Part of Hyundai’s fuel-efficiency drive is the 2011 Sonata. Offered with only 4-cylinder power, as opposed to prior years when V6 engines were optional, the 2011 model boosts Hyundai’s corporate average for fuel economy. To appease buyers looking for more power, the 2.0T variant was announced, providing more than enough power without sacrificing at the pump. Now, the truly efficient Sonata has been revealed, the Sonata Hybrid. Click past the jump for more details and plenty of high-resolution pictures.
With a new look up front and the Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive system under the hood, the Hybrid model gets 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg on the highway. Usually, hybrids fare better in the city, where their battery-powered electric motors are used the most, sparing the gasoline engine for use at higher speeds. Due to the way Hyundai engineered their hybrid system, the electric motor’s efficiency is spread across the speed spectrum, allowing such high highway mileage numbers. It’s also lighter than its competitors, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, which helps out even more. Added to this, the electric-only operation of the Sonata Hybrid is good to 62 mph, depending on battery charge and acceleration. This is 15mph faster than the Fusion Hybrid will go on batteries alone.
by John Suit
Source: Hyundai