For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Fusion have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Sonata doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Fusion Titanium offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sonata doesn't offer all-wheel drive.

The Fusion's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Sonata doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

Compared to metal, the Fusion's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Hyundai Sonata has a metal gas tank.

Both the Fusion and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Fusion is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Fusion is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Fusion's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Fusion first among midsize cars in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Sonata was rated third.

The Fusion has more powerful engines than the Sonata:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Fusion Titanium 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Fusion SE/SEL FWD 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Sonata Limited 2.0T 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. (23 city/34 hwy vs. 23 city/32 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Fusion ECOBoost FWD's engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn't accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Sonata doesn't offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Fusion has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sonata doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Fusion stops much shorter than the Sonata:

For better traction, the Fusion has larger standard tires than the Sonata (215/60R16 vs. 205/65R16).

The Fusion S' standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE/Eco's standard 65 series tires. The Fusion Titanium's tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Sonata 2.0T's 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Fusion Titanium has standard 19-inch wheels. The Sonata's largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Fusion's drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sonata doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Fusion's wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Sonata (112.2 inches vs. 110.4 inches).

The Fusion Titanium executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sonata Eco (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G's vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G's).

The front grille of the Fusion uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sonata doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The Fusion has 2.7 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sonata.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Fusion easier. The Fusion's trunk lift-over height is 24.4 inches, while the Sonata's liftover is 28.6 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Fusion's trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. The Sonata's useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Fusion has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Sonata has no towing capacity.

The Fusion SEL/Titanium has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Sonata doesn't offer a remote starting system.

The Fusion's power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sonata's parking brake has to released manually.

The Fusion's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sonata's standard passenger windows don't open or close automatically. With the Sonata SEL/Sport/Limited's power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Fusion the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Sonata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The Sonata doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Fusion SE/SEL/Titanium's exterior PIN entry system. The Sonata doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The Fusion's rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sonata's manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Fusion SEL/Titanium has standard automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sonata offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

The Fusion (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sonata doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Fusion owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Fusion with a number “1” insurance rate while the Sonata is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Fusion is less expensive to operate than the Sonata because it costs $209 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Fusion than the Sonata, including $133 less for a water pump, $80 less for a muffler, $36 less for a starter, $79 less for a fuel pump, $41 less for front struts and $75 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Ford Fusion outsold the Hyundai Sonata by 65% during 2018.