Hyundai has revealed details of its new Sonata Hybrid, which joins the eighth-gen model range that debuted in March. Not much to identify the hybrid from view, with a cross-hole cascading front grille, rear spoiler, a different alloy wheel design and hybrid badging providing the only visual indicators at eye level.
Perch yourself higher, and that’s when you find a definite giveaway, which is a solar panel system incorporated in the roof. The system, which makes its debut on the car, recharges the battery to aid operating range, and the automaker says that it’ll provide an additional 1,300 km of travel distance annually with six hours of charging daily.
The hybrid powertrain consists of a Smartstream G2.0 GDi HEV engine, coupled with a six-speed hybrid transmission. Output from the mill is 150 hp and 188 Nm, and this is combined with the 38 kW (51 hp) and 205 Nm from the electric motor, the latter identical to that seen in the hybrid version of the seventh-gen LF facelift.
Total system power output for the Korean market version is 192 hp, with a combined fuel economy of 20.1 km per litre – strangely, the automaker didn’t reveal total operating range of the new car, but it should mirror or better that of the 2018 LF facelift, which provisional estimates listed as being close to 1,050 km, under typical driving conditions.
There’s also no mention of the rating and output of the battery pack, but one thing the new car improves on over the old is with boot space. Where the previous iteration offered 377 litres of cargo space at the rear, the new one has 510 litres, a noticeable hike.
Tech-wise, the automaker is shouting about its new Active Shift Control (ASC) tech, which also makes its debut on the car. New control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) controls the electric motor to align the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission, reducing shift times by 30%. Hyundai says that aside from performance gains, the system also improves transmission durability by minimising friction during shifts.
In terms of kit, that available for the Hybrid shouldn’t veer far from that available for the rest of the range – there’s mention of the Hyundai Digital Key, which utilises Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and allows a device or smartphone to control selected vehicle systems remotely.
The car also gets the same levels of safety as its petrol siblings, with an onboard array of Smartsense advanced driver assistance systems to be found. These include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Lane Follow Assist.
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Hyundai got lots of recalls. It is more safer to buy Kia than dangerous Hyundai due to Engine risk and airbags and other parts that have more problems
Wilson, Kia and Hyundai are one game changing company. If Hyundai have tons of problems then Kia will be the same. Moreover, Hyundai is a world-class company that sold million of cars so it is impossible for Hyundai to have tons of problems. Also, Proton must learn from this so they can fix their game over quality problems.
After 1 year of buying my Ioniq, my Ioniq got electronic hybrid system problem. Actually, it supposed to be 8 years warranty but it seems that my Ioniq hybrid system is under warranty. Now tell me, what happen to Hyundai Malaysia?
1,300 km of travel distance. Two full tank RON97.
Few weeks ago, already sell my Hyundai Tucson after got lots of problems about my Tucson, going many different locations and waited for 1 month until when my Hyundai Tucson already come out from service. Kosong Repair and not 100% fully repaired. Bad service. Fix my car first. Anyway, don’t ever talk about launching new models. Fix my car first then only talk about this
Can u be specific? Which year is ur car? List down the problems and let us judge
Haha should get a name for it, call hybrid is not appropriate, as this is petrol+EV+solar..
beautiful Kia Optima is better than this ugly Hyundai Sonata
Ugly
Most of these boss cars are parked underground or under cover, negating the solar panels on the roof. This is like added on for the sake of having something different without thinking things through.
I am Tucson Owner, I went so many Hyundai service centers because I have to wait few months to repair my car but didn’t repair at all even maintenance cost is also very high. Attitude will never change in Malaysia even though I already email to Hyundai HQ but no response.
Looks ugly than previous Sonata. Even Elantra are not selling well as well as Elantra looks ugly due to boring features. Even Santa Fe also not picking up sales even though it is CKD due to lack of more features. Better buy Mazda CX-5 or CX-30 or CX-8
Go for Kia or Proton. Don’t go for Hyundai because Hyundai is the most dangerous car to own
What a good looking handsome car !