2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid starts at US$26,825

and catch up to the sonata in mpg's too!

 

Hyundai Sonata PHEV Gets Up To 27 Miles Of Electric Range, According To EPA

post comparing the Sonata PHEV to the Ford Fusion Energi and Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid.

 

how big is the trunk? how much does it cost?

 

No MSRP yet!

 

thanks, looks decent, but you have to see it in person. it's easy to fudge cubic feet.

 

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid First Drive – Review – Car and Driver

I have no idea on price.

 

If you do the math on the plugin version's 99 MPGe, 27 miles of range, and 9.8 kWh pack it implies they are squeezing the battery to provide a bit over 80% of its nominal capacity. The new Volt has a battery also made with LG Chem cells that is twice the size and gets 53 miles of range at 106 MPGe efficiency. The Volt is using 76% of its nominal battery capacity.

As a general rule, smaller batteries need to use a smaller portion of their nominal capacity because they are likely to go through more full charging cycles and thus see more degradation of their ability to hold and release energy. I would guess that the Sonata and Volt are using similar chemistry and cell designs but they aren't exactly the same since 1/2 of the Volt's 18.4 kWh would be 9.2 kWh and the Sonata is getting 9.8 kWh from exactly half the number of cells used in the new Volt.

One mystery is how the Sonata battery temperature is being managed. Is it liquid cooled like the Volt, air cooled like the Ford Energi or Prius Plugin, or passively cooled like the LEAF? I can't find any information about that in any of the review articles I've read or on Hyundai's website. Anyone know?

 

no question a company that has cheated in the past can't be trusted. only time will tell. good luck to the alpha users. glad to see hyundai offering options though.

 

So, Hyundai has "Lifetime Hybrid Battery Warranty" to owner # 1 only, second owner: 10/100,000 miles


America's Best Warranty

 

This is for none CARB states, right? They are not exempt for CARB rules of 10yr/150k miles.

 

Hyundai already volunteering to recall to check bad motors for the Sonata without NHTSA forcing them to. Maybe in wake of VW problem they are doing this?

 

could be, and gm ignition switch scandal. many are taking a prophylactic approach.

 

ooop - you forgot another UBER low CD vehicle - & it's a crossover. Unbelievable;
The Model X has a drag Coefficient of 0.24. I wouldn't have believed that was even possible for an SUV. : teslamotors

But - is it a plugin with a large trunk?

Segway'ing back to the OP - it blows me away that Hyundai's traction pack warranty is lifetime to the original owner. In reality I wonder how it works - for example - how can it have 100% capacity after 8 or 10 or 15 years.
.

 

Don't you mean the first hybrid sedan rather than the first hybrid?

 

I'm still waiting to figure out how that lifetime warranty works with Hyundai's plugin. Oh yeah, and I'm waiting for the first Lexus plug in .... big trunk or not.
I'd rather be saying "you go Lexus" , but I guess I'm stuck having to say "you go Hyundai" .

.

 

They will repair or replace the battery pack as long as you own the car. When you sell it reverts to 10 years (100,000 mile in non carb, 150,000 miles in carb states). Pretty simple. Hyundai thinks their battery will last over 300,000 miles, and by the time it fails the car won't be on the original owner. If they replace a lot at 300,000 miles its great marketing for internet ads, so they can't really lose unless the battries last less than 200,000 miles.

 

My sister bought the 2016 base SE model a few weeks ago. Sales must not be stellar because they're already discounting the current model year. It's a very roomy, comfortable car. When I looked under the hood I was a little disappointed to see a serpentine belt drive some of the auxiliary loads. However, it looks like it's fairly easy to access things. There's room to work and the hood is supported with hydraulic lifts which is cool. Strangely, the back seat does not fold down on the SE model which hurts its utility. My sister regularly gets in the low 50s around town just by being light on the throttle. I don't know what she gets on the road. I drove it for a few miles around town and I would not say that she carries her 3500 lbs well. It reminded me of the domestic boatmobiles of yesteryear. Between the funky hybrid throttle and funky hybrid brakes and the numb electric power steering, I didn't enjoy it's handling. I suppose you could get used to it, but I had an epiphany when I got back in my own aging Acura RSX--don't ever buy any car that weighs more than 2800lbs.

 

i guess the 50 mpg is the most important thing, especially for hyundai.