He said, she said: Test driving the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
The premise of the He said, she said chronicle is simple: we lend a press vehicle to a couple to test drive extensively for two weeks, giving the two participants just one instruction: to take note of all of their impressions, both good and bad.
Both test drivers have to keep their opinions to themselves so as not to unduly influence the other. Easier said than done, right?
This month, Isabelle Lalande and Alain Desautels test drove the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid equipped with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electric assistance (for 206 combined horsepower), as well as a six-speed automatic gearbox (not a CVT). The sticker price for this Premium trim is $33,999, including heated back seats, sunroof, navigation system and rearview camera (but excluding the $1,565 freight cost). Note that the base version of the Hyundai Sonata (non-hybrid) starts at $23,999.
Here are their impressions:
She said
Name: Isabelle Lalande
Age: 44
Resides: Lanaudière
Occupation: Administrator/Health network
Drives: 2009 Mazda5
Isabelle Lalande chose not to drive the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid like an old fogey. “I said to myself: ‘What’s the point of being unhappy at the wheel just because you want to maximize the car’s hybrid capabilities.’” And since she often drives in the city, she was expecting good fuel economy.
However, her average city fuel consumption, according to the on-board computer, was 9.9 L/100 km. “It’s very disappointing. Sure, the engine shuts down at stops and it’s quiet on board, but it starts up again quickly when you go again. Moreover, reading the graphs on the screen, I could clearly see that the engine goes most often toward the battery — and not the opposite.”
Driving like she usually does also left Isabelle disappointed by the car’s dynamism. “It doesn’t feel very responsive and there’s a lag in the accelerations; it’s very dull.” Like her spouse, our test driver also lamented several jolts during shifting. “It’s as though I was pressing the accelerator too quickly and the system didn’t know which motor to choose.”
So it wasn’t love at first sight for Isabelle, at least not in terms of fuel consumption and ride. And she wasn’t crazy about the look either: “It’s a nice car, but that style doesn’t really do it for me. And the interior and exterior chrome looks like plastic; I didn’t like that at all.”
Silver lining
It wasn’t all bad, though. Isabelle had only nice things to say about all of the car’s little luxuries. “I love the smart key. You slide it in your purse and then you don’t need it anymore. Not to unlock the car, and not to start it up either.” At 5’10”, Isabelle never felt cramped in the sedan, not even when she was sitting behind her 6’3” spouse. “The interior is incredibly roomy and all of the seats are comfortable.” Furthermore, she likes the dual-zone climate control: “You don’t have to compromise on the interior temperature. It’s great!”
Although she felt that the screens in the centre of the console had too many “useless” graphics, our test driver enjoyed being able to refer to – easily and right in front of her – the information on fuel consumption and the distance remaining before she ran out of gas. But would Isabelle buy the Sonata Hybrid? “No, mainly because I was expecting huge fuel economy but it didn’t turn out that way. However, I’ll admit that it piqued my curiosity enough that I may try other hybrids, and perhaps I’ll find one that reduces my city fuel consumption substantially.”
He said
Name: Alain Desautels
Age: 44
Resides: Lanaudière
Occupation: High school chemistry teacher
Drives: 2008 Mazda 3
Unlike his spouse, Alain Desautels drove the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid like a hybrid. “I wanted to let the car dictate things rather than force it to follow my lead. So I let it roll right to the stops, to use the electric engine more.”
But contrary to what he was expecting, he ended up with much better fuel economy on the highway. “I thought that hybrids were more efficient in town where there are frequent stops.” This is false, at least for the Sonata Hybrid. The stretches at cruising speed lower average fuel consumption. That said, the city/highway combined average of 8.0 L/100 km left him unconvinced: “It’s not as good as anticipated. I was expecting 6 L/100 km. The result is that I was keen on the car at first, but I eventually became disenchanted with it.”
The power didn’t win him over either: “I found the accelerations lazy – there was a lag of a second or two before it reacted. Is that typical of hybrids?” However, the handling seemed more pleasant: “It didn’t feel like I was in an old man’s car.” Our test driver did like the “incredible silence on board at low speed,” as well as the attractive exterior design. “It’s a good-looking car with an original style.”
Tall people deserve to be happy too
He also had good things to say about the passenger compartment. “The car is comfortable for tall people like us. I’m surprised by the positive use of the space. There’s good clearance between your head and the ceiling, which isn’t the case for all cars.” What’s more, “the lumbar support for the driver is efficient, bravo for the heated rear bench. After all, the kids have the right to a warm bottom too!”
But the batteries required for electric power encroaches on the cargo space, which means the trunk isn’t large enough for a family of four. “It’s big enough for one hockey bag – that’s it.” And while he finds the controls ergonomical and easy to get used to, Alain agrees with Isabelle that the excess of information on the central screen represents a serious distraction for the driver.
What’s the verdict? “The fuel consumption is a disappointment. I think that hybridization is a noble idea, I understand that we have to move in that direction and I sincerely appreciate the effort. But I would only start to consider it if the car’s fuel consumption was 6 L/100 km, or if the price was about $25,000, not when it’s nearly $35,000.”
