Note: This performance review was created when the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was new.
Performance: | 7.2 |
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has decent overall performance without truly excelling in any area. Its fuel economy is low for a midsize hybrid, though the plug-in version is a little more eco-friendly. The Sonata Hybrid moves fine from a stop, but it's short on power when you need heavy acceleration. The car's ride quality is comfortable, and it has balanced handling.
The 2018 Sonata Hybrid has a 2.0-liter engine and an electric motor that generate a combined 193 horsepower. The Sonata Plug-In Hybrid has a more powerful electric motor that boosts the combined output to 202 horsepower. All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata Hybrid gets up to 40 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway, which are low estimates for a hybrid in this class. The plug-in model gets a combined 99 mpg-e city/highway, and it can go 28 miles on electric-only power.
Thanks to the electric part of the powertrain, the Sonata Hybrid accelerates quickly from a stop, though it requires more effort for merging with and passing cars at high speeds. The transmission earns praise for its smooth shifts and quiet operation.
The front-wheel-drive Sonata Hybrid provides a comfortable ride, even over uneven pavement, and steering provides decent feedback from the road. Still, the Sonata Hybrid isn't sporty. The hybrid-specific regenerative brakes take some getting used to since they have an unnatural feel compared to traditional brakes.
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