The seventh generation of the Sonata charged the market in 2014, and the carmaker promised a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version, which were introduced later on.
In 2017, the entire Sonata lineup received an update that marked the car’s change toward a pre-premium segment. It wasn’t the budget-buy bargain anymore, but it was a technologically advanced vehicle enclosed into a refined vehicle.

Its exterior was very similar to the rest of the 2017 Sonata range. The drag coefficient was improved to a class-leading 0.24 Cd, thanks to its fluid lines and sculptured doors and side panels. At the front, the cascade-grille design and the side-scoops were meant to divert the flow and made it ran smoother on the car’s surface. In the rear, behind the sloped windscreen, the carmaker installed a profiled trunk lid that prevented turbulences behind the vehicle. Apart from the roof, Hyundai changed every other body panel.

Inside, the carmaker added a few modifications to match the exterior’s new look. Its instrument panel design and the three-spoke steering wheel were slightly enhanced, while the piano key buttons for the audio and HVAC controls gave a premium look for the center stack.

For the drivetrain, Hyundai installed a 2.0-liter, direct-injected gasoline engine. It produced 154 hp and a 38 kW electric engine helped it. When combined, the two engines provided 193 hp, which were sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The seventh generation of the Sonata was introduced in 2014 and, a year later, the Korean carmaker introduced the plug-in hybrid version at the 2015 North American International Motor Show.
In the quest for offering low-emission vehicles, Hyundai developed a plug-in hybrid system, which was successfully applied on the Sonata. It offered a decent full-electric range for in-city driving and decent overall power to cope well with highway traffic.

The new swept lines made the car look like it had a liquid body, and it was hit with a strong, frontal wind. The raked windshield started the curved line of the greenhouse—the ascending side-line ended-up on the rear taillights. On top of the trunk, a small lip was installed on some versions. In the back, the Sonata PHEV showed no tailpipe under the bumper to improve the image of an environmentally-friendly vehicle.

Inside, there was room for five adults, but the rear mid passenger had to sit on top of a bulky center tunnel even though the car was front-wheel drive and it didn’t have an all-wheel-drive version. The instrument cluster was a mix between round dials and a TFT display.

The powertrain offered a 50 kW electric motor and a 2.0-liter gasoline direct-injected engine. Hyundai paired the assembly to a standard 6-speed manual gearbox that sent the power to the front wheels. Its 9.8 kWh battery pack helped the vehicle deliver up to 93 MPG (2.5 l/100 km) fuel-efficiency.

After introducing a bold and appealing design with its sixth generation Sonata, Hyundai delighted the automotive scene again by introducing another concept-like sedan in the form of the new Sonata Hybrid.
While retaining the sixth generation Sonata’s overall look, the Hybrid version received restyled front grille, front and rear bumper, restyled headlamps with a strong tent of LED lights and retouched taillights, to set it apart. Using full parallel hybrid configuration and lithium polymer batteries, the Sonata Hybrid achieves remarkable fuel consumption figures for both city and highway driving modes (37/39 mpg).