Hyundai has made a few changes to their 2018 Sonata
PHEV, which follows hot on the heels of the gasoline and Hybrid models,
detailed earlier this year. The base model has a starting price of US$ 33,250 in the United States,
or US$ 1,350 less than before, while the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Limited is US$ 250
more expensive, at US$ 38,850, without the US$ 885 freight charge.
Both versions of the sedan are using the same
2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and 67 hp electric motor, mated to
a six-speed automatic transmission. The electric motor is 32 percent more
powerful than the one used in the Sonata Hybrid, and takes its juice from a
9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery.
Hyundai claims the updated Sonata PHEV can travel
for up to 966 km on a single charge, stating that the battery can
be recharged completely in 2 hours and 42 minutes via a 240V Level 2 charging
station, or overnight, with the Level 1 charger that equips the car.
The full electric range of the sedan is said to have
been improved by a modest 1.6 km, to 45 km. Meanwhile, new
features include the addition of bi-function LED headlights with dynamic
bending light, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision
Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking, wireless charging pad for mobile
devices, heated steering wheel and a new USB charge port.
As for the higher spec Sonata PHEV Limited, it
brings Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, LED headlights
with dynamic bending light, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, a
second-row USB port, heated steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.
Compared to the 2017MY car, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata
PHEV has a more dynamic front end, new 17-inch alloy wheels, blue bezel headlights
and taillights, revised center stack area inside, an updated instrument cluster
and a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.
