There are many options in the sedan market, and one of the better ones is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata. However, another worthy sedan is the 2021 Chevy Malibu, which has plenty of great features as well. Here’s a comparison between the 2021 Hyundai Sonata and the 2021 Chevy Malibu, and why the Sonata ultimately has the upper hand. 

The pros and cons of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata

According to Autotrader, the 2021 Sonata is coming off the heels of a major update, so there are not many differences between the 2021 model and the 2020 model.

That being said, with a base price tag of about $24,000, the 2021 Sonata has a lot to offer as is. For example, the 2021 Sonata has a standard 8-inch touch screen display that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In addition to that, the Sonata comes standard with Hyundai Smartsense, which, according to Autotrader, outfits the Sonata with a lot of smart safety features.

Some of those smart safety features include adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, as well as forward-collision avoidance. However, the rest of the Sonata’s interior is relatively average, as it comes with cloth seats and few other advanced standard features.

Furthermore, Hyundai offers several options as far as the Sonata’s engine goes. It has a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 191-hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, but there’s also a slightly more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter engine as well as a hybrid engine.

The Sonata Hybrid also has options that’ll include solar panels on its roof, and those solar panels can provide extra range. That being said, none of these engines are particularly powerful for the class. 

The pros and cons of the 2021 Chevy Malibu

While Autotrader wrote that the Malibu’s future is uncertain, with a starting price tag of about $22,000, it does do a few things better than the Sonata.

For example, while the Malibu’s standard 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is actually weaker than the Sonata’s standard engine, the Malibu’s optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is more powerful than anything the Sonata offers. That being said, Chevy no longer offers a hybrid option on the Malibu.

In addition to that, the Malibu also has an 8.0-inch touch screen display as standard, and it’s also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

However, while Autotrader praised the infotainment system in the Malibu, the Malibu has far fewer standard smart safety features than the Sonata has. In addition to that, the Malibu’s interior is also relatively average as far as its creature comforts go. 

The Hyundai Sonata offers more peace of mind

By and large however, both cars are relatively similar as far as the base versions are concerned. Both cars have the same fuel economy, both cars seat the same number of people, and both cars have about the same amount of cargo space. That being said, one car has one feature that does put it over the edge, according to Autotrader.

The Malibu comes with a 3-year or 36,000-mile warranty, while the Sonata comes with a 5-year or 60,000-mile warranty. The Sonata clearly has the advantage as far as this goes, but there’s more. According to Autotrader, Hyundai is also giving out three years of free maintenance for new Sonata owners. 

While Hyundais are typically reliable cars that don’t need much maintenance, three years of free maintenance can still add up to a sizable amount of money, even when it’s only counting the routine stuff. As a result, Sonata owners will save quite a bit of money with their car, and that’s why Autotrader ultimately gave it the win over the Malibu.