Hyundai’s first plug-in hybrid model based on the Sonata has arrived in select dealers across the States priced from $34,600 excluding an $835 destination fee.
Upon its arrival in showrooms, the Korean maker revised the 2016 Sonata PHEV’s pure electric range to 27 miles (43km), up from 24 miles (39km) when it announced the car back in May along with the regular Hybrid version. It has a total driving range of up to 600 miles (965 km).
The automaker also confirmed a “class leading” EPA estimated 40 mpg combined in charge sustaining mode (Hybrid operation) and 99 MPGe combined in charge-depleting electric vehicle (EV) mode.
Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder GDI engine paired to a 50kW electric motor (versus the regular Sonata Hybrid’s smaller 38kW motor) with a system output of 202hp.
The PHEV gets a 9.8 kWh lithium polymer battery system that is nearly five times larger than the Sonata Hybrid’s battery, and which can be charged through an external electric power source using either a Level-One 120V power outlet in less than 9 hours or a Level-Two 240V charging station in under 3 hours.
Hyundai offers the plug-in hybrid Sonata in two trim levels starting with the $35,435 (with destination) base model that gets 17-inch Eco-spoke alloy wheels, hands-free Smart Trunk, Dimension audio system, 8-inch touchscreen navigation and Blind Spot Detection System with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert as standard. The better equipped Limited starts from $38,600 or $39,435. Both models are eligible for a $4,919 federal tax credit based on the 9.8 kWh battery capacity, which drops their price to $30,516 and $34,516 respectively.
The PHEV version of the Sonata will initially be sold in the states of California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.
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