Is a Hyundai Hybrid Worth It?

Hyundai offers an impressive range of efficient vehicles, from regular hybrids to futuristic fuel-cell cars.
Written by Julian de Sevilla
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With 11 models of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, or fuel cell cars to choose from currently,
Hyundai
is on its way to offering exclusively electrified vehicles by 2040. 
Though the Korean automaker wasn’t the first in the hybrid game, they’ve committed to it heavily in the last few years. Hyundai offers cars in every fuel type, from regular old gas guzzlers to efficient hybrids to cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. 
Here’s everything you need to know about Hyundai’s lineup of hybrid cars!

2022 Hyundai hybrid models guide

Hyundai’s 2022 lineup offers more electrified vehicle options than any other company. There are seven different models available in a variety of fuel types for a total of 11
options
with price points ranging from just over $23,000 to over $60,000.  
The table below breaks down each of Hyundai’s hybrid or electric vehicle options, along with starting prices and mileage estimates. 
A note: Hyundai doesn’t distinguish between city and highway mileage for their plug-in hybrid models and only provides one mileage estimate.
Model
Vehicle type
Starting price
Fuel economy (base trim)
IONIQ 5 Electric
SUV
$44,000
303 miles/charge
KONA Electric
SUV
$34,000
258 miles/charge
Tucson PHEV
SUV
$35,400
35 mpg, 421 miles total
Santa Fe PHEV
SUV
$40,000
30 mpg
IONIQ PHEV
Sedan
$26,800
Up to 52 mpg, 620 miles total
Tucson Hybrid
SUV
$29,750
37 city/36 highway/37 combined mpg
Santa Fe Hybrid
SUV
$34,300
36 city/31 highway/34 combined mpg
Elantra Hybrid
Sedan
$24,100
53 city/56 highway/54 combined mpg
Sonata Hybrid
Sedan
$27,350
50 city/54 highway/52 combined mpg
IONIQ Hybrid
Sedan
$23,600
58 city/60 highway/59 combined mpg
Nexo Fuel Cell
Compact SUV
$59, 435
65 city/ 58 highway/61 combined mpg
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Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric car, fuel cell: what’s the difference?

Hyundai offers a surprisingly varied range of hybrid and electric vehicles, but knowing the differences between them all can get confusing. We’ll explain each of them here:

Hybrids

The oldest of these, hybrid cars use both gasoline-powered engines and electric motors. Often, the electric motor powers the car at lower speeds while the gas engine kicks in at higher speeds. In other cases, the two work in tandem. 
A hybrid’s electric motor doesn’t need to be charged—they generate power when a driver presses the brake or decelerates in a process called regenerative braking.

Plug-in hybrids

Known as PHEVs, these are hybrids with a more powerful electric motor that must be plugged into an external power source to charge. PHEVs can run solely on electric power for short distances and operate much like regular hybrids when their battery is depleted. 
Hyundai’s plug-in hybrids can all run on electric power for around 30 miles.

Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles, or EVs, run solely on batteries and electric motors that must be charged externally. They have no engine or gas tank.

Fuel cell cars

These are electric cars whose electric motors are powered by hydrogen. They’re fairly uncommon—Hyundai’s only fuel cell vehicle, the Nexo, is only sold in limited quantities in some
California
dealerships. 

The best Hyundai hybrid cars

What’s best for you will ultimately depend on your vehicle needs, budget, and personal preferences, but here are some models that stand out:

Best overall Hyundai hybrid: Sonata Hybrid or Santa Fe Hybrid

Choosing between these two comes down to your budget and the type of car you want, though both offer excellent fuel economy. The
Sonata Hybrid
, a sedan, is naturally smaller and less expensive, starting at $27,350.
U.S. News ranked it number one
on its list of 2022’s best hybrid cars.
If you’re looking for something bigger, the Santa Fe Hybrid is the way to go. Starting at $34,300, the SUV gets a combined 34 mpg and was named
the best Hyundai hybrid
by Kelley Blue Book.

Best used Hyundai hybrid: Sonata Hybrid

Used cars from the last few years are often quite similar to their more recent models, with one key difference: they’re much cheaper. A 2016 Sonata Hybrid offers similar gas mileage and many of the features we’ve come to expect from newer cars, and you may be able to find one for as little as $10,000, depending on the condition and mileage, as well as your location.
It might be best to avoid 2017 Sonata Hybrids—100,000 of them were recalled because of a defect that could cause engine failure or fire.

Best Hyundai PHEV: IONIQ plug-in hybrid

Plug-in hybrids have many of the benefits of an electric vehicle without the price tag that tends to accompany them. With a starting price of $26,800, the
IONIQ
plug-in hybrid is by far Hyundai’s most affordable PHEV—nearly $10,000 cheaper than the next option. 
It was reviewed well by both
Edmunds
and
Kelley Blue Book
, and with an all-electric range of almost 30 miles, it could serve as a purely electric vehicle for someone who mainly drives short distances around town. 
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Are Hyundai hybrids worth it?

In short, it depends on what you want out of a car. Here are some factors worth considering:

Performance

Because of how a hybrid’s gas engine works in tandem with its electric motor, the transition between the two can be less than seamless, and they often lack impressive acceleration. If you’re considering a hybrid car, though, you’re likely prioritizing reliability and fuel efficiency over speed and driving experience. 
On the other hand, Hyundai’s electric vehicles are downright zippy, touting much higher top speeds and acceleration thanks to their electric motor’s instant torque.

Reliability 

Reliability ratings for Hyundai hybrids are generally positive, with some variance. The Sonata and Tucson hybrids scored 83 and 88 out of 100 from U.S. News respectively, which is considered a great score.
The Elantra and Santa Fe, however, both scored 80/100, which is the highest score that’s still considered average. The 2022 IONIQ hasn’t yet been rated for reliability. 

Cost of ownership

The value proposition behind a hybrid vehicle is that the higher sticker price will balance out over time with far fewer stops at gas stations. Let’s compare five-year ownership cost estimates from Edmunds for the hybrid and gas versions of the 2021 Sonata, one of Hyundai’s most popular models. (Estimates for the 2022 models aren’t available yet.) 
The Sonata’s five-year cost is estimated at $39,797, while the Sonata Hybrid’s is shockingly lower, at $30,810, for a difference of just under $9,000. The bulk of the differences come, unsurprisingly, from depreciation and fuel costs.
When you consider that the hybrid’s starting price is just under $4,000 more than the gas version, the hybrid’s value becomes clear.
Electric vehicles are even more expensive than hybrids, but there’s more potential for savings, too. Hyundai currently offers two years’ worth of free 30-minute charging sessions for buyers of their 2022 EVs.
Tax credits of up to $7,500
are also available for new hybrid or EV owners.

Finding the best insurance for your hybrid

Choosing a hybrid car will save you trips to the gas station, but car insurance super app
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car insurance
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If you decide to switch, Jerry can even help you cancel your old plan. Users save over $800 a year on average. 
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FAQs

Limited tax credits of up to $7,500 are available for those who buy new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, including Hyundai vehicles.
Replacement costs can range from around $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the car’s model and year. New Hyundai hybrid batteries have a limited warranty that lasts 10 years or 100,000 miles.
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