Used 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid since its last redesign.
I love this car
Oliver Thurman, 06/15/2016
updated 03/22/2017
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
10 of 19 people found this review helpful
I've had it for almost a year now. Aside from the unusual drive system (plug-in electric, with backup gasoline engine) it's basically a very mainstream midsize passenger sedan. Since I'm not a high-mileage driver, most of the miles I have put on the car have been in pure-electric mode. In this mode, which lasts for 27 miles or so, the car is just incredibly quiet and smooth, giving you a real sense of luxury in a non-luxury car. A curious side-effect: the near-silence of the car at low speeds makes traffic jams (I live in LA) seem less awful! Or so I feel. I'm also quite happy not to bother visiting gas stations -- I use about about one tank every six months. The engine *does* turn on if you need to accelerate onto a freeway, or for that matter if you're just feeling in a hurry and use a lead foot. When you do this, you'll get 200 h.p., plus the extra torque that electric drive offers. But in most circumstances I find it relaxing to exercise just a bit of self-restraint and accelerate so that electricity alone suffices. I got the fancier version and enjoy the bells and whistles that come with it. There are discrete warnings about lane departure, etc., that make driving safer, and the sound system keeps me, a finicky listener, quite happy (having no engine noise to compete with the music helps too.) Seats are really comfy with lots of legroom both front and back. Visibility is good all around. It's true that by buying this car I've lost a certain amount of trunk room (space is needed for the huge battery). But it's actually easier retrieving grocery bags from the smaller trunk (a little short of 10 cubic feet) than it was from the cavernous trunk of my former car. If I need to carry something big the huge back seat will usually be enough. Sadly, I have never, ever, spotted another Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid on the road -- I'm totally alone in my preference! Too bad; I think other buyers would enjoy this car very much if they only gave it a try. The 2017 model is pretty much just the same as the 2016 I have, so this review probably holds good for the 2017 version too.
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A Lemon. Has spent over 60 days in service.
T James, 12/06/2017
updated 06/15/2018
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
For the 1st 7 months, this car was great. I bought it brand new. Super great mileage. It is my wife's commuter car, and for about a year, she drove less than 27 miles a day, on average, thus saving a ton on gas. About twice a month, it simply did not charge overnight--frustrating. But, it stopped charging entirely, and spent 9 days in the shop at 7 months. Then, it went another 7 months of sporadic not charging, until it stopped charging entirely again. It spent 41 days in service. Since then, it has given us Hybrid System warnings requiring trips to the dealer, along with that sporadic not charging. I am taking it in for service in 2 days for it's 3rd warning since it came out about 4 months ago. Hyundai has agreed to buy it back, basically following the lemon laws of CA (I have signed an agreement forbidding me to give details). My wife and I loved the car until it stopped working. And, worse, these two long stays in service would have cost me almost $7,000, had it not been under warranty. Remember, the battery is guaranteed forever to the original owner. But, the starter system is not. I believe the same starter parts are used in the 2017 Sonata PHEV and Kia Optima PHEV too. Sad. As of January 2018, we no longer own the lemon. We now own a 2018 Accord 1.5t Touring.
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2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid for sale near you
3 of 10 listings
- Base SedanMSRP: $18,93785 mi away
- Limited SedanMSRP: $20,900308 mi away
- Limited SedanMSRP: $12,981353 mi away
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Very happy
Anne French, 09/18/2016
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car is the best kept secret! Luxury car with longest electric range in its class. I easily get over 30 miles on a charge. The regenerative electric charging is amazing.
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Plug-in hybrid is amazing (still as of March 2022
Tony D, 07/12/2019
updated 11/20/2023
2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Update 11/23: EV battery needed to be replaced, had to wait 6 mos for new battery to come from Korea. Warranty covered all including loaner car. New battery is better than original, now rated 27 miles EV, but I have gone 34 miles on battery alone. Update 3/22: at 60K miles, still have 10 mm on original brake linings. Regen braking is great. EV mode all electric distance has decreased to around 16 miles. Over 60 mpg over past 5 years. Update 7/20...I now have over 43,000 miles on it, and at last service still have plenty of brake lining on the original brakes, due to regenerative braking system. Also still have good tread on original tires, and still get 30 miles EV mode, so I’m still averaging over 75 MPG. (Original review). I have owned my 2016 Sonata PHEV for 3 years, and can report that I still get about 30 miles of full electric driving before the hybrid engine comes on line. I have not seen any decrease in battery range during the past 3 years. Love the high tech safety equipment and the quiet comfortable ride. Depending on the length of typical trips, the fuel economy is incredible. Not unusual to go 1000 miles between gas stations! (model type below is incorrect)
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DO NOT BUY or DRIVE THIS CAR-SAFETY HAZARD
Salahuddin Ahmed, 03/20/2018
updated 04/05/2021
2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
2 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought a brand new 2016 model. At under 18,000 miles, the "Check Hybrid System" light came on while parked and the car would not start. Had to tow it to the dealer. After a week they said they could not find any problem. Eventually they returned it by saying they had to reset something and it started. Brought it back and in three days, same thing happened. Took it back and the same story. Yesterday as I was going up a mountain on a winding road, the warning sign came on again and the car shut itself down immediately. I was lucky enough to find a spot to pull over. As the car lost complete power, I could have easily gotten hit by a car or worse yet could have gone down a steep slope because of the twist and turn of the roadway and the complete loss of steering power. I only have 24,600 miles on it now. This car is a death trap. DO NOT BUY or DRIVE IT. I ended up returning the vehicle under California Lemon Law. To the credit of Hyundai, the process went smoothly. Perhaps they knew there was a problem.
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