Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Carries Over, Eco Gets 32 MPG--But Where's That Plug-In?

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is nearly entirely new--save for the steadily improving Hybrid edition.

Hyundai says the Sonata Hybrid will stick with its existing gas-electric drivetrain and body style through the 2015 model year, while the rest of the range takes on a more subdued look and more refined powertrains for the new model year.

The new Sonata lineup includes the previous 2.4-liter and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, now rated at 185 hp and 245 hp respectively. Each has been massaged for fuel-economy gains for the new model year: the base car now is EPA-rated at 29 miles per gallon combined, or 25/37 mpg, city/highway. The turbocharged four? It's pegged at 28 mpg combined, or 24/35 mpg. Those numbers compare favorably to 2014's ratings of 24/35 mpg and 22/33 mpg for the non-turbo and turbo sedans.

Even with those gains, the Sonata doesn't match the mid-size four-door class leader, the Mazda 6 equipped with their i-ELOOP capacitive energy storage system. That version of the 6 earns a combined rating of 32 mpg.

Hyundai's answer: a new Sonata Eco, outfitted with a direct-injected 1.6-liter turbo four and a dry dual-clutch transmission. The Eco hasn't been EPA-certified yet--and that's been an issue for Hyundai in the not so distant past--but they expect the Eco's gas mileage to check in at 32 mpg combined, or 28/38 mpg, for a 10-percent improvement over the base Sonata.

The carryover Hybrid models are still rated at 36/40/38 mpg.

Hybrid and plug-in, too?