Driving Sports TV - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid First Drive Review

[@drivingsports]

@jeep6242 It's an early drive and we weren't able to confirm MPG figures. Also, no EPA figures had been released yet. Reportedly, a Hyundai staffer scored 60mpg with some uber-hypermiling, though, most expect the final EPA to be close to 40mpg.

[@ethanbrod77]

Had a 95 Sonata that I bought brand new and it went to the scrap yard with a little over 46 thousand miles on it. These look so much better and I can only assume they run much better. Great review by the way.

[@drivingsports]

@k71737 In-car is a GoPro, with sound recorded to an iPhone with a lav mic. External shots and cut-aways with a Sony NX-5U.

[@drivingsports]

@MrMoslow I agree that if you are rowing your own gears, you absolutely have to think about your transmission. However, the context for that comment was a standard automatic versus CVT. Both of which handle all the shifting chores.

[@drivingsports]

This is my job. So, yes, I do monitor comments. Let me explain how the car review world works. Sometimes, we get first access to a car before it's available to review (in the traditional sense that you're used to) as part of a press event organized by the maker. Everyone goes to these, even Motorweek. This particular review was filmed at such an event, and was therefore viewable several months before review cars were available to test privately (even for Motorweek). That's a good thing.

[@resonantevol]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review.

[@drivingsports]

@XenoRacing They're not exciting, but they are important. That said, we're getting back to some sportier non-hybrid stuff over the next few weeks.

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

Hey, that's an excellent car review. Told me the information I was interested in, nice job, thanks!

[@drivingsports]

@AdrianosFidi If you're into hypermiling, you should net significant improvements in MPG. However, if you are going to drive normally, the savings will be much smaller, possibly not enough to justify. That's just the nature of hybrid tech.

[@drivingsports]

It wouldn't be correct to call it a preview, since that usually means we haven't seen the actual car yet and are, instead, just rattling off the numbers with pictures. Having reviewed cars for several years, I can say that it's possible for me (or any other reviewer worth their salt) to give a proper review after having driven any vehicle for about an hour. I prefer more time, but it's still a relevant review. For this Sonata, I drove the car for a day before hitting "record" on the camera.

[@RPEagles]

i have a 2000 hyundai sonata gls and i do say they really did a great job improving the car :)

[@drivingsports]

@fuguf1sh Yup, the embargo lifted last night for the Hybrid impressions. We didn't focus on MPG (should we have? yeah, probably) since Ryan was more interested in the overall driving experience (which is counter to hypermiling) and everyone else would report their MPG results. When we have more control over conditions we will likely do a proper MPG test in the future. Ryan says he'd get the turbo. But, he's not much for hypermiling around town, either.

[@marcelonator]

@4:43 Love the sound of the turn signal indicator, this car gets cooler and cooler :D

[@hayksamvelyan]

I'm surprised at how much better this car looks than the standard model. It almost looks like it should be their flagship/sport model.

[@ArchRivalNeo]

Hey there, Do you know how soft the ride is? Do you feel the bumps of an uneven road?

[@quaribc]

very nice review. a practical review for a practical car. i want one.

[@drivingsports]

@thelukemiester Like the "normal" Sonata, the Hybrid is front-wheel drive.

[@drivingsports]

@lowrthnu92 I know you're just being snarky, but you do bring up a good point. Hyundai says this new battery should last close to 200,000 miles -- which is about twice the life (iirc) of batteries used by other Hybrids.

[@AwesomeJoe007]

I love this car!!! After graduation, I plan to buy a new car and this is one of my target cars.

[@whoadiz]

How are the leather seats in the hybrid in comparison to the standard limited sonatas? I know these are perforated and not dimpled like the originals. Are they softer? more comfortable?

[@dherman0001]

I have the sonata hybrid premium. Get 45mpg hwy @ 65-78mph (important to use cruise cntrl, or drops to 38.). With mixed driving, getting 32-38. Handling is incredible, power is not lacking. Ive never had a new car where so many strangers approach me and rave about it. Its appearance is ultra modern, high quality, and sporty(It looks expensive). Whether this is good or bad is up to you. Features equal the Acura TSX, but looks far better! I see the Acura drivers jealous stares at stops!

[@drivingsports]

@ripperkillerX We're based in Seattle. We travel quite a lot.

