Comments on: Hyundai: Sonata and Other Hybrids Are Here to Stay

By: devvon

devvon — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:55:12 +0000

I haven't got my chance to test drive a Hyundai Sonata yet but I won't miss my chance with the Hyundai dealers NH, they promised to let me know when they'll have events of this kind. I am dreaming about that day already.

By: syra

syra — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:03:13 +0000

Looks bad-ass! I’m not sure why they would have saved this very sporty look for the hybrid version though… Is it just too futuristic or something to put as the regular sedan and swap the other design as the Hybrid? I think the regular one is gorgeous as well, but usually car companies go the other way with their Hybrid’s and make them somewhat uglier than the regular car. http://www.greenautozone.net/2011-hyundai-sonata-hybrid-review.html

By: delray beach used hyundai sonata

delray beach used hyundai sonata — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:36:49 +0000

I think Hyundai is one car which continuously introduced some new and stylish model to the market. And that’s why this car manufacturing company is going to prove itself in this car industry.

By: Marvin McKinley

Marvin McKinley — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:58:00 +0000

I would like to see Hyundai or someone develop a small Natural Gas or LPG engine to combine within a Hybrid. They would really have a clean car and very effecient one. Hopefully someone will market a conversion unit from gasoline to Natural Gas or LPG at a reasonable price. They have been around for a long time but not marketed to the general public to sell in large quantities to get the pricing down.

By: PaulRivers

PaulRivers — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:25:04 +0000

“Unfortunately even with 40% smaller batteries they still managed to block access from the trunk to the passenger area! You can see it in this youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmVfJkh9MrY

Not a winner. “

Hey, was wondering about this, thanks for pointing it out.

By: Robert Acree

Robert Acree — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:29:40 +0000

By all means...come up with a better solution that you actually think will succeed. That's right...there isn't one. You aren't going to convince people to move away from their gas guzzling vehicles right away. Hybrids are a step in the right direction.

Mass transit is the real answer, but in many places it's not useful. There are too many rural areas in the US for public transit to be the solution. Personal vehicles will always be around and until our electrical grid can handle everyone charging a vehicle, we're going to use hybrids.

What are you driving that's better than a hybrid? If you've got something that's better, share it with the world. I guarantee if it's better, it will succeed.

By: DC

DC — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:54:52 +0000

Can we stay ‘Stupid to the last drop?’. Building hybrids for consumers is a waste of time and resources we done have. Hybrids are a unnessary step and a wasteful one at that. A typical american non-response to a very real problem. Got a debt problem?, fix it with MORE debt, got an energy, pollution problem?, “solve” it with marginally more fuel-efficent and vastly more complicated cars. When oil shocks become a permanet fact of lfe, it wont really matter how “efficent” your over-engineered hybrid is, and reality wont care if americans “dont like” compact cars or not. Just keep fixated on non-solutions right up to very end…

By: Yegor

Yegor — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:46:25 +0000

Shines, I see your point. Thank you. I do agree that it is the reason for hatchback absence. It is a pickle. I bet that we are going to see some engineering in the next couple of years to solve this hybrid mid-size sedan problem.

By: Shines

Shines — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:50:39 +0000

Well Yegor I agree with you that the hatchback design helped Prius sales, but the 50 mpg (about 20% better than any of the competition at the moment) is also a huge factor. As far as the hatchback design. I think Ford needs Escape (small SUV) sales to allow it to sell more gas guzzling pickups (this maybe keeping them from making a hatchback version of the Fusion). I also would like to see something like a hybrid version of the Honda Crosstour or Toyota Venza – maybe a cross between the Escape and Fusion – a hatchback version of the Fusion or a streched version of the Prius.
The style of the new Sonata looks like it could be made in a hatchback version with its sloping roofline.
As far as the 6 speed transmission – if the CVT could handle towing it would be a better choice – I agree with usbseawolf.

By: Yegor

Yegor — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:32:56 +0000

Redbeard, yes mid-size sedan is the biggest market in USA with 20% of sales but why mid-size sedan hybrids do not sell as well as Toyota Prius in the smaller market segment? The answer is simple – blocked access from the trunk to the passenger area and a small trunk. At first Honda Civic Hybrid had the same amount of sales as Toyota Prius when Toyota Prius was a sedan but it all changed when Toyota changed Prius body style from sedan to hatchback – the sales went through the roof. It solved both hybrid problems – it increased cargo space and provided access from the cargo to the passenger area.