Incentivised From the Start: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Aims to Persuade

In the midsize sedan war, the Hyundai Sonata is like Japanese forces in the Pacific — slowly losing ground as powerful enemies amass an ever larger share of the territory. When faced with the name recognition and brand appeal of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, maintaining your position means throwing everything you have into the fight.

Into that battle came the radically restyled 2020 Hyundai Sonata, joined imminently by the Sonata Hybrid — a sedan that gets up to 52 mpg on the combined cycle. Hyundai has apparently decided that money talks, and that the new hybrid will ride into battle waving cash at local townfolk.

According to dealer bulletins seen by CarsDirect, the Sonata Hybrid will appear at dealers within days with up to $4,000 in discounts for lessees and tempting low-interest financing. Styling and sky-high fuel economy will only get a car noticed up to a point, after all — especially in the shrinking midsize sedan segment, which, to be fair, isn’t showering any player with excessive love.

The publication notes the introductory lease for a Sonata Hybrid Blue in Southern California — $249 for 36 months with $2,699 down — carries a monthly cost that’s $21 less than that of a Toyota Prius Eco. Spring for a top-end Limited trim (which is actually less efficient, at 47 mpg combined), and the lease incentive rises from $3k to $3,750 (or $4,000, if customers opt for a 39-month term). It’s worth noting that even the lowliest Sonata Hybrid carries double the lease incentives as any gasoline-only Sonata.

If buying is your bag, expect to choose between a $1,000 rebate or 1.9 percent APR for 60 months, with the lower rate appearing to be the better deal.

The current offer runs out at the end of June.

[Images: Hyundai]