Opinions: 2020 Toyota Camry vs 2020 Hyundai Sonata
I am planning on getting a new car later in the year, probably spring to late summer. I currently have a 2015 Camry SE with about 150,000km. I've looked at a lot of different vehicles and driven a lot either as rentals or test drives, and I've narrowed things down to the two main cars I am interested in... either another Camry SE (2020), or the brand new Hyundai Sonata (2020). I will finance so I am not buying either of them tomorrow, will be waiting for interest rates to drop a bit as the year goes on. I know there are some pretty good deals on 2019 leftover Camry but I am still a few months away from being in the right financial position, and I don't want to buy something when it is still winter. I want to wait until it can be had for a rate of 1.9 or lower for the 2020s.
These are some of the pros and cons in my mind, wondering if anyone has any input. This is a daily driver/family car and I put higher than average KM per year (32,000-35,000).
Toyota Camry:
Pros:
- Like the way it drives. Much nicer/smoother than my 2015.
- Toyota quality, I have had pretty good luck with my 2015, it went 146,000km on original brakes even.
- From what I understand I get a 1% discount on financing since I will be trading in another Toyota (loyalty).
- Price is reasonable: $28,350 MSRP for the SE and $31,250 for the SE upgrade (bigger wheels, sunroof, etc).
- AWD becoming available in spring (but no pricing on it yet for Canada).
Cons:
- Design is older than the Sonata. The 2020 is basically the same as the 2018, and 2021 will probably have a "refresh" which might bother me if I just bought a 2020.
- Warranty not as good as Hyundai (100k powertrain/60k comprehensive on Toyota).
- Toyota generally has higher interest rates than Hyundai.
- Lacks some of the more modern safety/self driving features (has adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and emergency stop... doesn't have lane trace assist or adaptive cruise with stop and go in bumper to bumper traffic).
2020 Sonata:
Pros:
- Literally just came out, fresh design, looks better than Camry (in my opinion).
- Better/more modern interior and infotainment screen.
- Has a more solid feel when it comes to doors closing, buttons, etc.
- Drives just as nice as Camry as far as handling and ride.
- Better value for money, has more features and the full suite of driver assist for similar price as Camry. The Sonata Sport is similar price as the Camry SE Upgrade (MSRP $31,299) and has a full pano sunroof (regular sunroof on Camry).
- Better warranty (5yr/100k on everything).
- Will probably eventually have 0% or low interest.
Cons:
- Brand new design, if there are any issues it might take a while for them to hit the news.
- Sport trim has a 1.6T engine. I trust turbos less than NA engines like in Camry (2.5).
- Hyundai still doesn't have the same quality reputation as Toyota. They have been in the news for engine failure, fires, etc. People I know with 2013-2016 Hyundai cars have had more problems than I have with my 2015 Toyota.
- No available AWD.
These are some of the pros and cons in my mind, wondering if anyone has any input. This is a daily driver/family car and I put higher than average KM per year (32,000-35,000).
Toyota Camry:
Pros:
- Like the way it drives. Much nicer/smoother than my 2015.
- Toyota quality, I have had pretty good luck with my 2015, it went 146,000km on original brakes even.
- From what I understand I get a 1% discount on financing since I will be trading in another Toyota (loyalty).
- Price is reasonable: $28,350 MSRP for the SE and $31,250 for the SE upgrade (bigger wheels, sunroof, etc).
- AWD becoming available in spring (but no pricing on it yet for Canada).
Cons:
- Design is older than the Sonata. The 2020 is basically the same as the 2018, and 2021 will probably have a "refresh" which might bother me if I just bought a 2020.
- Warranty not as good as Hyundai (100k powertrain/60k comprehensive on Toyota).
- Toyota generally has higher interest rates than Hyundai.
- Lacks some of the more modern safety/self driving features (has adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and emergency stop... doesn't have lane trace assist or adaptive cruise with stop and go in bumper to bumper traffic).
2020 Sonata:
Pros:
- Literally just came out, fresh design, looks better than Camry (in my opinion).
- Better/more modern interior and infotainment screen.
- Has a more solid feel when it comes to doors closing, buttons, etc.
- Drives just as nice as Camry as far as handling and ride.
- Better value for money, has more features and the full suite of driver assist for similar price as Camry. The Sonata Sport is similar price as the Camry SE Upgrade (MSRP $31,299) and has a full pano sunroof (regular sunroof on Camry).
- Better warranty (5yr/100k on everything).
- Will probably eventually have 0% or low interest.
Cons:
- Brand new design, if there are any issues it might take a while for them to hit the news.
- Sport trim has a 1.6T engine. I trust turbos less than NA engines like in Camry (2.5).
- Hyundai still doesn't have the same quality reputation as Toyota. They have been in the news for engine failure, fires, etc. People I know with 2013-2016 Hyundai cars have had more problems than I have with my 2015 Toyota.
- No available AWD.