The Next Sonata Hybrid

Are these officially-designated classes, or just the opinions of some?

I wasn't aware of that criteria.

 

any pricing yet?

 

A lot of their vehicles were included in the revisions.

Affected Models | Hyundai MPG Information

The mpg revisions were small compared to Ford's though!

 

I think people were still not getting the rated EPA mpg though on the hybrid version. Hope they are a little more conservative with their rating this time around.

If this is a real-world mpg rating, this is good news. This will make Toyota get off their nice person and improve the Camry hybrid.... too bad Toyota is a follower with new technology and not the leader anymore.


[Swami prediction: john1701a will reply with... The Prius is leading everybody, and don't forget Mirai. Toyota has done a great job.]

 

Hyundai Reveals Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

Oh it will also comes as a 22 mile electric range blended phev. This is Limited at first to a number of carb states but they promise a bigger rollout, who knows. How it is priced against the fusion energi will be key. No word on if it's trunk is compromised as much.

 

I saw this in January 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show:




This type of hybrid should have Prius-like performance.

Bob Wilson

 

The sonata is a much larger car than the prius with better acclerataion, comparable in interior size to the avalon. The 2016 sonata hybrid claims it will be similar to the camry hybrid in efficiency

39 city / 44 hwy versus camry hybrid 43 city / 39 hwy

 

it all comes down to price, and truth in advertising.

 

That's why we are trying to get away from labels... especially since they are so much less clear now with the variety.

People will looks at whatever claims are made and validate. No more taking things at face value. Yeah!

 

It seems like each new generation hybrid is able to increase its efficiency by 10% or so. The volt almost did...but did so by increasing it's ev range dramatically without much sacrifice. So...it would seem childish for the hybrid leader to follow suit..


Here's to a 60+ mpg prius to stay ahead another 5 to 6 years

 

While the low-hanging fruit gives the impression of being greater, it's really just a statistical illusion. An improvement of 3 city / 4 hwy is still 3/4, despite the fact that it's a smaller % for Prius than either Sonata or Volt.

Or are you actually claiming the MPG improvement will less than 3/4 ?

 

The Volt jump in mpg looks small at first until you calculate the fact it uses regular unleaded instead of supreme. Still way behind the Prius but since most Volt owners use so little gas it almost doesn't matter.

The problem with the Prius is it is facing the law of diminishing returns. The average driver will not see a huge difference in annual fuel cost when going from 55mpg to 60mpg. Better to bring down the cost of the car or add higher quality appointments at the current price and fuel economy.

 

Don't overlook the greater potential for the plug-in not realized by the regular model from those same engine-operation gains. And we know cost-reduction continues to be a top priority; that's a vital weapon in the arsenal against ending the reign of guzzlers.

Change is achieved when the masses embrace it, not enthusiasts or supporters.

Sadly, cheap gas isn't exactly helping.

 

Agreed, John.

I'd rather see Toyota sell a million Prii at 55mpg than 200K at 60mpg.

 

Saturday I was filling up at Costco behind a year old, Sonata hybrid. A nice looking sedan, the owner was enthusiastic about their car. This is good because it meant a conquest sale from a gasser.

From a performance standpoint, the existing Sonata is close but not quite in the Camry hybrid performance range. This is not unusual in a first generation hybrid as the control laws and mechanicals need tuning. Still a good effort and hopefully the next version will be better.

Sedans are important because some folks will only drive one . . . keeping the cargo area separate from the passenger space. In contrast, many of us who used to drive minivans and station wagons are OK with our aerodynamic shaped car that can be reconfigured into a cab and cargo space. Different strokes for different folks.

Bob Wilson

 

+1

Absolutely in the US 4 door sedans are more popular than hatchbacks. Those wanting more cargo room have gone to station wagons, suvs, and pick up trucks. That the two most popular hybrids prius liftback and prius c (aqua) don't have a 4 door sedan version may simply limit their popularity in the north american market.

The sonata eco 28/38/32 (0-60 in 6.7 sec) and 2016 sonata hybrid 39/44/41 estimated are simply more choices in the spectrum. If they price it low enough the sonata hybrid and it's platform partner the kia optima will increase their take rate. Right now the korean 2 clutch hybrids have a take rate of about 9% between the two cars netting just under 35 thousand cars last year. Next year with the new and improved system take rate may increase even with low gas prices, unless the better acceleration of the eco pulls people in.

 

That's great.
And I really hope it is a great product.

But for me personally? Not the only reason, but surely the primary reason I wanted a hybrid was for the fuel efficiency.

You get spoiled with The Prius but 39/44 would feel like a significant efficiency step backwards to me. With my Prius, those are the fuel MPG numbers I get during the coldest part of winter on short drives. If that's the new Sonata Hybrids "best" or average? It wouldn't really be worth it to me. Hyundai advertise the regular Sonata as getting 25/37....I think I'd be really tempted to just get the "regular" Sonata.

 

You have a point. And Prius owners get 55 mpg or 60 on the mild days.

There's such a wide range of efficiency I wonder how the hybrids fare?