2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review

  Hyundai introduced the Sonata back in 2011 when it was struggling with quality perceptions. Now in its eighth generation, the Sonata helped trigger an image makeover for Hyundai and put the company on an upward trajectory. The all-new 2020 Sonata Hybird is a dramatic design departure that includes 

 

the debut of Hyundai’s solar roof system, along with class-leading technology and fuel economy. It's an absolutely terrific midsize sedan for families, and an Editors' Choice.

Available in three trim levels—Blue, SEL, and Limited—Hyundai’s 2020 Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine paired with a 39kW electric motor driven by a lithium-ion battery. Combined system output is 192hp and 151ft-lb of torque.

Hyundai shifts e-gears and adds a front-wheel drive six-speed automatic transmission that provides a welcome change to the ubiquitous and sometimes irksome e-CVT in most hybrids. Also new is Hyundai’s Active Shift Control technology that taps the electric motor to ensure the transmission speed matches, and that Hyundai says boosts shift speed by 30 percent. The result is a hybrid that drives more like its conventional gas-powered cousin.

The entry-level Blue trim delivers a class-leading 50/54mpg city/highway fuel economy rating, while the SEL and Limited trims max out at 45/51mpg due to larger tires.

The new exterior design features a redesigned grille, unique wheels, and a rear spoiler that helps lower the coefficient of drag to 0.24. A first for this tester, Hyundai’s 205W solar panel roof on the Limited 

model is an eye-catching design element that also charges the car’s 12-volt and hybrid lithium-ion batteries, adding a little lagniappe to the range that equals 700 extra miles over the course of a year.