It is a sign of these environmentally conscious times that it's not a flashy convertible, but a new, pre-production plug-in hybrid sedan that turned heads as it snaked its way down the Southern California coastline.
"Oooh, let me get a look at that," one exuberant parking attendant – a default connoisseur of de rigeur automobiles – said, squeezing her upper body forward through her window and craning to take in the full length of Hyundai's all-new Sonata Hybrid Plug-in. She nodded approvingly and then opened access to the public charging station, just one of thousands sprinkled throughout the state.
It's easy to see how a plug-in version of Sonata's popular mid-sized sedan will do well here – the state, its arteries loaded with coasting Teslas – leads the charge when it comes to embracing environmentally friendly auto technology. Here, hybrids and their ilk are a way of life.
Hyundai, with its new South Korean-made 2016 Sonata Hybrid Plug-in and an overhauled second-generation Sonata Hybrid, hopes Canada is ready to buy a dose of California cool.
While the plug-in isn't expected to see Canadian dealerships until this fall, the Sonata Hybrid, which first appeared in 2011, will be rolled out in the next month. It has been remade into a stronger, sleeker and more efficient successor to the first-generation iteration. If you are considering hybrid ownership, it's that latter point you really care about. Market research says you're not much of a penny-pincher; what you care about instead is this Hyundai's fuel economy, its reliability and its environmentally friendly car-of-the-future nature.
This is where Hyundai has a chance to pull away from the pack. The 2016 Sonata Hybrid goes to great lengths to achieve better-than-ever fuel efficiency, most notably through an addictive Drive Style Guide that, when activated, ranks the driver on whether he or she is aggressive, normal or economical. The aim, Hyundai says, is to educate drivers on how the way they drive can impact fuel economy. This, paired with the brand's Coast feature (designed to work in tandem with the navigation system to urge drivers when to let up on the gas to increase fuel economy) allows the driver to take an active role in managing the car's overall efficiency, albeit one that never feels like work.
And efficient it can be. While the regular hybrid averages 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on city streets, the plug-in version has a class-leading ability to go nearly 50 km on all-electric power. When the charge dips, the push of a button helps recharge the electric motor off the gas-powered engine in as little as 30 or 40 minutes, depending on driving speed. The impact of the ride when doing so is negligible.
That's the takeaway here. The Sonata Hybrid has much to offer without requiring a ton of compromise. Both the plug-in and regular hybrid offer easy driving and easier riding with plenty of extra features.
You'll like this car if ... You do a lot of close-range city driving and want to cut down on fuel costs and environmental impact. In other words, you have a more robust ride to get you to the cottage on weekends.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: TBD for both the hybrid and plug-in (which includes 120-volt charger); likely $6,000-$7,000 more than the regular Sonata
- Engine: Gasoline for both models: 2.0-litre four-cylinder GDI Hybrid
- Hybrid electric motor: Interior permanent magnet synchronous electric motor with lithium-ion polymer battery
- Plug-in hybrid electric motor: Interior permanent magnet synchronous electric motor with lithium-ion polymer battery
- Transmission/drive: Six-speed automatic/front-wheel drive
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): Hybrid: 5.9 city; 5.3 highway; Values for plug-in TBD
- Alternatives: Sonata Hybrid: Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Accord, Kia Optima Hybrid; Sonata Plug-In: Fusion Energi
RATINGS
- Looks: Styled to show off its eco-friendly character, the Sonata Hybrid has an edgier look than its non-hybrid counterparts with a sleeker front grille, rocker panels and a narrow headlamp shape.
- Interior: The 2016 Sonata Hybrid boasts best-in-class interior room with more head and leg room than any of its competitors. Design feels luxurious, with a sleek and well-appointed dash, faux-wood trim, separate but accessible plug-in for media devices and a fulsome but not-too-cluttered display anchored by a touch-screen interface.
- Technology: Well-equipped with a slew of driver-assist aides (lane departure, adaptive cruise, blind-spot warning, rear back-up camera and pedestrian warning), navigation, heated and air conditioned seats, heated steering wheel.
- Performance: While not that exhilarating to drive, the Sonata is more efficient than the first generation iteration but doesn’t feel underpowered.
- Cargo: This Sonata comes with class-leading cargo space compliments of a full fold-flat rear seat configuration due to the repackaging of the car’s battery pack compared to the previous model.
The Verdict
8.0
If you do a lot of city driving, this car is worthy of consideration. Be warned, though: It will come with a higher price tag than a non-hybrid Sonata and there are no guarantees that will pay off in savings at the pump.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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