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2010 New York Auto Show Preview: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

 
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2011 Hyundai Sonata

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Dramatic designs, quality materials and respectable performance--Hyundai has come a long way since its introduction to the U.S. market in 1986. The latest vehicle to come from the company, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, offers a potent package of features and style for a bargain price, and now a hybrid version is being prepped for a 2010 New York Auto Show debut this week.

The standard model, powered by Hyundai's new 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder, starts from a low $19,195, and the decked-out Limited runs just $25,295, leaving room for the hybrid to slot in at sub-Camry Hybrid levels. The Camry Hybrid starts at about $26,150, though, so there's not a lot of wiggle room for Hyundai. Of course, offering a competitive car with bolder styling and much less concern over potentially dangerous recall issues may prove a boon to the Sonata Hybrid's sales success.

This latest teaser (pictured alongside the standard model) reveals that the Sonata Hybrid will be immediately recognizable on the road thanks to a unique grille and single chrome wing accent. And that's something owners will no doubt be keen on showing off--the car's lithium-polymer battery pack and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine are expected to combine for some impressive fuel economy figures. The regular Sonata already scores best-in-class fuel economy without the hybrid system, at 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

The Sonata Hybrid also adds a third contender to the mainstream mid-size hybrid sedan sweepstakes. Right now, the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid and the aforementioned Camry Hybrid are the only options. The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a strong overall package as we noted in our review last fall, and it's priced well to compete with both the Toyota and Sonata, so it won't be a cakewalk, despite the Sonata's good looks.

Stay tuned for an update following the car’s debut this week in New York.

[Hyundai]





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Comments (11)

  1. By NoNameDenton Posted: 2/16/2010 1:11pm PST

    May not be a cakewalk, however it will be an attractive car with good milage and priced well.
     
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  2. By LawBoy26 Posted: 2/16/2010 4:52pm PST

    Ford Fusion is getting a lot of respect. It's hybrid version is North America car of the year and the full Fusion line is Motor Trend's car of the year. With Toyota's reputation and resale value taking a beating, this will shine some light on Ford, GM, & Hyundai's new products. Pretty soon the Accord and Altima will be fighting off the Sonata for sales.
     
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  3. By Burke Posted: 2/16/2010 6:22pm PST

    Competition...(VW, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu) Beware of Bad Hyunday!
     
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  4. By bwudwagun Posted: 2/16/2010 10:37pm PST

    to me, hyundai will always be in the same category of "copycat" that many chinese automakers are notorious for. i don't see why hyundai gets so much praise for something that really isn't original in my opinion, while chinese automakers are literally being banned from various countries for counterfeit design.
    regarding this new sonata, for example, the front exterior is very much like the camry solara, the rear is of today's audi s4/s5, the wheels of today's corolla, and the center portion of the dashboard is a mixture of both infiniti and volvo's s80.
     
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  5. By NoNameDenton Posted: 2/17/2010 12:46am PST

    bwudwagun, yeah and if I stare at a Ferrari I bet I can see some Lambo in it. This car is beautiful and distinctive.
     
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  6. By bwudwagun Posted: 2/17/2010 12:46pm PST

    Ferrari and Lamborghini are neither mechanically nor aesthetically similar aside from their overall sports-car like shape tendencies. To clarify what I meant earlier by the striking resemblances in design, see these photos for yourself:
    - '11 sonata's interior. note the center portion of the dashboard.
    http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/hyundai_100234029_m.jpg
    - now note the top part of the dashboard on your typical infiniti g35, which infiniti has used for nearly a decade now.
    http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/Q/e/ag_07g35_interior.jpg
    - and the bottom portion of the center stack on a volvo s80.
    http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/10/10/024596.1-lg.jpg
    Hyundai has certainly progressed significantly in terms of their engineering capabilities. I used to drive a Hyundai for several years so I would know this myself, but I would never use the words "distinctive" or "innovative" to describe their design. It's typical college level plagiarism to me - steal a random template, make a minor change here, a slight change there, morph the body a bit here, and voila! You've got a product that you can try to sell and see if you can fool other people with it, but it doesn't fool me and I still think Hyundai's an overrated brand.
     
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  7. By Jack Posted: 2/19/2010 10:53pm PST

    @bwudwagun
    "to me, hyundai will always be..."
    After this portion, I stopped taking your comment seriously.
    I think we all know where you're coming from, fanboy.
     
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  8. By bwudwagun Posted: 2/20/2010 3:51pm PST

    Fanboy? I'm not biased. See the pictures and compare for yourself.
    Another example: The interior of the Hyundai Genesis (sedan) versus the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Notice the minimal number of buttons/indicators lined up horizontally across the vertically center portion of the center dash. Also note the central control knob and accompanying buttons on the Genesis, aft of the gear selector, which resembles Audi's own control panel for their MMI Navigation System.
    http://www.carpictures1.com/var/albums/Hyundai_2009_Genesis_Sedan_Dashboard__1280x960.jpg
    http://l.yimg.com/dv/izp/mercedes_benz_s_class_s600_2009_dashboard_dashboard.jpg
    Hyundai's good at observing cars have gained success, analyzing how and why certain designs appeal better than others, and then building their own cars as a compilation of those influences, but I've still yet to find anything inspiring or original to come from Hyundai unlike every other car company. Hyundai sells cars that have great value, but I honestly think that's because they don't invest nearly as much on their own design teams to create something truly unique as other car companies do.
     
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  9. By NoNameDenton Posted: 3/28/2010 5:36pm PDT

    All cars have the same basic features, you know, engines 4 wheels and such so in that way yes all cars look a like.
     
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  10. By Axel Posted: 3/29/2010 8:55am PDT

    Who cares how the car looks like, The Hyundai is very good car I have owned owned one and sold it at 128k true no retail value but they were 7 great years of trouble free maintanence. I own a MCS 02 w 121k and it has had its share of breakdowns. If only Hyundai would bring its DIESEL versions to the USA, I live in Puerto Rico and when I visit Dominican republic I see those Hyundais and Mitsubishis w DIESEL engines and DRIVEN them of course. Its a shame we dont get 'em here. But, all aside Hyundai is looking pretty good as of late.
     
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  11. By bd Posted: 3/30/2010 1:15am PDT

    @bwudwagun
    The front exterior is very much DIFFERENT from the Solara. Aside from a completely different grill, the headlights on the Sonata (besides being a diff. shape) are much more radically placed, being entirely on the SIDE and not cutting into the natural flow of the hoodline.
    The headlights on the Volvo S60 more resemble those on the Solara while the Mercedes F800 concept mimicks that of the Sonata (gasp)!
    Also, the Solara's wavy side character lines are similar to those on the 1st gen Tiburon and the current Camry's "melted" grill appeared after the Sonata debuted in Korea.
     
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