[@Tmillz131]

even though its a hybrid it looks really sporty

[@matrixloader]

dang! that front end looks freaking mean! , love the hybrid design hyundai did on the new sonata. this car rocks!

[@ATLOffroad]

@XenoRacing Kia and Hyundai have been churning out new models like crazy lately. I think it's exciting to see what new stuff their design teams and engineers are coming out with.

[@ConceptVBS]

@rforracing Absolutely, the best looking hybrid, perhaps the best driving hybrid as well. It's got some unique state of the art technology under the hood as well.

[@nick41289]

wow~~this car is awesome!!!!! I would seriously consider buying this awesome car

[@bonbon27]

love the modern look of this hybrid

[@ConceptVBS]

Personally, I would get the car just for the looks. It looks better than the regular Sonata design wise.

[@henryquach604]

sick car. I am getting this bad boy. Love how it looks. White is the way to go.

[@Songspoint]

I'm getting this hybrid without doubt.

[@ge3edy]

Nice Review guys keep it up :D

[@speedy_blondy]

WOW its great ! im gonna buy it how much .????

[@bbokdoong]

Nice car and nice review,! thx!

[@fuguf1sh]

Must have lifted the press blackout today. Sonata Hybrid reviews are springing up all over the net. You have the first video review that I'm aware of.. What was your MPG average? Most written reports put it in the 37MPG combined range with mixed driving conditions. Thanks for the review! I'm torn between the 2.0T and the Hybrid. My driving is 96% highway cruising so city MPG does not interest me too much.

[@YTman28]

That hybrid car looks straight pimpin.

[@alexandergoldman]

i thought this review was well done, tho more information on what fuel efficiency figures you were able to attain would have been helpful. I think this looks fantastic and the interior is SWEET. Not sure if i'm the hybrid type but the regular sonata is on my test drive list when it's time to turn in our Maxima..

[@drivingsports]

Also, if you look at our channel, you'll see that we also do plenty of "real reviews" too. And, really, I don't mind discussing this stuff.

[@jeep6242]

no report on MPG?

[@Vinnygil]

i just like the double sunroof alot!!!

[@xsnownedx]

Ah gotta love driving in torrey pines. Nice car too

[@biyorkman]

Please make clear whether the face of this car either is cicada or stag beetle.

[@thefattypatty1]

What was the song at the end of the video

[@dave6726]

"so now lets go and...punch it" man you've been lead footing it the whole ride lol...

[@drivingsports]

Your comment doesn't really make any sense. What exactly are you going off about? The fact that I talk to the camera... while driving? Because, that is pretty standard for the genre. --RD

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

@TonyTube407 Edmunds says the EPA has not rated it yet but Hyundai says 40 highway and 35 city combined 38.

[@TonyTube407]

Did I miss the part where he talked about fuel economy figures?

[@k71737]

what kind camera

[@k71737]

@drivingsports thank you for your interest شكرا لأهتمامك اتمنى بان تسلم ابركلك .

[@pattycarljackson]

i wouldnt have been surprised if hyundai never made a hybrid because all of their new cars are actually up with all of the hybrid cars like the regular 2011 sonat its only a few miles off from the camry hybrid

[@Asuram21]

considering the size of the car, the MPG is very very good.

[@enemay]

@drivingsports I swear a lot of people ask you about your camera on a lot of your videos, Sony should be sponsoring you guys by now.

[@chodeshadar18]

Just one dumb question from an old guy who used to pump gas and change oil for a living, but hasn't owned a car since he moved to NYC 20 years ago; Does one need a year of computer training just to check the oil on this thing?

[@marndiaye4022]

Design intéressant et confort à gogo

[@MassineAmenzu]

@peterabujaber what do u want with that price? a mercedes brabus?

[@NASSER2752]

فديت السوناتا 2011

[@coolvideo28]

looks sharp and 0-60 in 1min. 32sec.

[@Windgrace]

I hate the grill on the regular sonata and I think this one might even be worse. But then again, I didn't jump on the "Hyundai is awesome" bandwagon because their design has "improved." This car is prefaced with how "nice" it looks before anything else. It's true, it'll be 10 years before we can truly judge Hyundai's reliability and let's face it, nobody buys Honda/Toyota expecting their car NOT to last 100k mi so the warranty point is moot.

