2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited

Sips gas

2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Courtesy of Hyundai

Some places in the US, gasoline is selling for less than a dollar. Crude is selling for next to nothing, and there is little capacity for storage.

So you ask yourself, why does a car that gets 47 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway, and has a range of 685 miles per tank need attention?

When the American economy does come back, it will come with a roar, and gasoline prices will shoot up. Why not purchase a car now that costs pennies for fuel now, and will cost only moderately to drive in the future? That is where the Sonata Hybrid comes to mind.

Powertrain

The 4-cylinder gas engine is assisted by a 39-kW electric motor, which is good for a combined output of 192 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. The motor is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid also features a 270-volt lithium-ion polymer battery and starter-generator.

This hybrid of a 2.0-liter inline-four and an electric motor results in a great fuel economy, and will compete quite nicely with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Exterior

Sonata Hybrid rests on 17-inch alloy wheels complemented by a cascading grille, sporty posture, and tacky rear spoilers. The Hampton Gray colored body matched the gray interior seating. Best feature was the Hands Free Trunk.

Hands Free Smart Trunk providing an abundance of cargo space. Courtesy of Hyundai

Interior

The front leather seats are heated and ventilated, and matched with a heated steering wheel. The friendly and pleasant viewing 12.3-inch color digital instrument cluster with Blind View Monitor is complemented by a 10.25-inch touch screen display with navigation. The large audio control knobs, well-positioned phone charger, sunroof, Bose Premium Audio with 12 speakers (including a 9” subwoofer), and Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control add to the comfort and utility of the cabin. There is excellent head, shoulder, and leg rooms front and back.

Leather seats, 12.3-inch instrument cluster, and 10.25-inch center touch screen. Courtesy of Hyundai

Although the center console offers a small (but deep) area for storage, there is an abundance of storage in the door compartments. A small open area where a lighter might have once been placed is very accessible. The bottom of that compartment is covered with a rubber material that helps hold your phone or keys in place.

Windows, outside mirrors controls, and door locks are located on the driver door armrest. This allows easy access yet not positioned so close together that they are hard to find quickly.

Safety

LED head lights, LED taillights, and LED Daytime Running Lights are all standard. As are Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Assist, Forward Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Parking Collision Avoidance Assist, and a fob digital Key.

There were several things I liked about Sonata. It drives well with little road noise, handles well even in a tight curve, and has an abundance of torque to keep you out of danger.

Three things I really liked: Average nearly 50 mpg fuel economy; seats were roomy and comfortable; and the size of the trunk space was massive.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price was not available at the time of this writing.

Warranty 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty 10-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System Component Warranty 3-year/30,000-mile Complimentary Maintenance Warranty 7-year/unlimited miles Anti-perforation Warranty 5-year/unlimited miles 24/7 Roadside Assistance

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected].