Test Drive: Hyundai Sonata hybrid deserves a plug

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Call it the Tesla effect.

Until the gorgeous Tesla Model S came along, plug-in and hybrid cars were viewed as ugly mutts. Toyota's Prius hybrid set the pace in the belief that a strange but aero-friendly shape and tiny wheels would silently scream its environmental consciousness to other motorists.

Now as more mainstream products go "green," those days are fading fast. The new Hyundai Sonata hybrid and plug-in hybrid are the new breeds. They are attractive, lush midsize cars barely indistinguishable from their conventionally powered counterparts, except for having charging ports, some extra badging and a few trim alterations.

Yet they get impressive gas mileage. The hybrid alone is expected to be rated at 40 miles per gallon in the city, 44 mpg on the highway and 42 mpg overall. If those estimates come to pass, they would be 10% better than the previous Sonata hybrid and about even with the second-generation Prius. (Prius is now in its third generation, with a fourth, which promises to be better looking, on the way.)

The new 2016 Sonata plug-in isn't yet officially rated, but Hyundai says it expects it to come in around 93 MPGe, the government's confusing measure for electric cars. In the real world — mine — the fuel-use tracker in the instrument cluster showed 53 mpg when the battery was fully charged, and about 40 mpg when it wasn't. Yet there we were, in leather-wrapped luxury in a solid, whisper-quiet highway flier, one so stylish that you'd never balk before pulling up to the valet stand at the Ritz-Carlton.

Because of its plain wrapper, you might not know how much has changed in Sonata hybrid:

•Powerplant. It is driven by a downsized 154-horsepower 2-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a now-more powerful 38-kilowatt electric motor. Its electric-only top speed is 75 miles per hour. It is coupled with a six-speed transmission, which Hyundai officials tout as lacking the "rubber bandy" sensation of CVTs going into rival models. We suspect Hyundai would switch to CVT if it had one as a way to improve mileage even further.

•Battery. With peppier electric motors comes a beefier lithium-polymer battery, packing 13% more capacity than the one it replaces. It tucks under the trunk floor, creating more space in the boot and allowing for rear seats that can be folded down for cargo.

•Aerodynamics. Changing the design of the front and back of the Sonata has made it ever more slippery in the wind. With a 0.24 drag coefficient, Sonata, Hyundai says, is now the equal of an all-electric Tesla Model S.

While Hyundai points out improvements in the Sonata hybrid, no similar comparisons can be made of the Sonata plug-in. That's because it is Hyundai's first plug-in hybrid and, sadly, will be sold initially only in California and Oregon, then New York and seven other East Coast states, all of them bound by the same super-strict emissions laws that basically require plug-in cars to be offered for sale. The rest of the country is out of luck unless you're in the mood to special order one.

Its chief attraction is that it can run 24 miles on electric power alone, enough to cover the distance of many daily commutes. Its battery is five times as large as the one in the Sonata hybrid. Hyundai boasts that the electric-only distance is more than its chief rivals, the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion plug-in.

Luring buyers to a car that's thrifty on gas during a time of low fuel prices is no easy feat. But the car is such a joy to drive — so well insulated from noise that it wasn't always clear when the gas engine was engaged — that the car could be sold on hush factor as easily as gas stinginess.

For all its miserly ways, Sonata plug-in certainly wasn't lacking in pep. Once you overcome guilt associated with burning extra gas from aggressive driving, you're impressed with its pickup. The electric motor, 32% more powerful than one being used on Sonata hybrid, works with the engine for an impressive 202 horsepower. The combination provides all the power any level-headed midsize sedan driver will ever need.

Sonata plug-in recharges in about three hours from a 240-volt outlet and nine hours from a standard 120-volt wall socket.

After all the excitement of the hybrid or hybrid plug-in, the rest of the features are what you'd expect in a normal, deluxe version of the Sonata. There are seven air bags, rearview camera and navigation on an 8-inch screen, forward-collision warning, blind-spot detection and so on.

Later this year will come one of Hyundai's key competitive advantages, being among the first automakers that can offer the ability to connect smartphones to the car through Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The big issue around both the Sonata hybrid and the plug-in hybrid will be price. The current, outgoing Sonata hybrid starts at $26,825, including shipping, about $5,000 more than the conventional version. The new one will likely be similarly priced, but it's still a hefty premium. The plug-in will be priced higher, even though it will be eligible for federal tax credits.

If a driver's goal is to be environmentally minded without shouting it from the overpasses, either car is a worthy choice.

What stands out

Gas mileage: It's big

Noise: It's small

Fancy factor: High

Sonata hybrid and plug-in hybrid details

What? Eco versions of the popular Sonata sedan. The hybrid is a redesign; the plug-in is Hyundai's first.

Where? Both built in Asan, South Korea.

How much: Neither is priced, but Hyundai officials nod and wink when asked if the hybrid will be priced near the current $26,825, including shipping, of the outgoing one. The plug-in is anyone's guess.

What makes it go: Both have a 154-horsepower 2-liter four-banger and electric motors. The plug-in's battery and electric motors are both more capable.

How big: Sonata Hybrid will have 106.1 cubic feet of passenger volume, which Hyundai says is best in class.

How thirsty: Sonata Hybrid is likely to be rated at 40 miles per gallon in the city, 44 on the highway and 42 overall. The plug-in should come in at 93 MPGe, the government's electric-car measure. We got about 53 mpg on electric power, 40 mpg on gas, in mixed street and freeway driving.

Overall: No compromises in a classy package, but the plug-in's price could be a show stopper.