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Exterior
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Hyundai also introduced a new exterior color, Seasport Mist, which is exclusive on the PHEV. How gorgeous is this color?
I normally stick to basic white or black vehicles, but would definitely consider this paint color as it is very subtle and simply gorgeous… especially with the ocean reflecting off of it!
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Interior
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Once inside, you’ll immediately notice how much interior space the Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid have. It’s honestly a parent’s dream come true. I tend to prefer cars to CUV’s/SUV’s but could hardly justify owning a car due to the lack of space to fit my family. Not only is the interior spacious inside, but you can easily fit car seats in the rear with ample leg room for both driver and front and back passengers.
The instrument cluster provides easy to view comprehensive operation information. However, there are several things I wish were just integrated on the front instrument cluster without having to scroll through the multi-info display options. One major complaint of mine is that the EV range isn’t on the main screen from the get-go. I had to scroll through the multi-info display to find my EV mileage range on the PHEV. For a plug-in it would be nice to have this automatically on the front of the instrument cluster, maybe integrated into the vehicle energy gauge as opposed to having to scroll through to see it.
Technology
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The most useful feature of the app is managing the car’s charging schedule. The owners are given vehicle charging options that they can select while in the car, but users can also manage them remotely via smartphone. Immediate charge is the simplest option, as charging begins as soon as the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is plugged in.
Remote Control Services:
- Start or stop charging
- Set up charging schedule with days of the week and time
- Climate control and defroster
Connected Car Services:
- Vehicle diagnostics/status
- Existing battery level
- Real-time electric range
- Real-time fuel range
- Charge status
- Plug status (in/out)
- Time left until fully charged
- Refresh to retrieve status
- VIN (Vehicle Selection) base availability of PHEV app features
Safety Features
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Hyundai engineers implemented many active safety technologies for the 2016 Sonata Hybrid to assist drivers and help prevent accidents. No longer reserved for luxury cars, advanced safety technologies such as Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist and a Lane Departure Warning System are all available in this midsize sedan.
However, the most impressive safety feature has to be the “Virtual Engine Sound System” which is an exterior sound synthesizer that’s embedded into the bumper that warns pedestrians a vehicle is coming to avoid walking out in front of an oncoming vehicle (particularly blind people). Pretty awesome, right?
Features Worth Mentioning
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Sometimes it’s the little things that truly matter the most. As a mom I can tell you how excited I was to hear that Hyundai’s hands-free Smart Trunk comes standard on the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid. If you’ve ever tried juggling a toddler and groceries at the same time, you will know how this feature really helps our sanity. Plus, it helps to not have to dig those keys out of our purse. I don’t know about you but I can ever find them no matter how big or small my purse is.
During my drive of both the hybrid and PHEV, I was intrigued as to what the ECON button actually did for the vehicle. I turned it on and off and never noticed a thing, the air stayed the same temperature. So during lunch I decided to speak to someone from Hyundai and learned that the button actually maximizes energy efficiency of the vehicle. When the ECON button is activated the air only pumps from the front air vents and will slowly increase or decrease to the temperature you set. I have never seen anything like this, and thought it was pretty neat. I mean, if you are going for that super eco-friendly vehicle, then this is a great option to have when controlling the air temperatures inside the vehicle.
Final Thoughts
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