HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID CAN GO A LOOOONG DISTANCE!

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringtampabay@gmail.com

Planning a trip to West Palm Beach without having to stop to refill or charge? Fear not for the ride with gas/hybrid technology is at your disposal, i.e. if you head over to the Hyundai dealership to test-drive the 2024 Sonata hybrid. The popular midsize sedan boasts a range of almost 580 miles on a tank (13.2 gallons). Yes, you read that correctly!

Though the Sonata underwent a major redesign in 2020, it is back this year with a refreshed design inside and out. We are highly impressed with the car’s new futuristic look and the high-tech wizardry accompanying it. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter GDI 4-cylinder engine that puts out 150 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 139 pounds-feet of torque @ 5000 rpm. When paired with the 39-watt kW electric motor, the Sonata hybrid peaks at 192 hp. A powerful 56 kW lithium-ion polymer battery pack contributes to improved gas mileage. Another fuel saver is an all-new solar roof, which recharges the battery when the car has been turned off, thereby boosting driving range. And as always, during regenerative braking, the battery is recharged by the captured energy as the driver brakes or slows down. At stops, the gas engine shuts down for fuel savings and zero emissions. Power reaches the front wheels through a flawless 6-speed auto gear box.

The seventh-generation Sonata hybrid continues to convey a four-door coupe appearance. But the previous cascading cross-hole grille look is now history. It has been replaced with a full-width LED headlight bar (Hyundai terms it “seamless horizon lamp”) and a more bold-seeming lower black mesh grille. All new and modern is a lone panoramic curved display of instrument cluster and infotainment screens, each 12.3 inches. Looking for the shifter knob? Well, it’s now a part of the steering column. Space saving there for you. An analog instrument gauge solely devoted to the hybrid display, portrays charge, eco and battery readings. With 104.4 cubic feet of passenger volume, the cabin is comparable to competition. And trunk capacity is 16 cubic feet, beating Toyota Camry volume. Dual auto a/c, eight-way power driver and six-way front-passenger heated and cooled seats, 60/40 rear seat, leather tilt/telescopic steering wheel with paddle shifters, 12-speaker Bose sound system, panoramic sunroof and head-up display come at no extra cost.

Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, driver knee airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, front/rear parking sensors and crumple zones, electronic stability and traction control, blind-spot, forward and rear cross-traffic collision assists, highway driving and lane-keep assists, surround-view monitor, smart cruise control with stop/go, front seatbelt pretensioners, remote keyless entry and tire pressure monitoring system.

Base-priced at $37,200 for the Limited edition, the Sonata hybrid is even more enticing once you factor in EPA fuel estimates of 44 mpg city, 51 highway and 47 combined. The sedan responds with agility irrespective of road/weather conditions, guaranteeing a pleasing and peaceful ride. And, of course, daring design, a trait missing in most hybrids on the road.

SONATA HYBRID (LIMITED)

Tires: 215/55R17

Wheelbase: 111.8 inches

Length: 193.3 inches

Height: 56.9 inches

Width: 73.2 inches

Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multilink rear

Steering: motor-driven power rack-and-pinion

Weight: 3,687 pounds           

Web site: www.hyundaiusa.com

#hyundai #sonata #hyundaisonata #sonatahybrid