Ten years ago this wasn't a real comparison. Today the Sonata is a legitimately handsome, well-built midsize with a warranty Toyota doesn't match — while the Camry still owns the long-game argument. This one splits on how long you plan to keep the car.
The case for the Camry
The Camry's case is the next ten years, not the first three. Resale value is in another league — that's real money back — and the dependability record means the years five through twelve, where car ownership gets expensive, stay boring. The hybrid is the consumption benchmark of the class.
The case for the Sonata
The Sonata typically costs less like-for-like, looks more interesting doing it, and carries Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty — the longest in the mainstream market and a genuine anxiety eraser for first owners. The cabin tech is a step ahead at most trim levels, and the hybrid is quietly excellent.
Our pick
First owner, keeping it under six years, value-focused: Sonata — the warranty covers your whole ownership and the savings are upfront. Keeping it past 100k miles or planning to resell: Camry, no hesitation — the exit price settles the argument. Both hybrids embarrass their gas versions; get the hybrid either way.