2015 Hyundai Sonata vs. Its Competition

Martin Padgett Editorial Director

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is the model that helped Hyundai find its mainstream appeal in the U.S.; yet it's by no means the king of the hill, as it competes with some of the best-selling passenger cars—the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The Accord remains very much a Honda in driving feel, even though it's quite a large vehicle now.

Meanwhile Toyota tries to do better with a thorough mid-cycle revamp that includes an extensive re-engineering for 2015, plus new cabin appointments and a sportier emphasis.

For sporty driving characteristics, the Mazda 6 is at the top; its road manners help make up for a few feature inadequacies.

The Fusion remains one of the boldest designs on the market, and with several different turbocharged engines and a Fusion Hybrid, it's the lineup with the most choice.

The Kia Optima, which is closely related to the Hyundai Sonata, also deserves a look; it's almost identical to the Sonata in powertrain and layout, but it somehow handles better, and its sleeker, Euro-influenced styling aims for a very different crowd.