The 2020 Hyundai Sonata hybrid has a pretty face. And although it’s poor form to comment on such things, it has a pretty backside, too. It’s probably okay when it’s a car, though. Polite or not, we’d hate to get so caught up in the Sonata’s looks that we fail to appreciate what’s on its inside: comfortable seating, competitive cargo space, more safety and convenience tech than you could shake a stick at, and fuel economy estimates in the 50-mpg neighborhood. The Sonata is attractive and talented, and it should be recognized as such.
Many of the Sonata hybrid’s highlights are the same as the conventional sedan’s, so let’s start with what makes the hybrid different. It has a model-specific grille and front bumper lip, the better to integrate its active air flaps, deflectors, and smooth underbody panels. Smoothing out the underside of the car and blocking parts of the grille when the engine doesn’t need the cooling air both reduce aerodynamic drag. The result is a Sonata hybrid with a 0.24 Cd (drag coefficient). That makes it as slippery as a Toyota Prius, but we think it’s a far shapelier bar of soap.
Modest Motivation
All this talk of drag and aero might have you thinking that the Sonata is a race car. You can take off your helmet, Parnelli, as the Sonata hybrid’s 150-hp 2.0-liter inline-four and 51-hp motor-generator combine for a total of 192 horsepower. That’s a dozen more horses than the non-hybrid’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four and a single pony more than its 2.5-liter four. But the hybrid’s output is more adequate than astonishing when it’s time to accelerate. The Sonata can achieve freeway speeds and climb hills without raising your blood pressure, but forget about drag races. It’s here to chew gum and save fuel, and it’s all out of gum.
New Sonata Hybrid Has a Solar Roof, Up to 54 MPG
2020 Hyundai Sonata Has Beauty and Brains
Compared to the previous generation Sonata hybrid’s 39-mpg combined EPA estimate, the new model’s Limited and SEL trim levels carry a 47-mpg combined federal rating. We didn’t drive the Blue trim level, which gets smaller 16-inch wheels (17s are standard on other trims) and a lighter load of equipment in order to achieve a 52-mpg combined estimate. Those ratings make the Sonata a solid competitor for the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry hybrids, which max out at 48 and 52 mpg combined, respectively.
Even in the Sonata’s rather fancy Limited model, the hybrid’s fuel-sipping ways are noticeable. After a full week of driving, we barely noticed the needle move in its fuel gauge. With a full tank, the Sonata likely will outlast the average road-trip bladder by at least 400 miles. While most of the credit for the hybrid’s fuel efficiency goes to its drivetrain and body, the Limited also gets a range-boosting solar-panel roof, which looks properly sci-fi and acts as a trickle charger for both the conventional 12-volt battery and the hybrid system’s 1.6-kWh lithium-ion pack. Hyundai says with adequate exposure to the sun, the roof can replenish up to two miles of driving range per day.
The trade-off for the hybrid’s improved fuel economy over the conventional Sonata is a clunkier driving experience. The car itself may be more streamlined, but the transitions between electric and internal-combustion power are noticeable, as are the shifts from the standard six-speed automatic transmission. This is despite Hyundai’s nifty Active Shift Control for the six-speed, which uses the electric motor to add or remove torque at the input shaft to make gear changes quicker and smoother. The shifts could do with being quicker and smoother still. The whole Sonata could. It’s not an unpleasant handling machine, but it doesn’t feel as stable as the Honda Accord. Even in the normal Eco driving mode, it responds to inputs in a herky-jerky fashion. Sport mode only amps up the jitters until the car responds like a cartoon elephant confronted by a mouse. Chill out, Sonata, it can’t hurt you. Smart mode splits the difference between Sport’s over-caffeinated throttle and Eco’s lackadaisical response, but the programs could all stand a touch more tuning.
Flush with Technology
Paranoia may be programmed into the Sonata, as Hyundai’s SmartSense driver-assistance technologies are also a little overboosted. Not only will every shrub in your driveway trigger a stream of beeps and flashes, but the front collision sensors occasionally take a moment to remind you that there’s a car in front of you at a stoplight. It’s not all bad, though. The adaptive cruise control operates smoothly, and when you get to your destination, parking the Sonata is easy, thanks to excellent rear- and surround-view cameras. The Sonata also shows a rear-side view in the gauge cluster when the turn signals are activated. This could be equally helpful or distracting, but it is a neat trick.
When not displaying the car’s blindspots, the gauge pods can be customized to show speed, trip mileage, electric efficiency, navigation, or entertainment. The bulk of your interaction will be done via the 10.3-inch center touchscreen that is nicely integrated into the dash. As a touchscreen should be, it is quick to respond to even light touches and is surrounded by just the right amount of hard buttons. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity are supported, and there are plenty of charging and storage options for smartphones. Hyundai also offers a digital key option, which is currently only compatible with Android phones. One high-tech piece from the regular Sonata not available on the hybrid is Hyundai’s Smart Park remote parking system. Hyundai says it could be an option down the road. While you’re waiting for that to be a thing, perhaps take advantage of the Sonata hybrid’s soothing sounds of nature feature in the infotainment system. You can choose from lively forest, ocean, rainstorm, café, snowy village, and crackling fire. It’s like Tesla’s fart sounds, but for grown-ups with anxiety.
Hyundai hasn’t released pricing yet for the 2020 Sonata hybrid, but the 2019 hybrid models cost about $3000 more than their conventional counterparts, which for 2020 start at $24,555. The currently low fuel prices in the United States might affect the market for hybrids, but less gas burned is more owls saved, no matter what the price is at the pump. For both hybrid and non-hybrid versions, Hyundai’s reps told us that the reasoning behind the design and tech of the Sonata was to “give people a reason to want to buy a car over an SUV.” The Sonata certainly would work as an alternative to a small crossover. It comfortably seats four large adults and would only be slightly less comfortable with five aboard. It has ample back-seat room for car seats, as well as a decent 16-cubic-foot trunk. Even in hybrid form, the new Sonata is a distinctive-looking sedan that’s worth a closer look.
Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com
