2025 Toyota Prius vs 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid underwent significant styling updates, enhancing its modern appeal. The front fascia featured a streamlined design with a single slim lightbar, known as the “seamless horizon lamp,” giving the sedan a contemporary look. The badge was repositioned above the grille, and the headlights were placed independently below it. The rear end, already equipped with a lightbar, now resembled the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, forming a wide “H” shape with the taillights. A sporty black spoiler-esque trunk lid was also introduced. From the side, the 2024 Sonata closely resembled the 2023 model, with minimal changes to its profile. The Limited-trim test car showcased 17-inch wheels and a fashionable enamel gray color called “Transmission Blue,” which could be selected without additional cost. The interior saw changes in the dashboard design, with vents flowing across and a redesigned steering wheel featuring a T-shape and a bar with four dots spelling out “H” in Morse code. Three interior color schemes were available, with the test car featuring a basic black interior.

The 2025 Toyota Prius, with its fifth-generation model, finally achieved an attractive design. While retaining its classic boomerang-shaped profile, the styling details ensured a futuristic and aerodynamic appearance. Available in LE, XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited trim levels, the Prius offered pricing from $29,545 to $36,560, with AWD as an optional feature. The Nightshade Edition introduced black 19-inch wheels, black exterior trim, and an exclusive Karashi paint color. The test car, in Karashi, was appealing with its golden mustard yellow color. The Prius had a low-slung stance, making entry and exit challenging, and the interior featured a mix of hard plastics and Toyota SofTex artificial leather. The test car’s optional 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominated the minimalist interior. Despite its low height, the Prius offered adequate visibility, and the ride and handling were commendable, with good grip from the sizable 19-inch wheels and tires.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was notable for its newly available AWD system, although it was limited to the gas version, with the hybrid remaining FWD only. The Sonata Hybrid’s powertrain combined a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, delivering a total system output of 192 horsepower. This power was routed through a six-speed automatic transmission, offering more control compared to the CVTs commonly used in hybrids. The Sonata Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 47 mpg combined. The steering wheel paddles allowed for regenerative braking management in Eco mode and gear shifting in Sport mode. The steering feel and handling were appreciated, and the configurable driver-information display provided simultaneous views of the tachometer and hybrid system’s power flow.

The 2025 Toyota Prius featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an 83-kilowatt electric motor, producing a net output of 194 horsepower. With AWD, an additional 30-kW electric motor at the rear wheels increased the output to 196 hp. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture, the Prius offered a lower center of gravity and responsive handling. The hybrid was zippy, capable of quick acceleration and maneuvering through traffic. The ride and handling were commendable, with good grip from the Nightshade’s 19-inch wheels and tires. However, the Prius experienced more wind noise than expected, and visibility was challenging. The EPA rated the Prius Nightshade Edition at 52 mpg combined, but the test vehicle averaged 39.2 mpg on a mountainous route.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with the Limited trim’s panoramic moonroof providing 37.8 inches of front-seat headroom. Without the moonroof, headroom increased to 40 inches. Rear-seat headroom measured 37.4 inches with the moonroof and 38.4 inches without it. The Sonata prioritized front-row legroom with 46.1 inches, while rear-seat passengers had 34.8 inches. The Limited-trim test car featured heated and ventilated seats and a slimmer steering wheel rim for comfort. The trunk close button was a convenient feature, though not entirely necessary for a sedan.

The 2025 Toyota Prius offered a dual-panel glass roof, but it didn’t open like a traditional sunroof. The Nightshade Edition test vehicle had an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Entry and exit required effort due to the car’s low stance. The rear seat was snug, with tight headroom and no rear climate-control vents. Storage space included slots in all four door armrests, a two-tiered bin, and a bin under the center armrest. The Prius Nightshade Edition had 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for additional cargo capacity.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a selectable functionality for the driver’s side front USB-C port, allowing it to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available on every trim. The curved display combined the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display into a single panel. The Limited trim included navigation, natural language voice-recognition, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. A six-speaker sound system, HD Radio, Sirius XM, and two rear-seat USB charging ports were standard, along with a wireless charging pad.

The 2025 Toyota Prius came equipped with a Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available for the Limited trim. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to connected services plans. The TAM system worked best with an active Drive Connect subscription, enabling a native navigation system and a digital voice assistant. The Nightshade Edition’s six-speaker stereo was considered subpar.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid included blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist as standard, with the Limited trim offering a turn-signal-activated blind-spot-view monitor and surround-view monitor. All trims featured forward collision-avoidance assist, safe exit warning and assist, lane-following and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim also included Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist system and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

The 2025 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was also standard. The TSS 3.0 collection included Proactive Driving Assist, which could be aggressive in some Toyotas but was more agreeable in the Prius. The Prius earned a Top Safety Pick+ nod from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.