[@dltmdwnfkdldjs]

driving green~ driving blue~

[@CsuhyonK]

I drive a 2010 prius and get 45-47 mpg driving aggressively in winter... Love the sonata though...

[@tigerbalm666]

The only thing I really care in performance, is strong passing speed on an incline. I must accelerate quickly - under 7 s 0-60.. I don't need a car that does 150 mph...maybe 95 mph and get 50 mpg.

[@hksxskyline]

damn I gotta admit this car looks fine

[@tingokuman]

@GotstuffStoppa Agreed but i feel it has more to do with econimics hydrogen is very expensive and there is a bit of a learning curve just to use it properly.the extras add weight. i believe you have to keep it cool at all times or your driving a bomb.hydrogen has a huge advantage as tiny fuel cells go pretty much as far as we can engineer a combustion engne to use it.volume sales would reduce costs as you said.but i feel it would take a glacier hitting the U.S. to stop dinofuel.

[@attilio19111]

I own 2007 camry hybrid and it's faster than sonata hybrid for performance. It goes from 0-60 mph in 8.0 seconds while sonata hybrid gets 9.2 seconds. Camry hybrid is heavier and only has 187 hp. Toyota knows how to make hybrid very quick. Toyota already has 10 years of hybrid experience when 2007 camry hybrid came out while Hyundai gets their first year of hybrid experience on 2011 sonata hybrid. As a result, the reliability from toyota is higher than hyundai.

[@wstafco]

@sebastian masclet: I have a 2013 Sonata Hybrid that I use as my daily driver. I also owed a 2012 Camry before, not the hybrid. To be honest, the Sonata has a stronger body. The Toyota feels like paper and I actually was in a fender bender in my 2012 Camry and the driver's door was shredded upon low speed impact. Besides, even today, the Sonata is better equipped at a lower price than the Camry, with better overall warranty. Hyundai should not be discounted. They have rounded the corner and improved their vehicles greatly. Toyota and Honda better watch their backs!

[@biyorkman]

It is seen only that neither the motor system nor the gasoline engine unite well and it cohabits in strange shape under the present situation. Only running of a free gasoline car will be experienced when making it. If good fuel cost is obtained, it is necessary to find out peculiar "Sweet spot" in which the motor greatly intervenes it, and to drive while taking care with so as not to deviate from the spot.

[@SyncAhead]

@kingfarticus , All hybrids look weird. At least it's the best looking weird hybrid...although in person, you might find it pretty attractive...it's much different than what you see on the computer.

[@matrixloader]

the old hyundai that had bad rep was back in the 1980s we in 2010 now. hyundais are great reliable cars, but they used to look ugly, that has now changed big time as their goal is to be #1 most fuel efficient , reliable and most affordable.

[@matrixloader]

@lowrthnu92 all new hybrids will soon be using this same battery, not really an iphone battery as it would be too small but its same matterials just bigger made for vehicles.

[@keenanmoi]

hey its torrey pines!

[@XenoRacing]

@ATLOffroad Kia incorporate body stylings from popular cars like the Rio5 aka Subaru impreza or Forte aka Civic and other brands into their lineup and it just kills it for me. Especially when they use cheaper parts with less quality and still charge almost as much. Hyundai came a long way from being lemons on side of the road after coming off the lot and the genesis has is respectable thanks to rhys millen but even that was a nissan powered with Ford suspension and the Hyundai badge.

[@wtrdogg20]

@manyakols9 Thats why they are an award winner brand, with all their cars with 5 stars on safety tests (in America and Europe) and with award winning engines, with excellent peformance: a lot power from low displacement and low consumption. Thats why their quality is starting to be compared with the quality you can find on more expensive cars from Europe, above Toyota quality....Thats why they are selling more and more cars year after year.

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

@gabrom40 LOL, I thought it was an excellent review. I hate the reviews that read off of the manufacturers writing. This seemed honest. It's not out yet so he can't quote everything yet since it isn't available.

[@tingokuman]

I LOVE BIG AMERICAN V8s THAT WASTE SCREAM AND PUNCH BIG HOLES IN THE OZONE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEEN.but im getting one of these as my daily driver.gotta do my part.i drive 14,000mi on my current daily driver i fill up about 77times per year ON PREMIUM $79.00 per fillup california.with the sonata i calculate 20-30 fillups on REGULAR at 45ish a fillup.thats about 4000$ in fuel cost annually.UGGHH WINNING !!!

