The still great Honda Accord won our Best Sedan To Buy 2022, but the Accord Hybrid's 47 mpg combined rating can't keep up with the Sonata. The Toyota Sienna minivan comes standard as a hybrid with an excellent 35 mpg combined rating with all-wheel drive, making it an ideal family hauler, with sliding doors, no less. The Lexus ES 300h and Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid also earn a 7.3, but cost at least $15,000 more. We'd like to see the solar roof option on other trims, too – even if it costs extra.Add that Prius-like efficiency to an attractive sedan loaded with standard safety and convenience features, as well as the industry's best warranty, and it equates to a TCC Rating of 7.3 out of 10 (read more about how we rate cars ). The solar roof is standard on that trim at least, but you will have to dish out $35,000 for that specific model if you want the feature. And with the right amount of sunlight, Hyundai says the solar roof alone can add an extra two miles of range.īut the problem with the solar roof isn't its functionality, but the fact that Hyundai only offers it on the range-topping Limited model. The solar roof acts as a trickle charger, sending juice to the standard 12-volt battery and the hybrid's 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. That Hyundai even offers a solar roof option on the Sonata Hybrid at all is impressive, and it's the only hybrid in the US that has it as an option. In this case, we might actually prefer the smoothness and response of a continuously variable transmission, which Hyundai does well in other vehicles.
#Hyundai sonata hybrid plus#
Plus the six-speed automatic isn't the smoothest transmission out there, even though Hyundai touts “Active Shift Control,” which utilizes the electric motor in an attempt to make gear changes smoother. The gas engine is harsh and loud, and there's a delay when you put your foot down, as if the electric motor and gas engine aren't exactly sure what to do. Clunky Powertrainįor as competent and comfortable as the Sonata Hybrid is for the most part, the transition between gas and battery power proved a bit clunky. The Honda produces 212 hp and the Toyota produces 208 hp, versus the Sonata Hybrid's 192 hp. And while we find little issue with the Sonata Hybrid's power output, the Camry and Accord are also more powerful. When you compare it to hybrid alternatives like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, both of those cars feel a bit more dynamic, though still not overtly athletic. There's certainly nothing offensive about the way the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid drives, but it is probably one of the least dynamic sedans we've driven lately.
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Hyundai says it could add as much as two miles of additional range per day in the right light. And we also give this car bonus points for the optional solar-powered roof, which acts as a trickle charger to both the conventional battery and the hybrid system.
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Unfortunately, larger wheels and added features mean this version is slightly less efficient than its bare-bones base sibling, but it still gets a pretty-good 45 mpg city, 51 highway, and 47 combined.Įven with a heavy foot and a healthy mix of city and highway driving during our week with the Sonata Hybrid Limited, we averaged over 41 miles per gallon. The Sonata Hybrid also comes in better-equipped SEL and Limited trims (we tested the latter). Those figures put it near the top of the class for all hybrid sedans, besting the Honda Accord Hybrid (48 mpg combined) and matching the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, and Honda Insight, all of which achieve 52 mpg combined. The base Sonata Hybrid Blue is the most efficient, returning 50 miles per gallon city, 54 highway, and 52 combined thanks to some aero enhancements and smaller wheels with narrower tires. Hyundai actually has two different versions of the Sonata Hybrid, both powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter hybrid setup, but with varying fuel economy. And for as much as we like having the solar roof, Hyundai only offers it on the range-topping Limited model, which could price out some interested customers.
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For one, there are more dynamic options in the class, plus the transition between gas and electric should be smoother. But for the sake of nitpicking, there are a few things we think Hyundai could do slightly better.