Topic: 2020 Hyundai Sonata - easy on the eyes!

[Brig]

Or a troll-ectomy.

He is a known troll on this board, remember?  Meow?

[rrocket]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5igrd5hVg

AoA talks about the Sonata Hybrid's solar roof and its performance.    Personally I'd trade a moonroof for this feature; coz chances are when the car is left in the sun it can run its AC and you'd come back to an air conditioned cabin.

A lot more technical details here:
https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/everything-about-the-sonata-hybrids-solar-roof/

Didn't Mazda have something similar way back in the day - I think a fan to vent the hot air out.

Yep...929.

Prius had a solar roof too iirc. Not sure in NA though.

[Ex-airbalancer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5igrd5hVg

AoA talks about the Sonata Hybrid's solar roof and its performance.    Personally I'd trade a moonroof for this feature; coz chances are when the car is left in the sun it can run its AC and you'd come back to an air conditioned cabin.

A lot more technical details here:
https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/everything-about-the-sonata-hybrids-solar-roof/

Didn't Mazda have something similar way back in the day - I think a fan to vent the hot air out.

Yep...929.

Prius had a solar roof too iirc. Not sure in NA though.

It was in NA , we had it on our Prius

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5igrd5hVg

AoA talks about the Sonata Hybrid's solar roof and its performance.    Personally I'd trade a moonroof for this feature; coz chances are when the car is left in the sun it can run its AC and you'd come back to an air conditioned cabin.

A lot more technical details here:
https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/everything-about-the-sonata-hybrids-solar-roof/

Didn't Mazda have something similar way back in the day - I think a fan to vent the hot air out.

The idea isn't new. What's different is the size of this solar panel. It seems the biggest and most efficient ever used in production cars. Will 200W of power be enough to run AC? Maybe, maybe not, unless it dips in the high voltage battery. However 200W would be more than plenty for an fan.
Anyone know the power rating of an AC unit in a Prius?

[dirtyjeffer]

the fan is a bit interesting, but perhaps even more so is if this could trickle charge your battery while sitting in a parking lot (or even a slight charge while driving)?

[Jaeger]

Or a troll-ectomy.

He is a known troll on this board, remember?  Meow?

Yup.

[rrocket]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5igrd5hVg

AoA talks about the Sonata Hybrid's solar roof and its performance.    Personally I'd trade a moonroof for this feature; coz chances are when the car is left in the sun it can run its AC and you'd come back to an air conditioned cabin.

A lot more technical details here:
https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/everything-about-the-sonata-hybrids-solar-roof/

Didn't Mazda have something similar way back in the day - I think a fan to vent the hot air out.

The idea isn't new. What's different is the size of this solar panel. It seems the biggest and most efficient ever used in production cars. Will 200W of power be enough to run AC? Maybe, maybe not, unless it dips in the high voltage battery. However 200W would be more than plenty for an fan.
Anyone know the power rating of an AC unit in a Prius?

Toyota's was 180W on the new Prime (Japan only).

They're also testing an 860w version!

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN5igrd5hVg

AoA talks about the Sonata Hybrid's solar roof and its performance.    Personally I'd trade a moonroof for this feature; coz chances are when the car is left in the sun it can run its AC and you'd come back to an air conditioned cabin.

A lot more technical details here:
https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/everything-about-the-sonata-hybrids-solar-roof/

Didn't Mazda have something similar way back in the day - I think a fan to vent the hot air out.

The idea isn't new. What's different is the size of this solar panel. It seems the biggest and most efficient ever used in production cars. Will 200W of power be enough to run AC? Maybe, maybe not, unless it dips in the high voltage battery. However 200W would be more than plenty for an fan.
Anyone know the power rating of an AC unit in a Prius?

Toyota's was 180W on the new Prime (Japan only).

They're also testing an 860w version!

You are talking about the solar panel power, right? I can believe 180W but to have 860W it would have to be a cube van's kind of roof, since even the best panels are around 25% efficient in converting sunlight to electric current.

[rrocket]

You are talking about the solar panel power, right? I can believe 180W but to have 860W it would have to be a cube van's kind of roof, since even the best panels are around 25% efficient in converting sunlight to electric current.

The panels are just .03mm thick....so they can go anywhere. 34% conversion.

https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/28787347.html

[dirtyjeffer]

You are talking about the solar panel power, right? I can believe 180W but to have 860W it would have to be a cube van's kind of roof, since even the best panels are around 25% efficient in converting sunlight to electric current.

The panels are just .03mm thick....so they can go anywhere. 34% conversion.

https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/28787347.html

interesting...although, the demo car has a panel covering the rear window...i doubt you'd be allowed to do that with a production car?

[EV Dan]

You are talking about the solar panel power, right? I can believe 180W but to have 860W it would have to be a cube van's kind of roof, since even the best panels are around 25% efficient in converting sunlight to electric current.

The panels are just .03mm thick....so they can go anywhere. 34% conversion.

https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/28787347.html

*4   
Approximately 860 W
Total module output based on calculation of cell output (as measured by Sharp).

