As we inch nearer to a way forward for extra Electric Vehicles (EVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are a successful recipe that touts a number of the greatest gas mileage numbers we’ve seen in automobiles like the most recent Hyundai Elantra Hybrid.
After experiencing many variations of the brand new seventh era Hyundai Elantra, together with the raucous performance-oriented Elantra N, there’s a whole lot of respect for the model’s compact sedan and lots of welcome it with open arms for the inexpensive phase. Now, in experiencing the brand new Elantra HEV, there’s much more respect earned for a automobile that always surpasses its EPA-estimated gas consumption numbers in the actual world to greatest most of its competitors.
The new Hyundai Elantra for its seventh era already has a superb platform as I’ve skilled in lots of earlier critiques of the automobile in its gas-powered non-hybrid trim ranges. Having the hybrid model of the Elantra this week takes a special method for the platform the place it makes use of its smooth design to profit from first rate aerodynamics having a drag coefficient of 0.28 retaining a lot of the smooth appears to be like of different trim ranges. The Elantra Hybrid is available in two trim ranges, Blue and Limited. My Limited trim will get up to date LED headlights, a darkish chrome entrance grille, and bigger 17-inch alloy wheels.
Performance and Driving Character
Having a strong platform to work with, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid feels first rate out on the street solely hampered by a powertrain that isn’t very desirous to get issues shifting. Working with the mixed energy output of 139 horsepower there isn’t a lot to encourage efficiency. However, the hybrid system appears to fill the facility void areas of its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that by itself produces 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque, which then equates to a complete of 195 lb-ft of torque. Power is directed to the entrance wheels solely and the transmission is a neat alternative of a 6-speed automated dual-clutch that does properly to handle the facility the place you typically don’t discover the shifting, which is an efficient factor.
The electrical motor alone can produce 43 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque which helps get the Elantra Hybrid out of the opening initially fairly properly however isn’t adopted up with something substantial as you climb previous 25 mph and as much as 60 mph, which takes about 8.8 seconds to hit 60 mph from a cease. Fundamentally, you’re not going to win any races with the Elantra Hybrid, however it’s zippy sufficient to not be harmful.
The dealing with and experience high quality appears to make up for the lackluster little bit of energy the place the Elantra Hybrid handles properly feeling just like the chassis can deal with much more together with having a good experience high quality and stability at Interstate speeds. The solely fault I discover within the drivetrain, aside from the Elantra Hybrid not precisely being “quick,” is the braking really feel generally isn’t as seamless as I would really like in its transitions from the regenerative braking and use of the friction brakes. Otherwise, the hybrid system works splendidly protecting a good reserve of battery energy and sometimes using the battery energy over the engine to retain most speeds.
The Elantra Hybrid’s sophistication is commonly a seamless expertise the place you hardly discover transitions from the electrical motor to the fuel engine, or gear shifts for that matter. There’s a welcomed quietness additionally the place the Elantra Hybrid feels virtually premium even with the fuel engine operating. When the fuel engine shuts down the one sounds you hear are the eco-friendly tires and a faint little bit of wind noise.
Fuel Economy
The new Hyundai Elantra Hybrid shines for its distinctive gas economic system the place the EPA estimates of 49 mpg metropolis, 52 mpg freeway, and 50 mpg mixed, which are sometimes bested in real-world driving. I noticed my freeway determine as excessive as 54 mpg and within the metropolis, I noticed a median of 52.4 mpg. The hybrid system is simple to study for its engine engagements and lets you muster out higher mpg numbers with some sensible planning in your drives. With these figures, you get an distinctive vary of up about 572 miles on only one 11-gallon tank of normal unleaded gas.
The solely factor I want Hyundai would do is mark on the facility meter how a lot throttle you may give the automobile to make the most of the battery energy earlier than it kicks over to the fuel engine. Such a marking on the facility gauge like Toyota does would assist so far as energy administration to probably get even higher mpg out of the Elantra Hybrid, which is already a shock to beat out the EPA figures.
Interior and Technology
Having lined the place the brand new Hyundai Elantra is a successful system for a compact sedan, I’m completely happy to see that the inside stays just about the identical within the new Elantra Hybrid. There aren’t any stunning features in regards to the Interior being any completely different than different Elantra gas-powered non-hybrid trims within the new Elantra HEV. There’s a welcoming area within the cabin of the Elantra with a stunning quantity of area for a compact sedan and a whole lot of ahead and rearward adjustment for the heated and ventilated entrance seats permitting you to seek out the optimum driving place – even for somebody who’s over 6 ft tall like myself.
There’s the welcomed infotainment system within the Elantra Hybrid that includes the ten.25-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster replaces the place the RPM gauge is often displayed with the hybrid energy meter.
In the realm of security, the brand new Elantra Hybrid comes with all the anticipated energetic security options minus a surround-view 360 digital camera instead of a conventional rearward digital camera view, which removes the provision of the intelligent live-view blind-spot monitor system. Otherwise, you continue to have the welcoming blind-spot screens, lane departure warning/preserve help, lane following help, driver consideration warning, protected exit warning, ahead collision warning/emergency braking, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance help, and sensible cruise management with cease & go and a freeway driving help characteristic.
Price
Further making the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid a successful recipe, the pricing for the bottom Blue trim begins at simply $24,400 whereas the loaded-up Elantra Hybrid Limited trim is available in at $29,000 earlier than any charges the place you can be anticipated to pay virtually $31,000 whenever you tally up the vacation spot/freight expenses.
Source: www.automotiveaddicts.com