2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai Sonata PHEV on sale for $34,600, in some states, at least

Hyundai's first plug-in hybrid vehicle is now available in ten US states, and the even better news is that the car can go the equivalent of a marathon, plus a little change, without using a drop of gas. The South Korean automaker says the vehicle will have a 600-mile driving range and will be able to go 27 miles on electric power alone. Other goodies on the safety front include a blind-spot detection system and rear cross-traffic alerts. The sedan pairs a 2.0-liter gas-powered engine and electric motor that combine for 202 horsepower. The car also delivers an estimated 99 miles per gallon equivalent fuel-economy rating. The model's 9.8-kWh battery is five times the size as the one in the Sonata Hybrid. Exactly how well these cars will sell could be a mystery for a little while, as Hyundai and its sister company Kia have steadfastly refused to disclose hybrid-sales figures and this policy might continue with the PHEV. The Sonata PHEV starts at $34,600 before a potential federal-government incentive worth up to $4,919 kicks in. A "limited" trim runs for $4,000 more. The car, whose specifications were largely detailed last month, will be available for sale in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. The reason for this limited roll-out, Hyundai executives have said, is that those states have the best charging infrastructure network for PHEVs. No word on when the rest of the country will be able to easily buy the sedan, though folks in the other 40 states can at least put in special orders for the car. Take a look at Hyundai's press release below, and read our First Drive impressions here. Related Video: 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID DELIVERS CLASS-LEADING 27-MILE ALL-ELECTRIC RANGE Exclusive Blue Link Smartphone App Controls Charging Schedule Remotely 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Rear Exterior 3/4 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. November 13, 2015 – This week the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) arrives in select dealerships with a competitively priced and compelling product that boasts a class-leading 27-mile All-Electric Range (AER). The 2016 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid offers the efficiency of an alternative powertrain with a unique aerodynamic exterior design, best-in-class total interior volume, premium features and advanced safety technology all at an excellent value.

A brief taste of Korea's latest dish | 2018 Hyundai Kona

Disclaimer: We were limited to a short 10-minute drive at Hyundai's research and development facility in Namyang, about a 90-minute drive from the South Korean Capital of Seoul. The closed loop didn't provide much in the way of road variation, and we reached a blistering top speed of 45 mph with all of three opportunities to use the brakes. The Kona we drove was a Korean-spec model. Suspension and steering tuning will be adjusted for the US, though we couldn't get a clear answer on what sort of changes that entails. Expect the US model to be a bit softer than what the Koreans and the Europeans will see, though we'll have to wait until a full first drive to be sure. Hyundai has been on a roll lately, releasing a series of solid if not exactly groundbreaking products, though until now they company was missing an entry into the ever-burgeoning B-segment crossover. For several years, compacts like the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 have ruled the class, but Hyundai is going all-in on crossovers, with several new models on the horizon. The first one out of the gate is the Kona. In the next few years, we'll see a model that slots below the Kona and a large SUV that will sit above the Santa Fe. We got our first look at the new model at Hyundai's new Motorstudio, a place that's half interactive museum and half high-end conference space. The Kona's styling, a mix of original and derivative design elements, is sure to be divisive. The most standout feature is the plastic cladding that comes in either black or grey, depending on the body color. Hyundai is calling it armor. We just hope it's affordable to replace. The front wears Hyundai's cascading grille, an element that's making it's way across the automaker's lineup. It's flanked by what Hyundai is calling is calling composite headlights. It's a split design that places the slit-like turn signals above and separate from the actual headlights. It looks very similar to the current Jeep Cherokee, odd considering the controversy that model caused a few years ago. There's also a bit of Nissan Juke in there, though substantially toned down. You best get used to it, though, as design chief Luc Donckerwolke says it's the new face of the brand. Expect to see some variation making its way across the automaker's lineup. Not so with the rest of the Kona, as Donckerwolke said each model will get unique elements only found on that particular car. For the Kona, it's the armor.

Top horsepower-per-dollar cars in 2017

Bang for the buck. That quasi-scientific statistic is bandied about by motor heads everywhere from classrooms to barrooms, though the truth of the matter is that it's exceedingly complex to measure. A fair performance-per-dollar index would include something like cross-referencing MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) with point-to-point times on a track or driving route, which is obviously hard to do comprehensively. But, for the sheer joy of talking about cars and playing with a big spreadsheet, there's always the horsepower-per-dollar index, which is more straightforward, albeit hilariously flawed. There are vagaries even with this simple formula, of course: MSRP for vehicles can change at a moment's notice, to say nothing of the bottom-line shifting that happens with local deals or showroom negotiation. For this list we're running with the straight MSRP wherever possible, and as recently reported as we can get it. All the vehicles on this list are 2017 models, and all trims are reported where the lowest price and differing power levels intersect. Some choices were made for personal preference and some for sanity, avoiding things like all 48 trim levels of the Ford Transit, all with the same horsepower). If this list were a simple top ten, or even a top fifty, you'd be bored to tears with all the red, white and blue that is represented. Following perfectly with conventional wisdom, American cars really do lead the world where hp/$ is concerned. So, for the sake of variety (and the sheer joy of seeing a minivan 'win' one round of this thing) I've sorted out some top five and bottom five lists for broad power categories. Let's dive in. Less Than 100 Horsepower Okay, okay, this is hardly a category we'll grant you. But we've often tried to click off all the sub-100-hp cars on sale in the US, and making this list gave us an excuse. It also illustrates that none of these smallish vehicles bring cheap horsepower to the table - for that you'll need a motorcycle. The segment-leading Chevy Spark (above) asks just over $139 for each hp, and that Smart Fortwo Electric Drive has hp on sale for about the same price as its very distant family cousin, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG (insert your favorite Smart joke here... we know you want to).