As Midsize Sales Slide, Hyundai Throws the 2018 Sonata Hybrid Into the Price Chopper

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Really, what else could Hyundai do? Hybrids aren’t the sole domain of traditional sedans anymore, let alone cars in general, and with green competition on the rise, something needed to be done to sweeten the pot.

The 2018 Sonata Hybrid, arriving roughly a half year after the mid-2017 debut of the refreshed 2018 gas-only model, offers buyers an extra 2 mpg on the highway, but that isn’t enough to fend off competition from the likes of Toyota and Honda (among others). As sales of almost all midsize sedans roll downhill, it’s growing harder and harder to justify a large price premium for green technology. Sonata volume declined 27.7 percent in the U.S. over the first quarter of 2018.

Interested in the new Sonata Hybrid? Put some cash back in your wallet, and try not to think about the Honda Accord Hybrid.

For the 2018 model, entry price drops by $500, coming in at $26,285 after a $885 delivery charge. That price gets you a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 38 kW electric motor, and a 1.76 kWh lithium-ion juice box, putting the power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy rises to 42 mpg combined, up from 40 mpg.

While the Sonata Hybrid’s entry price undercuts that of the Toyota Camry LE Hybrid by $2,310, it does not best the revamped 2018 Accord Hybrid. That model starts at $25,990. There’s barely any pricing daylight between the two models, but the Accord boasts 212 net horsepower — a step up from the Sonata’s 193 hp. In terms of mileage, the Accord Hybrid’s 47 mpg combined figure tops the Sonata by 5 mpg.

Perhaps Hyundai didn’t chop enough. Traditionally, a Korean automaker’s job is to undercut the price of its Japanese rivals, and that rule gains added importance in today’s auto market.

We’ve told you how well the Sonata line fared in year-to-date sales, but the situation doesn’t become clear until you add in the competition. Over the first three months of 2018, Accord sales sank 11.8 percent, while Altima sales dropped 14.3 percent. Only the Camry has reason for optimism, as sales of that model line rose 8.8 percent, year to date. At a glance, it seems that Camry is gobbling up a larger share of the segment’s dwindling buyers.

What about higher-end Sonata Hybrids, you ask? Climbing the three-rung ladder adds a heaping of goodies, including a panoramic sunroof and standard driver assist features. Pricing for the Limited rises $400 over the 2017 model. You’ll have to spring for the Limited with Ultimate Package for all the niceties, though — a roster that includes automatic emergency braking. At $35,235 after delivery, the top-end trim slots between that of the Accord Hybrid Touring ($35,600) and the Camry XLE Hybrid ($33,145). At this end of the price scale, the Sonata Hybrid fares a little better, but only in relation to Honda.

There’s one advantage the Toyota and Honda models lack, however, and that’s a plug-in hybrid variant. A refreshed plug-in Sonata debuted alongside its hybrid sibling at February’s Chicago Auto Show, but pricing, for now, remains a secret.

[Images: Hyundai]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Kefkafloyd Kefkafloyd on Apr 19, 2018

    So they're going to start selling Hyundais at an upstate New York grocery chain? (I miss Price Chopper)

  • Aquaticko Aquaticko on Apr 19, 2018

    Insofar as it's going to help anything (which, admittedly, it may not), the fully-redesigned, next generation Sonata needs to arrive ASAP. This one has been a dud since arrival, seemingly inferior to its predecessor in every way. We can argue about styling, but at least the previous one had some; even post-refresh, this generation battles the Altima and Legacy for defining bland. I know that the blandness was worked in for the Korean market (mostly for use as taxis there), but it's a small market, and continued reliance on a single market--especially as that market opens up to competition--is always dangerous. Additionally, if they're going to maintain a hybrid presence (which, obviously, they must in the long term), they need to work hard and fast on improving, standardizing, and disseminating the technology they use across their vehicles.

    • Bd2 Bd2 on Apr 22, 2018

      While agree that the new Sonata can't come soon enough (esp. if comes with the Le Fil Rouge design language), think the significant refresh to the exterior did a pretty decent job of removing the bland. Problem is, they didn't do much of anything to the interior - which really seems outdated now (conversely, Hyundai pretty much totally redid the interior/dash of the Tucson for its facelift, but left the exterior mostly unchanged). In addition, Hyundai made changes to tuning of the suspension and steering - where there is marked improvement. While some reviewers have picked the face-lifted Sonata over the new Camry, the changes haven't been enough to buck the tide (note: a big chunk in the decline in Sonata sales has been due to a cut in fleet sales; something that Toyota hasn't done with the Camry). As for the hybrid, odd that Hyundai didn't update the transmission with the newer 8 spd AT; guess they figure that it wasn't worth the price premium. Speaking of price premium (for hybrids) - really not worth it for most buyers (maybe for people in states with higher gas prices like California and Hawaii), esp. when a 48V system can bring about 70% of the benefits for a lot less $$.

  • Arthur Dailey Good. Whatever upsets the Chinese government is fine with me. And yes they are probably monitoring this thread/site.
  • Jalop1991 WTO--the BBB of the international trade world.
  • Dukeisduke If this is really a supplier issue (Dana-Spicer? American Axle?), Kia should step up and say they're going to repair the vehicles (the electronic parking brake change is a temporary fix) and lean on or sue the supplier to force them to reimburse Kia Motors for the cost of the recall.Neglecting the shaft repairs are just going to make for some expensive repairs for the owners down the road.
  • MaintenanceCosts But we were all told that Joe Biden does whatever China commands him to!
  • Rick T. If we really cared that much about climate change, shouldn't we letting in as many EV's as possible as cheaply as possible?
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