Whenever you’re contemplating shopping for a brand new automobile, a hybrid midsize sedan will not be the primary journey that involves thoughts. Heck, it will not be in your high 5. However as long as full-on electrical vehicles stay a reasonably pricey proposition, a midsize hybrid is the sensible, environment friendly automobile that almost all of us must be driving.
Hyundai’s new entry into that section proves that concept must be something however spirit-crushing. The all-new model of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid just lately debuted for the 2020 mannequin 12 months. It’s remarkably fuel-efficient, incomes as much as 52 mpg mixed in Blue trim stage type; however not like many hybrids available on the market, gas effectivity is only one of its many options. It’s additionally a complicated, spacious, and exceedingly snug automobile in its personal proper — and better of all, like lots of Hyundai Group choices of late, it’s a fantastic worth, beginning for lower than $30,000.
The Sonata Hybrid feels costlier than it’s
The Sonata Hybrid performs the identical trick as one other latest Hyundai Group success, the Kia Telluride: it feels prefer it ought to value greater than it does. The inside is opulent and spacious, with a clear format; my Restricted trim tester even introduced mushy leather-based.
Some might discover the outside polarizing — it’s a bit fishy on the entrance, and there’s a controversial chrome seam operating the automobile’s size — but it surely’s nonetheless an urbane look devoid of any zaniness or obtrusive blue hybrid styling. Throw in some tech options just like the 360-degree and blind-spot cameras, and every thing in regards to the Sonata Hybrid reads as premium…besides the value tag.
This Hyundai is surprisingly nice to drive
The Sonata Hybrid isn’t sporty, or something resembling it. But it surely is a fairly snug cruiser. The engine and cabin had been notably quiet, and the suspension damping was glorious. It makes use of a extra partaking six-speed computerized as an alternative of the dreary CVT many hybrids make use of, and the 192-horsepower mixed output affords an inexpensive quantity of pop at decrease speeds.
The drive modes might be tuned a bit higher, and yeah, the regenerative brakes chunk a bit too arduous. However on the entire, you aren’t sacrificing a lot on a regular basis efficiency for gas effectivity — which, for the report, was 48 mpg over my week of driving.
The Sonata Hybrid affords a futuristic roof
For those who look carefully on the Sonata Hybrid’s roof on the Restricted trim, you’ll see one thing you usually don’t see: a photo voltaic panel. Hyundai says it will probably add as much as 700 miles of “free driving” over the course of the 12 months. That doesn’t sound like a lot, contemplating the 12,000-plus miles most of us drive; that’s slightly a couple of tank of gasoline, for this automobile with a 680-mile vary, saved over a calendar 12 months.
However then again, that might be additionally work out to a month’s price of commutes if you happen to don’t drive far. You additionally aren’t utilizing the EV vary repeatedly in a hybrid, so it helps preserve the battery topped off with out having to resort to a plug — an association that provides the inconvenience of an EV with out the effectivity. We’re a great distance from on-roof photo voltaic being a significant supply of driving vary for vehicles, but it surely’s a begin.
Worth as Examined: $36,675
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter inline-four hybrid, six-speed computerized, front-wheel-drive
Energy: 192 hp
Gasoline Economic system: 45 mpg metropolis, 51 mpg freeway
Seats: 5
Hyundai offered this product for overview.
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