They may have measured every individual panel in ideal conditions, such as being perpendicular to the sun rays, etc.  Impressive result but perhaps expensive to commercialize, that being a 3-in-1 PV panel.

[EV Dan]

AoA review of the Hybrid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxtiyX6U8Ao

The radiator's horizontal grille bars are easier on the eye compared to the standard model. They seem to have done great job with the Li-ion battery placement as it doesn't intrude into trunk space. As for the standard 6spd tranny it can be viewed by many ppl as an advantage since the car would drive "normal" and engine RPM would be linked to the car's speed, but on the other hand it is most likely one of the modern sealed types which are not as easy to service (DIY style) as the PSD units used by Toyota.
In any case, the competing hybrid models in this segment are rubbing shoulder to shoulder in terms of tech advancement and an actual test drive is likely to make for a personal pick. On paper and from my rational point of view (and I also test drove it recently) I'd currently go with the Camry LE hybrid. Also, looking forward to see what Kia Optima hybrid would look like, any chance for a 4 way lumbar support? BTW Accord hybrid trims have got it.

[EV Dan]

Another one of the hybrid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4mh5PLlBHI
This Voelk ain't getting no more sushi (watch til the end) 

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

[Jaeger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

[dirtyjeffer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

i got the impression that he liked certain aspects a lot, but the issue was the transmission and how the power is put down on the turbo model (wheel spin).

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

i got the impression that he liked certain aspects a lot, but the issue was the transmission and how the power is put down on the turbo model (wheel spin).

Could easily be an issue with his particular press car. Something to look out for on a testdrive. The car's underbody suggests solid engineering and attention to details. Oil gets its own access panel 

[dirtyjeffer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

i got the impression that he liked certain aspects a lot, but the issue was the transmission and how the power is put down on the turbo model (wheel spin).

Could easily be an issue with his particular press car. Something to look out for on a testdrive. The car's underbody suggests solid engineering and attention to details. Oil gets its own access panel 

i'm not familiar with this transmission, but it's also possible it just needs a software update and it works just fine...no idea if it's mechanical or software related (the issues he was mentioning).

[EV Dan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

i got the impression that he liked certain aspects a lot, but the issue was the transmission and how the power is put down on the turbo model (wheel spin).

Could easily be an issue with his particular press car. Something to look out for on a testdrive. The car's underbody suggests solid engineering and attention to details. Oil gets its own access panel 

i'm not familiar with this transmission, but it's also possible it just needs a software update and it works just fine...no idea if it's mechanical or software related (the issues he was mentioning).

A year back I had a passenger ride in a shuttle Santa Fe, I think that was an 8spd and while there was no hunting, I had a feeling that the shifts would annoy me if I owned the car.
When it comes to press cars, they are driven as if they were stolen, which is evident from SG's review as well, so there may be an simple answer to this transmission behavior. Of course the super low first gear is the programming/design but I noticed a lot of manufacturers do that for the cars to feel extra powerful.
FWIW my ride has a Hyundai designed 8 spd transmission and besides the missing dipstick I'm happy with it. The gears are spaced well, there was never any hunting and while it's not the smoothest one I've experiences, I can't really complain.

[Jaeger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkm3BJg-tY

Savage G nukes it from orbit    which is why I appreciate his reviews. He covers lots of technical details which is rare for other channels.

Anyway, in summary, the base 2.5L engine gets DI + port injection which is a huge deal in eliminating carbon deposits, but also a wonky transmission.

The hybrid's tranny seems to be refined, according to SG, but the engine is DI only. Pick your poison as they say...

Yeah he definitely was not impressed.

i got the impression that he liked certain aspects a lot, but the issue was the transmission and how the power is put down on the turbo model (wheel spin).

Could easily be an issue with his particular press car. Something to look out for on a testdrive. The car's underbody suggests solid engineering and attention to details. Oil gets its own access panel 

i'm not familiar with this transmission, but it's also possible it just needs a software update and it works just fine...no idea if it's mechanical or software related (the issues he was mentioning).

A year back I had a passenger ride in a shuttle Santa Fe, I think that was an 8spd and while there was no hunting, I had a feeling that the shifts would annoy me if I owned the car.
When it comes to press cars, they are driven as if they were stolen, which is evident from SG's review as well, so there may be an simple answer to this transmission behavior. Of course the super low first gear is the programming/design but I noticed a lot of manufacturers do that for the cars to feel extra powerful.
FWIW my ride has a Hyundai designed 8 spd transmission and besides the missing dipstick I'm happy with it. The gears are spaced well, there was never any hunting and while it's not the smoothest one I've experiences, I can't really complain.

My experience is similar with my 8 sp.  Except it IS one of the smoothest I have driven.  Zero hunting or any other issues.  Gear changes aren't as quick as on a ZF, but that's not really an issue for this type of car.  Smooth and seamless matters more.

But hey - the one in SGs Sonata did not perform well and it's his job to say so.