[@Ansett76]

"Historically there have been some....lets just say some of the earlier models weren't as reliable as everybody would have liked" Very generalist statement, any facts to back a comment like that up? I could say the same for Ford/GM/Chrysler products over the last 30 years or so, they have made some absolute pigs and tried to flog them off as a quality product. More Hyundai bashing even if it wasn't intended, it seems to be ingrained.

[@tipoomaster]

Why do companies feel the need to uglify the hybrid versions of their cars? The standard Sonata is fantastic looking, they hit this on the face with an ugly bat.

[@piano1324]

@rsxzx6r Depending on how you drive each car, the fusion hybrid will get you slightly better MPG

[@perfect1oNN]

I love the new hyundai..

[@UhhhhhnooOOo00oO]

Let's see????!!!! Your doing the damn review as you are taking the video???!!!! How more unprofessional can these reviews get??!!! Now I have seen it all. Reviews that are not reviews but just showing you the car and I thought it couldn't get worse. This really takes the cake!!! Motor Week is the only professional reviewer left now. Jeez!!!

[@Abeyforu]

oh ..what a nice car....

[@vovka444]

i am becoming a hyundai fan...

[@tallen35875]

i like the rims. overall great look. but change the front end. its a little "fishy"

[@FastLaneDaily]

Forgot to hide your lav :)

[@goldengun74]

nice parking in the red zone, speeding, and was "my fair lady".. dont know why i know that

[@McGruvy]

did anyone notice them taillights???!!!!

[@timmiriarts]

Why didn't he mention about the MPG during his so called extended drive? Hybrid bummer

[@bigbobchamp]

"You get the head, nice."

[@RNmerritt]

Hummm my 2011 prius 52 mpg in summer... with snow tires in Ohio winter 48. cost me 22k.

[@kimjb95]

LOL side of benz SL, grill of misubishi, back of acura BUt still niceeeeeeeeee

[@reTurNabLee]

i think its nice sonata ;)

[@Xentradi97]

@frankdanktank I think eventually the quality and brand marketing will win out. Let's face it, when Japan introduced their cars to the Western market, they weren't exactly praising it for high quality and style did they? Public opinions take time to change but they won't remain ignorant forever when facing real deal quality, reliability and excellent design.

[@UhhhhhnooOOo00oO]

o correcting phones!!! Let me handle the review on the phone though ;)

[@evolutionj]

hey not bad, Hyundai is really stepping up. and Honda is about to drop out of the sky because of their new Odyssey.

[@Bmants]

True fact?

[@ColdNapalm42]

@Blueberryboy11 Wow...so much wrong. Hyundai never made bicycles. They do make a 10000 HP engine tho. The hilux is not the best selling truck in the world...the ford F150 is. In fact the F150 sells so much that it is the best selling car in the world period. The prius was NOT the first commercial hybrid, the honda insight was...well technically EV1 was. Best selling car in the US is once again NOT the camry but the F150.

[@dmcpopp]

Funny how before I watcj the actual video I had chevy comeercial and guess what Dang Hyundai It's BEAUTIFUL! thank's for beeing very comparable chevy Lol.

[@rsxzx6r]

@piano1324 is that an opinion? or do you have facts?

[@SyncAhead]

BTW, it's not Hondai .... it's Hyundai like..Sunday...it's not that freakin' hard...I don't get it.

[@UhhhhhnooOOo00oO]

This is a "Preview" then, not a"Review"!!!! Just show the exterior and interior and give a slight opinion on your first drive and call it a "Preview"! 99% of these so called "Reviews" are "Previews" or "Marketing" commercials to sell the car. Call it a first impression if you want to be ...ooh cutting edge. Everyone needs a Websters dictionary for defining words correctly. I appreciate your response though...perhaps. "Mutiny" from "one" ...I'd like to do a review on these small buttoned aut

[@gabrom40]

@verbusen I think it's just the guy who does it that I don't like,or maybe I was drunk when I wrote the comment....can't remember...

[@edmaluf]

Hyundai is the new Honda.