2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Photos, engines & full specs

Just three years after launching the seventh generation of the Sonata, Hyundai refreshed the entire lineup and introduced the plug-in hybrid of this nameplate.

The Korean automaker was eager to catch up with its most significant contenders in the mid-size segment. To do that, it had to improve constantly and do that faster than anyone else. In 2015, the car manufacturer unveiled the 2018 Hyundai Sonata at the North American International Auto Show and started to sell it in selected states in November of the same year. There were some significant differences between the exterior of the electrified version and its ICE-only powered brothers, while the interior was similar. On the other hand, the drivetrain was utterly different and promised better fuel efficiency.

Hyundai’s design department seemed like it hadn’t had a day off since the launch of the seventh generation of the Sonata in 2014. It worked at the car’s front, and the 2018 model year came with new headlights that had a smoother shape. In addition, the plug-in hybrid version featured a unique apron with a pair of side scoops adorned by multiple LED daytime running lights. They flanked the automaker’s cascading grille extended on the bumper's lower side.

From its profile, the fastback-shaped sedan boasted specific 16-inch alloy wheels featuring a five-blade design that helped the car lower its drag coefficient. Hyundai also tried to create an upscale look for the Sonata Hybrid, so it put a specific badge on the front fenders with the blueHybrid lettering. Like its ICE-powered siblings, the 2018 Sonata Hybrid had new door mirror caps featuring LED turn signals. However, the most significant difference between the electrified and the non-electrified versions of the Sonata was at the back. There, the automaker placed new taillights on the PHEV variant, featuring LEDs with two blocks on the trunk’s lid and a clear-lenses area on their lower side. Unlike the gasoline-powered version, the Sonata Hybrid didn’t have any visible exhausts.

One of the most significant improvements in car electronics in 2014 was the launch of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. When Hyundai introduced the seventh generation of the Sonata, it didn’t integrate these systems, but it fixed that along with the refreshed version of the car in the following year. As a result, like its ICE-powered siblings, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a new eight-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. The introduction of this unit also forced the automaker to reshape the Sonata’s center stack, which boasted an upscale look with better-finished knobs and buttons. The instrument cluster that fronted the driver had a 4.6-inch color display that showed a unique graphic for the Hybrid version and also featured a charging status at the upper side.

Under its skin, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid had a two-liter, direct-injected gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. Combined, they provided a total system output of 202 hp (205 PS) that was sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. However, the promise proved to be significant only for city driving, not on the highways.