For the 2020 model year, the Sonata Hybrid returns in grand fashion. Taking inspiration from the plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius, the mid-size sedan now features a solar roof which promises up to 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) of additional range with six hours of daily charging.
Active Shift Control or ASC is another newity, applying a different control logic to the hybrid control unit. Instead of boring you to death with how this works, the result is a reduction of gear shift times of 30 percent for the six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is a 2.0 GDi four-cylinder with natural aspiration, providing 152 PS (150 horsepower) and 188 Nm (139 pound-feet).
The electric motor adds 52 PS (51 horsepower) and 205 Nm (151 pound-feet) to the tally, working out at a maximum system output of 195 PS (192 horsepower). Fuel economy? On the combined cycle, the model that Hyundai sells in South Korea promises 20.1 kilometers per liter when equipped with the 16-inch wheels and eco-friendly tires. That means 47.2 miles to the gallon in U.S. currency.
Safety is another highlight of the Sonata Hybrid for the 2020 model year, coming as standard with goodies such as forward collision avoidance, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane follow assist. The Digital Key system works through a smartphone app, allowing the user to lock, unlock, sound the alarm, and start the engine with the simple press of the phone’s touchscreen.
4.9 meters long and featuring a wheelbase that measures 2,840 millimeters, the Sonata Hybrid also happens to boast 510 liters of trunk space. That’s almost as much as the BMW 5 Series, which features a trunk capacity of 530 liters. Of course, the rear seats can be folded into the floor to further extend the cargo area.
Hyundai didn’t announce the pricing nor the U.S. availability of the Sonata Hybrid. Chances are the newcomer will be an idea more expensive than the outgoing generation if the solar roof comes standard. For the 2019 model year, the Sonata Hybrid starts at $24,000 while the plug-in hybrid is $31,650 excluding destination charge.
The electric motor adds 52 PS (51 horsepower) and 205 Nm (151 pound-feet) to the tally, working out at a maximum system output of 195 PS (192 horsepower). Fuel economy? On the combined cycle, the model that Hyundai sells in South Korea promises 20.1 kilometers per liter when equipped with the 16-inch wheels and eco-friendly tires. That means 47.2 miles to the gallon in U.S. currency.
Safety is another highlight of the Sonata Hybrid for the 2020 model year, coming as standard with goodies such as forward collision avoidance, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane follow assist. The Digital Key system works through a smartphone app, allowing the user to lock, unlock, sound the alarm, and start the engine with the simple press of the phone’s touchscreen.
4.9 meters long and featuring a wheelbase that measures 2,840 millimeters, the Sonata Hybrid also happens to boast 510 liters of trunk space. That’s almost as much as the BMW 5 Series, which features a trunk capacity of 530 liters. Of course, the rear seats can be folded into the floor to further extend the cargo area.
Hyundai didn’t announce the pricing nor the U.S. availability of the Sonata Hybrid. Chances are the newcomer will be an idea more expensive than the outgoing generation if the solar roof comes standard. For the 2019 model year, the Sonata Hybrid starts at $24,000 while the plug-in hybrid is $31,650 excluding destination charge.