Almost
every new-car segment is booming right now, with one exception: green cars.
Whether you’re talking hybrids, hydrogen or even traditional high-mileage
economy cars, today’s car market isn’t particularly fond of fuel efficient
vehicles. At Kelley Blue Book we’ve seen hybrid and alternative energy car
sales drop by more than 12 percent so far this year, which means manufacturers
offering hybrid vehicles have to try that much harder to win over consumers. Hyundai is facing this challenge
with its all-new 2016 Sonata Hybrid and Sonata Plug-in Hybrid. Both models are
all-new this year, with the traditional Sonata Hybrid
completely redesigned for 2016 and the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid representing the
Korean automaker’s first plug-in option for U.S. shoppers.
An
impressive array of technology is incorporated into both versions, including
some unique hi-tech features making their industry debut on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in
Hybrid. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but expect the standard hybrid to
start close to $30,000 and the plug-in to be closer to $40,000. Let’s take a
look at the top 10 hi-tech features pushing the 2016 Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in
Hybrid to the forefront of green car technology. These features will appeal to
consumers seeking to cut their fuel bill while giving both models a fighting
chance in this hybrid-averse market.
1. Advanced Aerodynamics: A combination of
active front grille shutters, smooth underbody panels, a low-profile rear
spoiler and unique wheels cuts the Sonata Hybrid’s
coefficient of drag to 0.24, lower than any competitively-priced hybrid or
electric vehicle. This smooth shape, combined with more than 50 percent
high-strength steel in the unibody structure, gives the Sonata Hybrid a
composed and whisper quiet ride while also protecting occupants during an
impact. Additional safety features, including blind spot detection, lane
departure warning, forward collision warning, and a virtual engine sound to alert
pedestrians when the vehicle is operating in pure electric mode, are available
to bolster the Sonata Hybrid’s safety pedigree.
2. Accommodating Interior: The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is
slightly longer, wider and taller than the previous version. It also has a
longer wheelbase, all of which contributes to its class-leading interior
volume. The front and rear seats offer exceptional head, leg and hip room while
being extremely comfortable. Additional standard or optional equipment includes
a push-button start, leather seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated
front seats, a 4.2-inch gauge cluster display, an 8-inch central touchscreen
display, navigation system, a panoramic sunroof, LED interior lights, HD radio
and an Infiniti premium audio system. Even the base model includes a 5-inch
touchscreen, rear camera and dual zone automatic climate control.
3. Cavernous Cargo: Trunk volume is
typically compromised in a hybrid vehicle, particularly a plug-in hybrid
because of the larger battery pack they require. In the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and
Plug-in Hybrid the trunk remains a functional storage area, with 13.3 cubic
feet available in the standard hybrid and 9.9 cubic feet offered in the plug-in
version. Both numbers are class leading, and both versions offer a roomy trunk.
In the standard Sonata
Hybrid it combines with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for maximum cargo
flexibility. The battery pack itself includes a lifetime warranty, and this is
in addition to the 10-year/100,000-mile drivetrain warranty offered on the rest
of the hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
4. Efficient Engineering: Hyundai has
improved every aspect of the new Sonata Hybrid’s drivetrain.
The combustion engine is .4-liters smaller (now a 2.0-liter), and slightly less
powerful (193 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque), but fuel efficiency has
been increased through a combination of advanced engine technologies, more
effective regenerative braking and a smaller, lighter, yet more powerful 1.62
kWh electric motor. Peak power jumps from 193 hp to 202 hp in the Sonata
Plug-in Hybrid, which uses the same engine and motor combination as the
standard hybrid, but utilizes a larger 9.8 kWh battery pack with more power.
The Plug-in Hybrid can also travel up to 24 miles and at speeds up to 75 mph on
pure electricity.
5. Traditional Transmission: When engineering a
hybrid for maximum fuel efficiency most car companies default to a continuously
variable transmission (CVT). This transmission design is effective at keeping
an engine in its most efficient RPM range, but most of them are also quite
ineffective at providing a rewarding driving experience. Hyundai avoided the
latter issue by sticking with a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission that
delivers responsive upshifts and downshifts. At the same time, the 2016 Hyundai
Sonata Hybrid is EPA
rated at 40 city, 44 highway and 42 combined mpg. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid
hasn’t been rated by the EPA yet, but Hyundai is expecting it to achieve a
combined 40 mpg.
6. Gauge Graphics: The gauge cluster
in the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid replaces the traditional tachometer and
temperature gauge with a vehicle energy gauge and battery state-of-charge
meter. The central, multi-information display between the gauges is also
modified to show hybrid-specific items like energy flow and, in the Sonata
Plug-in Hybrid, which of three driving modes the vehicle is operating in. Both
versions also display a “driving style” rating at the end of each trip. This
rating is based on how effectively the driver applied the throttle and brakes,
coaching drivers to be more efficient. Three ratings range from “Economical” to
“Normal” to “Efficient” with a percentage number to indicate how much of the
trip was driven in each style.
7. Dynamic Display: The hybrid gauge
cluster is supplemented by an 8-inch central touchscreen display on every
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid as well as standard Sonata Hybrids with the “Limited
Ultimate ” package (the base Sonata Hybrid SE and mid-grade Sonata Limited
trims get a 5-inch touchscreen display). This 8-inch display offers a variety
of hybrid-specific information regarding energy flow, driving range, nearby
charging stations and settings for the plug-in hybrid’s charging schedule
(meaning you can program it to charge at night to take advantage of cheaper
electricity rates). Of course this display also provides traditional
information related to the audio system, navigation guidance and hands-free
phone calls.
8. Multiple Modes: One of the most
compelling features on the 2016 Hyundai
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is the choice of three driving modes that provide drivers
with full control over the vehicle’s on-board battery pack. While most plug-in
hybrids decide when to use pure electricity mode based on internal programming,
the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid lets drivers switch between pure “EV” mode, Hybrid
“HEV” mode or “Charge” mode whenever they choose. The latter mode utilizes the
Sonata’s motion to charge the on-board battery pack, and in a surprisingly
short time if you’re traveling at highway speeds. This means you can fully
re-charge the battery while driving, though it does reduce the engine’s fuel
efficiency while in this mode.
9. Charge Clarity: When using an
outlet to charge the new Sonata
Plug-in Hybrid an indicator light on the dash makes it easy to see the
battery’s state-of-charge through the windshield. A standard 120-volt outlet
will charge a depleted battery in less than 9 hours while a 240-volt outlet
will do the same in less than 3 hours. And with Hyundai’s Blue Link smartphone
app it’s easy to remotely schedule and monitor the battery’s charging activity.
A fully charged and fueled Sonata Plug-in Hybrid has a total range of 605
miles, a number that seemed quite realistic based on our seat time in the car.
10. Android Auto: A final technology
feature, now available on every new Hyundai Sonata (including the Hybrid and
Plug-in Hybrid) is Android Auto. This interface mirrors the controls of Android
cell phones through the central touchscreen display in the Sonata.
Voice-activated control for making phone calls, sending texts, playing music or
entering a navigation destination can be initiated through a button on the
Sonata’s steering wheel. While several car companies will be offering this
control interface, along with Apple’s CarPlay, over the next 12 months, Hyundai is the first
mainstream brand to make it available on a production vehicle — right now. If
you’re looking for the most effective in-car control interface, this is it.
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