Sonata Plugin Hybrid Limited
I previously owned a 2008 Camry Hybrid, and I was considering a 2016 Camry Hybrid. I have owned Toyota products for the past 16 years or so. The Sonata plugin hybrid limited has similar features, but there are differences in the 2016 Camry hybrid and 2016 Sonata plugin hybrid limited: The Sonata will go at freeway speeds on the battery only, but the Camry goes into hybrid mode at 40 MPH; the Sonata has a battery range of 27 miles, and the Camry will only go about 1 to 2 miles on the battery alone; the Camry seems to have better pickup in Hybrid mode and the Camry has better mileage in the Hybrid mode; the Sonata is a plugin, which gives me a $4917 tax credit (this was the difference in cost between the two vehicles and the ultimate reason I purchased the Sonata over the Camry); the Camry has an automatic stop feature to avoid an accident whereas the Sonata has a warning only (the other safety features are similar); the Sonata has heated and cooled seats, the Camry has a moon roof; I like the larger screen in the Sonata and the fact that there are multiple buttons (on and off the screen) to select each electronic feature; the transition on braking from the energy absorbing brake to the disc brake is not smooth in the Sonata like it is in the Camry; the continuously variable transmission in the Camry is smoother than the 6 speed transmission in the Sonata (the Sonata transmission does not shift as smoothly as I would like); the Sonata has more hip room in the front seats than the Camry because the center storage bin is a little narrower (overall the Sonata is slightly larger on the inside); trunk space is about the same on both cars (you can get a large suitcase in the trunk and two carry-on suitcases on top of the large suitcase); I like the black exterior and grey interior on the Sonata better than the Camry color options; I like the plugin feature on the Sonata because my office building has Type 2 chargers that I can use without cost; the Sonata gas engine is noisier than the Camry, especially on a cold winter morning; the Sonata headlights light the road well; the Sonata horn sounds tinny and you need to hit the center of the steering wheel hard to honk the horn; the Sonata uses semi-synthetic oil, which extends the oil change cycle to 7500 miles vs. 5000 miles for the Camry (the difference in cost for the semi-synthetic oil change vs. regular oil is less than $2 total); the Sonata has a significantly longer warranty period. I am sure that there are other differences, but this is what I could remember at the moment. The Sonata plugin hybrid is only available on East Coast and West Coast, unless someone orders one or has one driven into an interior state by a dealer.
Recommended
Verified Owner
