When you’re considering buying a new car, a hybrid midsize sedan may not be the first ride that comes to mind. Heck, it may not be in your top five. But so long as full-on electric cars remain a fairly costly proposition, a midsize hybrid is the practical, efficient car that most of us should be driving.
Hyundai’s new entry into that segment proves that idea should be anything but spirit-crushing. The all-new version of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recently debuted for the 2020 model year. It’s remarkably fuel-efficient, earning up to 52 mpg combined in Blue trim level form; but unlike many hybrids on the market, fuel efficiency is just one of its many features. It’s also a sophisticated, spacious, and exceedingly comfortable car in its own right — and best of all, like a lot of Hyundai Group offerings of late, it’s a great value, starting for less than $30,000.
The Sonata Hybrid feels more expensive than it is
The Sonata Hybrid plays the same trick as another recent Hyundai Group success, the Kia Telluride: it feels like it should cost more than it does. The interior is luxurious and spacious, with a clean layout; my Limited trim tester even brought soft leather.
Some may find the exterior polarizing — it’s a bit fishy at the front, and there’s a controversial chrome seam running the car’s length — but it’s still an urbane look devoid of any zaniness or glaring blue hybrid styling. Throw in some tech features like the 360-degree and blind-spot cameras, and everything about the Sonata Hybrid reads as premium…except the price tag.
