New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior, Pictures, MPG
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior, Pictures, MPG – The Korean carmaker aims to demonstrate to drivers how smooth and ordinary driving a somewhat green vehicle can be with the introduction of the New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. It makes a compelling case for vehicles like this to become the standard and raises the bar not just for hybrids but for sedans in general.
I liked the New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid more than the conventional gas-powered model. It simply makes so much sense for most drivers to have a hybrid like this because the tangible benefits can’t be ignored and there are almost no drawbacks. Vehicles like this make me think that all cars should be hybrids.
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
The Sonata Hybrid drives pretty much like any other conventional car, meaning there’s not much to report on the steering and handling front. There are a couple notable exceptions, however, the first of which is braking feel. The regenerative brakes don’t feel very natural and can have a tendency to behave inconsistently, so it can be difficult to drive smoothly. The brakes don’t seem to bite until later and would benefit from feeling more progressive.
The only other thing that stood out is that the gas engine can be jarring sometimes when it turns on at low speeds and it can get quite buzzy when passing or getting up to highway speeds, though this is common in most hybrids and both of the issues mentioned are minor.
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Specs
There’s also some peace of mind that comes with the solar roof because as long as it has access to sunshine, there’s almost no risk of the battery discharging completely and needing a jump. The solar panels are charging the battery even when the car is off, so you could potentially leave it parked over a sunny weekend and return to find the battery more charged than when you left it. This means no need for a trickle charger or jump starter if you have a sunny place to park. [Take note, southbound snowbirds.—Ed.] I’m hyped about solar roof tech and can’t wait to see them get more powerful and implemented on more hybrids and EVs.
Hyundai Canada sells the Sonata Hybrid in a single trim that comes pretty much fully loaded. The only feature from the conventional version of the New 2026 Sonata that’s not available in the hybrid version is the “Smart Park” feature that allows drivers to use the key fob to move the car forward or backward in a parking spot for easier access in a tight spot. It’s a gimmicky feature, though, and I would take the solar roof over this any day.
The Sonata Hybrid comes standard with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, 30 interior ambient lighting colours, a surround-view camera, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and more. The leather-lined front seats are heated and ventilated, while the steering wheel and rear seats are also heated. I love that the car reminds you before you exit if your phone is in the charging tray and to check the rear seats for kids or cargo, but also that it notifies you if the car in front has pulled away and you haven’t responded yet; think about those times you’re daydreaming at a red light. New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior
Engine and Performance
User-friendliness is one of the Sonata Hybrid’s many strengths. Not only are all the controls exactly where you think they will be and all the ergonomics make logical sense, but the fact that it operates exactly like a conventional car means there is no hybrid learning curve. New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior
With the 360-degree top-down view and surprisingly good visibility and sightlines, the sedan is a breeze to park. The push-button gear selector is intuitive, unlike Honda’s system, which uses a combination of buttons and triggers. The use of toggle switches for all the climate control functions cleans up the look of the dash and just makes so much sense from a usability standpoint.
The widescreen infotainment system is quick and responsive, and all the menus make sense, so there’s no digging around for what you need, meaning it’s less distracting. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto don’t take up the whole width of the widescreen, which is a bit of a missed opportunity, but luckily you can display other important info in the unused space like fuel economy or audio settings. The digital instrument cluster is clean and crisp, displaying clearly how efficiently you’re driving.
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Fuel Economy
After more than 725 km of testing, the new Sonata Hybrid was returning an incredible fuel economy of 4.7 L/100 km. Although my driving was predominantly done on the highway, my as-tested fuel economy was made even more impressive because I wasn’t even trying that hard. Although the drive selector was set to Eco mode – Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart modes are available – nearly the entire time, I made a point to drive it like a conventionally powered car instead of trying to hypermile it. On one trip where I was being extremely gentle on the accelerator, coasting often, and braking extra early, I averaged 3.2 L/100 km during a 31-km drive that was mostly highway travel. New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior
There’s no mode to force the Sonata Hybrid to drive in all-electric mode, but it does so automatically in a variety of situations – parking, slowing down, at a full stop, coasting, or other situations that don’t require a lot of effort to create momentum.
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Safety Features
The Sonata Hybrid comes standard with the brand’s full suite of driver assistance and safety tech, including camera-based blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic forward and reverse automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane tracing, driver attention monitoring, rear occupant warning, parking sensors, and more.
The adaptive cruise control works well, with acceleration and deceleration feeling natural and progressive. The lane tracing is a bit too aggressive, and I felt as if I was fighting with the steering wheel because the system had a tendency to pull too close to the left line instead of staying in the middle of the lane, so I turned it off. New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior
New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Price and Release Date
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes fully loaded for $40,099, with the only option being a $200 paint upgrade. It’s only $1,373 more than the fully loaded gas model and undercuts both the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring and the Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, so pricing-wise, there’s no reason not to get the Sonata Hybrid. Apples to apples, the similarly featured competitors cost more, but they do have the advantage of having lower and more affordable trims available. New 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Interior
