![]() Two aspects make Hyundai’s system unique.įor one, it uses a lithium-polymer battery instead of the nickel-metal-hydride one found in other hybrids. This is a common setup for a hybrid, though the Sonata Hybrid’s gas engine is a bit more powerful than many others. The Sonata Hybrid has a 166-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a 30-kilowatt electric motor that produce a combined 206 hp. ![]() It’s flashy enough to shout “hybrid,” but it also exudes a sense of cool, not of smugness.Īnd how does it do at the pump? Mileage is rated at 34/39 mpg city/highway, which outdoes the 2011 Camry Hybrid’s 31/35 mpg rating and bests the Fusion Hybrid in highway mileage the Ford is rated 41/36 mpg. Move up to a navigation-equipped model, and you get more detailed readouts on a much larger, dash-mounted screen.Īll in all, the strategy works well. Inside, all Sonata Hybrids get a digital readout between twin analog gauges that shows hybrid performance and trip computer information. I’ve never seen anything like it on a production car.Īll these touches mark the Sonata Hybrid as a green machine - despite its ubiquitous blue badging. People stuck in traffic around a Sonata Hybrid will likely gawk most at its taillights, which mix LED elements with a funky starburst pattern. The Sonata has a lower coefficient of drag than its competition, at 0.25 Cd versus the Camry Hybrid’s 0.27 Cd and the Fusion Hybrid’s 0.33 Cd. Lightweight, aerodynamic wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires also help reduce drag. There are even flaps behind that grille that open and close, depending on your speed, to maximize aerodynamics. It all starts with a radically enlarged grille and unique LED headlights up front. It does have some drawbacks, but none that come close to eclipsing its wow factor.īefore I get into the performance and technology aspects of what makes the Sonata Hybrid tick, I’ve got to point out the fact that the Sonata Hybrid looks dramatically different from its gasoline-only sibling. What exactly does the Sonata Hybrid have that will distance it from the Camry and Fusion hybrids? It has a more advanced battery pack, better mileage on the highway, a traditional six-speed automatic transmission … and it looks cool, too. The Sonata Hybrid is a comfortable cruiser with little to no tradeoff in terms of comfort or performance compared with the gasoline-only, four-cylinder Sonata. Hyundai joins that second group with its first hybrid, which is based on the Sonata sedan. In the world of hybrids, there are two schools of thought: You can buy a Toyota Prius - a hard-core, 50-mpg hybrid with funky styling and a utilitarian interior - or you can pay more and get less-spectacular mileage in a more comfortable sedan, like a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry hybrid. Editor’s note: Estimated mileage ratings have been lowered to reflect a November 2012 EPA audit of this car’s stated mileage.
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