The narrow sidewalls of the Kumhos also transmitted impact harshness to the cabin, this despite the fairly soft suspension settings doing their best to coddle the humans on board. On smooth pavement (yes, we do have some in Quebec), the Sonata PHEV feels like a business jet, with high comfort and excellent straight-line tracking. Surface undulations or poorly maintained train track crossings, however, bring Hyundai’s classic skeletons out of the closet, with suspension rebounds raising driver eyebrows and shaving down confidence. There is still room for improvement here.

And how does all that technology translate into the real world? It’s time for that drop-the-mike moment. I left the car mostly in Eco mode all week long, except for a few un-eco moments to properly review acceleration. I also plugged the car in 120V outlets at the end of every trip, my standard commute being around 50 km round-trip. The relatively small battery (as opposed to a full-on EV’s) charges up fast enough on 120V to allow mid-day trips on electric power alone. For example: starting with a 39 km budget in the morning, I drove 25 km to work, plugged in at a 20 amp 120V outlet for 90 minutes, drove a 25 km return trip to a meeting in full EV mode (no charging at destination), plugged back in at work and drove home in the evening, all on electric power. Another mid-day meeting allowed me to use a premium parking space with a public 240V charging station, where I filled up for $2.50.

I did use the gas engine on a return trip to the airport, a distance that’s double the EV range of the Sonata PHEV. I overrode the systems by manually using the HEV mode to replenish the battery while on the highway, and save some electrons for the surface streets. The engine did come on in a supporting role at a few times during the week, to enable quick freeway merges or to supply heat to the cabin. At the end of my week, I had covered exactly 400 km with the car, and performed the routine fill-up near the press vehicle drop-off.

Warranty:
5 years/100,000 km; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 5 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 5 years/unlimited distance roadside assistance; 8 years/160,000 km hybrid components

Competitors:
Ford Fusion Energi
Kia Optima PHEV (upcoming)

I always make sure the next driver starts their week on a full tank. How much fuel did I put in? 4.1L. That’s 1.025 L/100 km according to my calculator, or 230 mpg for our American friends. Thunk.

Pricing: 2016 Hyundai Sonata PHEV Ultimate
Base price: $43,999
Options: none
A/C tax: $100
Freight & PDI: $1,795
Price as tested: $45,894 (provincial rebates not included)

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