2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review | King of Hybrid Mountain

Move over Honda, Toyota, Kia, and Ford: Hyundai’s got the best hybrid sedan under $40,000.

Shop for the new 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/BTd1S

It's easy to hit 40 miles per gallon in a big sedan with three other people. Sophisticated gas-electric hybrid systems make this possible on larger cars without sacrificing comfort or space. But now, even in the non-premium segment, luxury is a selling point. Among midsize hybrid cars, Hyundai has made the absolute best. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid totes impressive fuel economy and technology, it drips with design, and it soaks in refinement.

The Sonata brings the absolute coolest LED running lights in history. They start under the headlights, per usual, and then cut upwards onto the hood itself, fading out above the fender into bright chrome trim that continues uninterrupted to the rearmost window. This is one element on top of a solid base: Wide grille, low stance, rounded greenhouse, smooth contours with just enough edging to play with the shadows. Then there's the black ducktail spoiler with the integrated fins.

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine running on the less powerful Atkinson combustion cycle for greater efficiency, which by itself makes 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 51-hp electric motor and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery, the total is 192 hp and as much as 151 lb-ft from the electric motor at a standstill. It's not a lot, but the Sonata Hybrid felt light on our test car's 17-inch tires (which thankfully don't appear small). A six-speed automatic transmission does shifting duty instead of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) found in most hybrids.

On the top Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited trim, the solar panels do their job—such as running the air conditioning at full blast when parked. Hyundai says they can generate the equivalent of two miles of extra driving range if the car is parked outside for at least six hours in full sun. That's several hundred "free" miles in a year. In the back, rear-seat legroom is very spacious. With vents, manual side-window shades, and heated seats, the rear cabin is an easy place to catch a snooze, especially since the whole car is so quiet and comfortable. Cargo space is also great, at 16 cubic feet.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does Hyundai Blue Link, which allows remote operation and diagnostics from a smartphone, smartwatch, or Amazon Alexa. You can use a digital key to unlock and start the vehicle, either with the supplied card or stored on a compatible Android phone.

The 2020 Sonata Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though it earned four stars in a frontal crash where most cars now earn the full five. The regular Sonata is a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for scoring the top ratings in six crash tests, for the optional headlights, and for its standard emergency forward braking with pedestrian detection.

With an MSRP starting at $27,750, the Sonata Hybrid is $4,150 more than a base Sonata SE but includes more standard equipment—and fuel efficiency that's 60-percent greater when measured on the EPA combined cycle. Like most Hyundai models, the Sonata is the best value when fully loaded at $36,570 like our Limited test car. Here, it feels like a $50,000 car.

For more information on the 2020 Mazda3, read our full coverage on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/BTd0S

Presenter: Clifford Atiyeh
Cinematography: https://www.VennCreativeMedia.com
Written review: Clifford Atiyeh

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0:00 Introducing the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
0:50 Hyundai Sonata Exterior Design
2:12 The Sonata Hybrid's Solar Panel Roof
2:34 Driving Impressions & Fuel Economy
5:57 Interior Impressions & Tech Overview
7:20 Back Seat & Cargo Space
7:46 The Sonata Hybrid's Competition
8:06 Pricing & Conclusion