2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Returns with Improved Drivability

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid? Some folks may have been wondering if such an animal would ever be spotted in the wild. After all, despite a relatively successful year in 2012, when the Sonata Hybrid delivered 20,754 units and outsold both the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, the next-gen models of that latter pair had opened up fairly large fuel-efficiency leads on Hyundai’s high-efficiency midsizer—which wasn’t even mentioned during the launch of the traditionally powered 2013 Sonata.

But clearly the automaker wasn’t ready to walk away from its investment in advanced lithium-polymer battery technology—nor the lifetime warranty it offers on said feature—since it recently announced the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid would soon go on sale with significantly improved driving manners, slightly boosted EPA grades, and an MSRP of $25,650. Needless to say, with that $200 reduction as compared to the 2012 model, the Hyundai will remain the most affordable midsize hybrid sedan in the country.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Getting Greener for Less Green

Getting right down to brass tacks here, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is expected to achieve EPA ratings of up to 36 mpg city/40 mpg highway/38 mpg combined in its standard trim, with the Sonata Hybrid Limited getting the same city/highway scores but a combined mark of 37 mpg. On the one hand, that does represent improvements of 6 percent/3 percent/6 percent versus 2012, with more electric power, enhanced all-electric driving capabilities and smoother operation. But that being said, the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid showcases a rating of 47 mpg in all EPA categories, for advantages of 11 mpg/7 mpg/9 mpg, and the 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s line of 43/39/41 still offers an added 7 mpg/1 mpg/1 mpg.

But anything the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited gives up at gas pumps it gains back when it comes to pricing. Unsurprisingly, the Hyundai product maintained its brand’s usual value proposition last year, and it will be even less expensive for the current selling season thanks to its $200 price reduction. Comparing MSRPs among this trio, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid—starting, remember, at $25,650—will cost $1,550 less than a starter Fusion Hybrid and a not-insignificant $490 below the entry-level Camry Hybrid.

And it’s not like the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is lacking in content. Standard amenities include: LED front accent lights and tail lamps, front fog lights, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Bluetooth technology, proximity entry and pushbutton start, a 4.2-inch color TFT multi-function screen with hybrid performance display, dual-zone climate control with rear-seat vents, heated front seats, soft-touch door-panel inserts, a multi-function steering wheel and more.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: The Next Level

As mentioned way back at the start of this story, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid also is offered in a Limited trim that provides a more upscale ambiance, along with:

• Bigger, 17-inch wheels with an exclusive finish
• Premium seating, including leather seating surfaces, heated rear seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support
• Navigation technology that leverages a high-res touchscreen display
• Upgraded Infinity audio components, including speakers, a subwoofer, and a 400-watt external amplifier
• HD Radio and a 90-day complimentary subscription to SiriusM NavTraffic, NavWeather and Sports & Stocks services
• A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Rearview backup camera technology

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited will open at $30,550.