If you asked the average motorist if they were contemplating the purchase of an electric car back in 2010, it was highly likely that they would say tell you "no'" and then proceed to list the many reasons why they didn't want one. Despite this mentality being the norm just a decade ago, things have changed quite a bit over the past couple of years. Specifically, Tesla was able to shake things up, as they were able to actually make EVs that people wanted to buy.
Soon after Tesla's popularity exploded, companies like that of General Motors, Volkswagen, and Mercedes, began to follow suit and add more EV models to their own lineups. As a result of all of these changes (and some government mandates), it appears that we are all on a course that leads to a very EV-dominated future. Or are we?
Just because more people than ever before want an EV does not mean that everyone wants one. This mentality is completely understandable, as EVs are expensive, have limited range, and can take a long time to recharge. Thankfully, if you want to reap the benefits of EVs without completely ditching gas, you could opt for a hybrid; specifically, you could go for Hyundai's new Sonata Hybrid.
Let's take a look at Hyundai's newest eco-friendly sedan.
First And Foremost, It's Very Fuel Efficient
Similar to that of any other hybrid on the planet, the Sonata Hybrid uses both a gas engine and some batteries to scoot the car down the road (which is basically the definition of a hybrid). Specifically, Hyundai gives the crossbred Sonata a 2.0-liter GDI Atkinson Cycle DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder, as well as a 270-volt lithium-ion polymer battery. Together, these power sources allow the Sonata to produce about 192 HP.
More importantly, however, the engine/battery combo allows the electric-ish sedan to achieve an average of 54 MPG. That means that if your trip is mostly highway/interstate, you'll be able to travel around 686 miles in between fuel-ups. That's not too shabby considering the fact that you'd be able to get from New York City to Indianapolis on one tank with those figures.
It Has Solar Panels And Active Aerodynamics
Interestingly enough, Hyundai did not stop at the engine when designing this vehicle to be as fuel-efficient as possible. They also employed the use of solar panels to aid the eco-friendly sedan with its mission to promote environmentalism. The solar panels in question are located on the roof and are able to suck up enough energy from the sun to power the car an extra 2 miles a day. Over the course of a year, this adds up to 700 extra sun-juiced miles.
Additionally, the crew back at Hyundai also decided to take a cue from Formula One and add active aerodynamics to the new Sonata.
According to the South Korean company, this includes the use of "A sleeker exterior, active air flap and rear spoiler," which surpasses "competitors with a .24 coefficient of drag". While this all sounds kind of interesting, please don't show up at a car meet and start bragging about your Sonata's coefficient of drag (people will stop talking to you).
The Inside Is Refined And Filled With Great Tech
When you move to the inside of the Sonata, you'll immediately be greeted with a generously proportioned 8-inch screen, which has everything you'll need on it.
This includes Apple Car Play/Android Auto, a backup camera, a phone, and Hyundai's Blue Link. For those of you who don't know, Blue Link provides an overview of your vehicle's telematics, as well as provides automated crash notifications. Though it is a paid service, new Sonata Hybrid owners will receive three years of this amenity for free.
It's Actually A (Partially) Battery Powered Car That You'll Enjoy
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a great vehicle for one very good reason: It is just a normal car. Historically speaking, we have been given electric cars and hybrids that are designed to be quirky, eccentric, and to be blunt: Odd. If you know of the all-electric BMW I3 (production is ending in July of 2021), you'll know exactly what kind of cars we're referring to.
Thankfully, with the Sonata Hybrid, Hyundai never tried to make their sedan weird or super "green" looking. Instead, it seems as though their thinking was basically that of "people like the normal Sonata, so they should like the hybrid one, right?".
Hopefully, this is the mindset that all car manufacturers will apply to their hybrids and their electric cars in the future. If they can accomplish this, then maybe they'll be able to actually coax some lovers of the internal combustion engine to jump ship (just maybe).