2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid First Drive Review
The Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed globally by Hyundai Motor Company. From the sixth generation onwards, it is known as the i45 in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sales began near the end of February 2011. The Sonata Hybrid drivetrain combines a 2.4-liter engine with six-speed automatic transmission, and a 30kW electric motor and lightweight lithium polymer batteries to produce a full gasoline-electric hybrid with 37 miles per US gallon (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg-imp) in the city and 39 miles per US gallon (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg-imp) on the highway. This powertrain will be share by the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid.
The 2011 Sonata Hybrid was one of the five finalists for the 2011 Green Car of the Year awarded by the Green Car Journal in November 2010, competing with two plug-in electric vehicles, the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt, the 2011 winner.