I’m currently in the market for a second family car and Hyundai keeps appearing on my radar. Traditionally, we’ve been a Nissan family but things changed when I got my wife an Elantra GT. Two years into owning it is still relatively early but we’re happy with it so far and I have no issues to go with another South Korean vehicle. I’ve been looking into hybrids and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is looking like a pretty good option.
The 2015 model made some great aesthetic changes which resulted in the company using Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 featuring Xenon headlights and LED running lights as well as a refined and “European” look. Besides the good looks, the good news is that the 2016 Hyundai Sonata has improved its fuel efficiency by over ten percent over the predecessor with an estimated 42mpg (5.6L/100km) combined.
In city driving conditions, it’s estimated to be 40mpg (5.9L/100km) while 44mpg (5.3L/100km) on the highway. The 2016 Sonata’s powertrain consists of a 2.0-liter Nu GDI four-cylinder engine producing 154 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. The power is delivered via a six-speed automatic transmission which also houses an electric motor producing 38kW (51 horsepower) and 151 lb-ft of torque.
For brief moments of time, the Sonata is capable of operating solely on electric power at speeds up to 75mph (121 km/h). The on-board lithium-polymer battery pack has a capacity of 1.62 kWh which is a 13 percent improvement from the previous 2015 model. 2016 model also offers more cargo room as the battery is more compact and located under the trunk floor allowing for an additional ten percent cargo space.
As with the previous-generation Sonata’s, the hybrid model will have a unique look to differentiate from the non-hybrid models. These changes include different wheels, different front and rear fascias, larger grille, new front fenders, chrome side sills, front/rear lights, and Hybrid badges. On the inside, an instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch color LCD will display various operations of the hybrid system.
