2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review By Steve Purdy
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By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Michigan Bureau
Among the first questions we ask when evaluating an electric, hybrid or other alternatively powered car are how much extra it costs, does it provide a performance advantage and what is the payback period for the investment. Some folks insist those are the wrong questions to ask because most buyers don’t run the numbers when they make the purchase decision, but perhaps they should. Maybe we should just ask how it makes the buyer feel about their environmental cred.
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In addition to all that, the Sonata is a very nice car. It fits well with its competition – Malibu, Fusion, Camry, Altima, Chrysler 200, Accord – and when compared feature-to-feature you’ll probably find a bit more for your money with the Sonata. You can’t have a V6, but you can have a plenty fast 2.0-liter turbo. The base engine for Sonata is a 2.4-liter unit with six-speed automatic that makes nearly the same power as the hybrid.
This front-wheel drive, mid-size Sonata seems to me to be a bit more ‘design-intensive’ than some of the others. The rakish, swoopy lines they call ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ get dressed up with the generous use of chrome accents across the nose, along the fender ridge from the headlight to the C-pillar, along the door bottoms and across the tail. Jewel-like designs for the headlight bezels, reflective inserts in the outside rearview mirrors, LED accent lighting and the beautifully styled 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels make this white car an eye-catcher.
All that swoopiness and lots of design details make for an amazing 0.25 coefficient of drag, which means less wind resistance and better fuel mileage.
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The hybrid powertrain in the Sonata consists of the 2.4-liter, normally aspirated 4-cylinder with a motor/generator attached to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. Regenerative braking helps feed the lithium-polymer battery pack and it in turn supplements the gasoline engine. The whole system makes 199 horsepower. The EPA rates the car at 36 mpg in the city, 40 on the highway and 38 mpg combined using regular fuel. Our experience this week was about 2/3rds highway driving. We managed 37-mpg for our tank and a half of fuel used. A 17.2-gallon fuel tank makes for a great cruising range.
Excellent driving dynamics characterize the Sonata Hybrid. Acceleration is very good an we can barely sense the transition from battery to gasoline engine power. The brakes feel a bit squirrely as the regenerative function kicks in but we soon get used to that. A well-balanced suspension provides a good ride and the programming of the electro-mechanical steering feels precise and predictable.
Hyundai’s new car warranty covers the whole car for 5 years or 60,000 miles and the powertrain for 10 years or 100,000 miles. The battery pack has a “lifetime” warranty, defined as the original owner’s time with the car, excluding leases, commercial owners or owners outside the U.S.
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We’ve driven most, if not all, of the popular mid-size, main-stream sedans and the Sonata is one of our favorites. But, be assured, they are all good. If your priority is mileage, the Fusion Hybrid beats this one. If style is most important the Kia Optima might be a good choice. For a mild hybrid without a lot of extra cost the Malibu is good. Each one has its charm. You’ll not go wrong with any of them, but be sure to put the Sonata Hybrid on your shopping list.
©Steve Purdy, Shunpiker Productions, All Rights Reserved