, a hands-free liftgate, premium stereo, sunroof, and a heated and cooled driver’s seat. The Limited with Blue Pearl Interior tacks on a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery, and wood trim.
The Toyota Camry hybrid comes in three trims: the LE, SE Limited Edition, and XLE. The LE offers basic amenities like Bluetooth connectivity, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry. The SE Limited Edition adds sporty styling, HD radio, navigation, and smart phone app integration. The XLE trim adds heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel as well as options for leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof, the 10-speaker JBL premium stereo, navigation, and blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alerts.
Conclusions
The Hyundai Sonata hybrid and Toyota Camry hybrid match up closely but where we found daylight between the two, we tended to favor the Camry. While the Sonata wins with marginally better fuel economy the Camry was clearly the better handling car, and the one we’d prefer driving day-to-day. The interiors are comparable but again the Camry managed to eke out a win with the roomier cabin. Both cars offer similar lists of standard features and options, though we found Hyundai’s infotainment system slightly easier to navigate than Toyota’s.
Even at two years older, we prefer the 2014 Toyota Camry hybrid over the 2016 Hyundai Sonata hybrid at $15,000.
