Is the Hyundai Elantra bigger than the Sonata?

If you're wondering if the Elantra is bigger than the Sonata, the short answer is no—the Sonata remains the larger, more spacious sibling in Hyundai's sedan lineup. While the Elantra has grown significantly over the last few generations, it still sits firmly in the "compact" category, whereas the Sonata occupies the "midsize" territory. It's an easy mistake to make these days. Cars just seem to be getting bigger every time a new model year rolls around. In fact, if you parked a modern Elantra next to a Sonata from fifteen years ago, the Elantra might actually look like the bigger car. But in the current market, the Sonata is designed to provide that extra bit of breathing room and road presence that the Elantra intentionally trades for agility and efficiency. ...

April 25, 2026 · 7 min · Cassy Marisol