The Lemon Index

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Honda Civic vs Hyundai Sonata: which has fewer problems?

Honda CivicHyundai Sonata

Photos: Elise240SX · Benespit (Wikimedia Commons)

Winner

Honda Civic

About 48% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Hyundai Sonata, and fewer in 19 of 26 model years both were sold.

Head to head

Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
67
129
Years with fewer complaints
2000–2025
19 of 26
7 of 26
Recalls
2000–2025
228
122
MPG
latest year
24–49
27–47
Crash test
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.

Year by year

Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.

Every Honda Civic year · Every Hyundai Sonata year · How the index works