Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Question

My decision to purchase the Prius over other current Hybrids was the better city mileage (among other things, but it was a major contributor). My daily commute is all city driving, I'm rarely on a highway with it, so 51 mpg city was a major selling point to me...

 

Probably why there are more than a few 2 Prius families!

 

Considering the average mileage per year (according to most places) is about 12k for the American driver, I would say they *MIGHT* be onto something. That said, it's very difficult to rack up 12k miles with just city driving, barring certain professions (taxi, delivery, etc). It could very well be that they are playing it as a psychological thing for the American driver, in that every non-hybrid posts better highway FE from the EPA than city FE. Considering the mis-information that the Prius is slow and can't handle highway speeds (I know, we here all know better), maybe the psychological effect of the higher highway FE is pushing that change.

I'm just throwing ideas out. If it weren't for the highway trips I make, I would only average about 120 miles a week. It would be about half that if I wasn't able to go home for lunch everyday I work. However, I managed, somehow, to end up with about 11-12k miles on the car around the 1 year mark.

 

That's called a red herring.

HSD doesn't make you choose. Both city & highway deliver great improvement.

Heck, even the new 280hp Highlander Hybrid with 7-passenger seating and 3,500-pound towing capacity will get 28/28 MPG.
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And have you noticed in GM's advertising that some of their smaller suv's/crossovers claim to get better highway fuel economy than Ford Escape Hybrid? They sure don't mention how their city economy compares with the Escape Hybrid economy! Yet, as many of us realize we do at least as much driving in town or even more than driving the highways, so city MPG plays a huge part in the overall MPG we look for.

 

Sounds to me that Hyundai is incorporating the same type of hybrid system as Honda. All the Honda hybrids get better highway mileage than city. I know Ford incorporates the 1st Generation Toyota HSD System, which explains why the Ford hybrids get better city mileage than highway...

 

I'm happy to see Hyundai introduce a hybrid, especially with lithium batteries. Competition is good, innovation is good

 

Keep in mind the combined fuel economy number. 55% highway and 45% city is the default mix used for calculating it. It could be said Hyundai may be focusing on highway to pull up the combined number, but doesn't explain why the EPA uses that mix on their site. I don't think they grab the number out of the air. It is possible that the reasons for that are dated, but it is close to what my commute is.

 

Actually it's 55% city, 45% highway.

 

Knew I should have double check that.

 

My wife has a 2000 Hyundai XG350L which she's loved from Day 1, but recognizes that its days are numbered. We're anxiously awaiting the Sonata Hybrid as a possible replacement, but it looks like we'll be anxious for a while yet. She has a 20-mile drive to work, 18 of which are on the Interstate, and in general drives on the highway a lot, so it'll be a good match for her. Finally, she simply doesn't like to drive the Prius -- feels vulnerable in a small, light car, and the ICE turning off drives her nuts. We're also thinking the Sonata might be a roomier and more comfortable car than the Prius for long trips, at least until someone comes up with a Recaro seat for the Prius...

In any event, it might be time for a Hyundai "Other Car" sub-forum of its own.

 

It looks Hyundai Sonata Hybrid fuel economy is 37 mpg on the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
New York 2010: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets unique look and 37/39 MPG rating [w/video] [UPDATE] — Autoblog

Ken@Japan

 

Ha. people don't really drive like the epa city or highway tests. I know I don't get close to the epa city in my prius because I'm only traveling a few miles and the epa seems like they are going all day.

Hyundai did get their hybrid to beat the TCH and hs250's city mileage. It just was behind the ffh city, and wants to say its better than all it's competitors (they obviously aren't comparing to the prius, that will be a different car).

I don't think we will really know real world mileage until it is out in the world. I'm sure some hyper milers will get 60mpg, but then they would get more in the prius.

One thing I liked is the aero grill blocking

Car Review: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Tops the Field - Gearlog

 

Looks like they took a lesson from the aircraft industry - several planes of the WW II era had similar cooling features. The P-51 even gained thrust from the radiator arrangement in the scoop, but Hyundai apparently didn't get that fancy.

 

I believe the trucking industry has been making use of the radiator flaps for years. BMW's eco trims might also have them.

 

If they said that I don't believe them. The Prius doesn't get worse highway than city because of trade-offs to benefit city but rather because of how great city is, highway has a drag limitation that city doesn't.

The Sonata cannot come close to matching the Prius in city because Toyota's hybrid tech is best of breed.

BTW we're on track for 20k or maybe 22k in first year of ownership and a good 1/2-2/3rd of that is city.

On Ice road truckers they just hook a piece of fabric in place to keep the engine bay warmer. An auto flap seems a lot smarter

Car looks good. Overall the new Sonata is a big win.