Blue Driving
Said battery powers an electric motor, which teams up with a conventional 2.4-litre gasoline engine. The gas and electric systems take turns or work together to propel the vehicle, depending on the situation. Battery recharging power is created on-board, so there’s no plugging the car in.
Hyundai says their lithium polymer battery technology leapfrogs the competition in most every measurable dimension and allows the car to run in purely-electric mode in a wide variety of situations and speeds.
Power flow between the gas and electric systems can be monitored on an instrument cluster readout, and an ‘EV’ indicator light activates when the gas engine switches off to save fuel. This occurs at stoplights, while coasting downhill, and even at highway speeds up to and beyond 120 km/h if the conditions are right.
There’s something smugly satisfying about cruising the highway without burning a drop of fuel – even if only for a moment or two before the gas engine reengages. These fuel-free periods add up over the course of every tank of fuel to trim at consumption and emissions.
And there’s no involvement required. Other than a selectable high-efficiency ‘Blue’ mode that’s engaged with a button on the steering wheel, drivers are simply left with 206 combined horsepower and much the same ride and handling characteristics as the standard Sonata.
Engineers even opted for a six-speed automatic instead of the typical CVT transmission found in most hybrid cars, meaning the Sonata Hybrid even shifts gears the way drivers will expect. It all feels very normal, except for a loose and artificial steering feel as well as oddly-calibrated brakes that are difficult to modulate and apply smoothly.
Road trips
After some 2,000 kilometres, my overall self-calculated fuel consumption landed at 6.2 L/100km. I found the figure impressive, and notably thriftier than a standard Sonata driven similarly. But many hybrid driving enthusiasts told me I should be ashamed of myself.
But I’m a born gearhead. And it turns out I should have ditched my leadfoot for this test drive. I didn’t. The BlueDrive and I had spent over 1,000 kilometres on major highways, and we weren’t doing the speed limit. Shhhh.
So, if you’ve got a more modest right foot than me (and you probably do), your figures will be far better. Even still, I proudly proclaimed to friends and family that I’d achieved small-car mileage in a big family sedan without trying to drive like a hybrid car owner.
Said battery powers an electric motor, which teams up with a conventional 2.4-litre gasoline engine. The gas and electric systems take turns or work together to propel the vehicle, depending on the situation. Battery recharging power is created on-board, so there’s no plugging the car in.
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| Said battery powers an electric motor, which teams up with a conventional 2.4-litre gasoline engine. (Photo:Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Hyundai says their lithium polymer battery technology leapfrogs the competition in most every measurable dimension and allows the car to run in purely-electric mode in a wide variety of situations and speeds.
Power flow between the gas and electric systems can be monitored on an instrument cluster readout, and an ‘EV’ indicator light activates when the gas engine switches off to save fuel. This occurs at stoplights, while coasting downhill, and even at highway speeds up to and beyond 120 km/h if the conditions are right.
There’s something smugly satisfying about cruising the highway without burning a drop of fuel – even if only for a moment or two before the gas engine reengages. These fuel-free periods add up over the course of every tank of fuel to trim at consumption and emissions.
And there’s no involvement required. Other than a selectable high-efficiency ‘Blue’ mode that’s engaged with a button on the steering wheel, drivers are simply left with 206 combined horsepower and much the same ride and handling characteristics as the standard Sonata.
Engineers even opted for a six-speed automatic instead of the typical CVT transmission found in most hybrid cars, meaning the Sonata Hybrid even shifts gears the way drivers will expect. It all feels very normal, except for a loose and artificial steering feel as well as oddly-calibrated brakes that are difficult to modulate and apply smoothly.
Road trips
After some 2,000 kilometres, my overall self-calculated fuel consumption landed at 6.2 L/100km. I found the figure impressive, and notably thriftier than a standard Sonata driven similarly. But many hybrid driving enthusiasts told me I should be ashamed of myself.
But I’m a born gearhead. And it turns out I should have ditched my leadfoot for this test drive. I didn’t. The BlueDrive and I had spent over 1,000 kilometres on major highways, and we weren’t doing the speed limit. Shhhh.
So, if you’ve got a more modest right foot than me (and you probably do), your figures will be far better. Even still, I proudly proclaimed to friends and family that I’d achieved small-car mileage in a big family sedan without trying to drive like a hybrid car owner.
 |
| After some 2,000 kilometres, my overall self-calculated fuel consumption landed at 6.2 L/100km. (Photo:Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |