The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid checks all the boxes when it comes to a good midsize hybrid sedan: excellent fuel efficiency, smooth ride, upscale and roomy interior, user-friendly infotainment system and lots of standard and available tech.
Base Price: $$35,300
As Tested: $$36,275
Horsepower: 192
Mileage: 45 mpg city/51 mpg highway/47 mpg combined
The Sonata Hybrid gets a makeover for the 2020 model year with better fuel economy, updated exterior and interior styling, and a bigger touchscreen. There’s a new base trim, Blue, and an available solar roof that recharges the battery and can add about two miles a day to the vehicle’s driving range. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid was discontinued for 2020.
The five-passenger 2020 Sonata Hybrid comes in three trims: the well-equipped Blue, SEL, and Limited. Starting prices are $27,750, $29,900, and $35,300, respectively and are about average for the class. Front-wheel-drive is standard. All-wheel-drive is not available.
All trims have the same powertrain: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor with a total output of 192 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. While there’s enough power for normal driving, some rivals are zippier with more nimble handling. The Sonata Hybrid has a smooth ride, soaking up bumps and rough roads, and the transition between gas and electric power is mostly seamless. The brakes have that squishy feel often found on hybrids and that can take getting used to. There are four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom, so you can tweak the driving dynamics to your liking.
Fuel economy is excellent. EPA ratings for my tester and the SEL trim are 45 mpg city and 51 mpg highway with a combined rating of 47. I got 47 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The Blue trim does better with 50 mpg city, 54 mpg highway and 52 combined. The solar panel roof comes standard with the Limited trim and can boost range by 2 miles per day.
The cabin is classy, attractive, and roomy with lots of soft-touch surfaces that look and feel good. Seats are comfortable and supportive, and even taller adults have plenty of leg- and headroom in both rows. There’s a long list of standard features and tech.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, rear view camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable front seats, eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Available features include leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, four-way power-adjustable passenger seat, memory settings for the driver’s seat, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, dual USB ports, and wireless device charging,.
Standard driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane following assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and high-beam assist.
Available driver assistance technologies include highway drive assist, front and rear parking sensors, and rear park assist.
The infotainment system is user-friendly. The touchscreen is set fairly high at the driver’s eye level, making it easy to see and reach. Menus are logically arranged, and the system responds quickly to touch and voice commands. There are handy physical controls for audio and climate.
The Sonata Hybrid has a cavernous trunk with 16 cubic feet of space. This is almost as big as the gas-powered Sonata that has 16 cubes. The rear seats split-fold 60/40 providing flexibility in hauling passengers and gear.
Spending a week with the Sonata Hybrid drives home the fact that consumers wanting a midsize hybrid sedan have several great options from which to choose. Besides the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid are other well-rounded entries. All are worthy of consideration.
The good:
Terrific fuel efficiency
Handsome exterior
Smooth ride
Spacious and upscale cabin
Lots of standard and available tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Performance not as peppy as some rivals
Squishy regenerative brakes take getting used to
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $35,300. Delivery fee is $975 bringing the grand total to $36,275.
Bottom line:
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid boasts excellent fuel efficiency, handsome looks, smooth ride, an upscale and roomy cabin, and comes loaded with features and tech. It’s sure worth a look if you’re shopping for a midsize hybrid sedan.
