My kids will never understand this, but it used to be that getting behind the seat of Hyundai “anything” meant getting into something cheap-feeling and bland. You knew you were hopping into a product from the B-team and that no matter how hard the Hyundai Team tried, you were going to be underwhelmed and disappointed.
That was then.
For some time now, Hyundai has been delivering some heavy-hitting rides and has garnered some well-deserved accolades and awards. From things like safety, cost of ownership, customer loyalty to other categories like technology and overall design, Hyundai is a top contender for customer consideration.
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is no exception.
Styling
Is there such a thing as “too sporty” for a mid-size sedan? Let me explain. When I got my first look at the front end of the newly redesigned 2020 Sonata, I was a bit surprised. The low-slung hood lines made me do a double take to make sure this was indeed a Sonata. I’m not complaining; I was just taken aback to see such an aggressive design on a mid-size sedan. The new hood design combined with the new LED gradient daytime running lights immediately draw your eyes to the front of the vehicle. It’s a bold design for Hyundai and it happens to be one of boy’s favorite design aspects of the 2020 Sonata. Every time we went for a ride, he would say “Dad…I really like those lights!” Me too, buddy. Me too.
The interior was very spacious and well-designed with easy-to-use dials and very intuitive 10.25” touchscreen infotainment system (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration included). It had all the creature comforts you’d expect from a “Limited” model – leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustment, dual climate control, heated side mirrors, a beautiful 12.3” color LCD cluster, proximity key entry, hands-free smart trunk release, and many other options. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid Limited comes loaded with features that easily make this a high-value proposition.
Performance
The combination of the four-cylinder gas engine and 39 kW electric motor delivers plenty of power off the line and never felt sluggish. While the overall weight of vehicle did feel hefty in the turns, the combined 192 horsepower pinned me back into my seat when I mashed on the gas pedal. Power was always available and ready for whenever I needed it, both on the highway and in and around town.
Safety
As mentioned, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes loaded with extras and that includes safety features that have helped deliver consistent IIHS Top Safety Pick awards. Some of the features included are lane-keep assist, a surround view monitor for parking, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, driver drowsiness detector and a blind-spot monitor that displays photos in the instrument cluster. The vehicle has also gained a 5-star NHTSA rating.
Summary
ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $35,500
ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $36,800
ENGINE:
- 0L Four-cylinder gasoline, 150 hp, 139 lb-ft torque
- 39 kW electric motor, 51 hp, 151 lb-ft torque
- 270-volt lithium battery and hybrid starter-generator
- Combined hybrid system 192 HP
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: 45 city / 51 highway, 47 combined mpg
Did I mention the 2020 Sonata Hybrid also comes with a solar roof? While not a major source of energy for the Sonata, Hyundai gives us another peek into a future of cleaner power for our vehicles. Just one more “plus” on already solid mid-size sedan from Hyundai.
See you on the road,
Fabian has been an automotive journalist for the last 10 years and is also the co-founder of Denton Moto Collective, a unique motorcycle company located in Denton, Texas.
