2021 Acura TLX vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan in a competitive class. It featured an assertive stance with a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. The front grille, with its pattern radiating from the Acura logo, and the jewel eye LED headlights gave it a bold face. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes and top-notch paint quality added to its premium look. Inside, the TLX showcased high-quality materials and a well-thought-out design. The driver’s position was aptly described as a “sport sedan cockpit,” with different functions clustered together and authentic materials throughout. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was neatly mounted, adding to the car’s sophisticated interior.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for 2020, had a distinctive look that was either loved or hated. The N Line version amplified the Sonata’s appeal with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, bold 19-inch wheels, and a four-outlet exhaust system. The result was a more appealing and stealthy visual performance. Inside, the Sonata N Line featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents. A standard panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel of the interior.

The 2021 Acura TLX featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive as standard, with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available on all models. The TLX’s fuel economy was estimated at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, and 21/29/24 combined for AWD. The TLX’s Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Comfort, Normal, Sport, or Individual modes, adjusting the car’s parameters accordingly. The TLX was nimble and fun to drive, with a solid and balanced feel over various road surfaces. During a test drive in Michigan, the TLX performed well, with Sport mode taming turbo lag and delivering a richer exhaust note.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes. The Sonata N Line also had an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system and a sport-tuned exhaust. The car’s performance was enhanced by stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. During a test drive in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Sonata N Line impressed with its responsive steering, firm underpinnings, and sticky tires. The car felt glued to the ground, with minimal body roll and a comfortable ride quality. The EPA estimated the Sonata N Line’s fuel economy at 27 mpg combined, though real-world driving yielded 23.7 mpg.

The 2021 Acura TLX’s shift-by-wire transmission allowed for a reimagined center console design, featuring a control panel modeled after the NSX. The center console housed the infotainment interface, a mini touchpad, and two cupholders. The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The front seats were supportive sport bucket seats with 12-way power adjustability and available perforated Milano leather. The second row folded down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the 13.5 cubic feet trunk with a 47.6-inch-wide opening and 42.4 inches of depth.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line’s heated front sport seats offered a balance between comfort and lateral support, with Dinamica suede inserts providing grip during spirited driving. The rear seat, while not significantly more spacious than the Elantra N Line, featured rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata’s interior storage was generous, though the center console design was somewhat inelegant. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was a convenient addition, though the lack of an interior handle meant getting hands dirty when closing the trunk.

The 2021 Acura TLX was loaded with technology, including drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. The TLX also offered multiple ambient interior lighting themes and the impressive ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display, G-Meter, and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The system included HD Radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which could be frustrating. The Sonata N Line also offered Sounds of Nature ambient noise tracks and Hyundai Digital Key, though the latter only worked with Android devices.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, a full complement of airbags, and a multi-angle rear-view camera system. New for 2021 were a next-generation front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing and autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The 2021 TLX had not yet been tested by IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received high ratings.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata rated high for occupant protection, though the N Line had not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS.