Update Summer 2016
USA Availability
Sonata PHEV will be stocked in 10 states, and available in the rest of the USA.
Its high-capacity battery system offers the option to plug into a regular household electrical outlet for an additional power source. The result: Sonata Plug-in Hybrid relies more on electric-only operation to deliver extended driving range and MPG. The vehicle will be distributed and stocked at Hyundai dealerships located in 10 states.People residing outside of these 10 states can custom order their Sonata Plug-in Hybrid from their local Hyundai dealership.
The 10 states are:
- California
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- (surprisingly no Washington State?)
Purchasers of a new Sonata Plug-in Hybrid may be eligible for a federal tax credit from $0 up to $4,919, depending on your individual federal tax liability. Depending on your state of residence, additional local incentives such as high-occupancy vehicle lane exemptions, financial incentives or utility rate reductions may be available.
Canada Availability
On Hyundai Canada’s website, there is no indication that the Sonata PHEV is only available in some areas. The vehicle is live and customization on the ‘build and price’ section of the automaker’s Canadian website.
Starting price is $43,999 CAD
Update in June 2015: The Sonata plug-in will go on sale in the fall of 2015.
In the ten ZEV states (California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont), Hyundai will stock and sell the PHEV Sonata just like any other model, with numerous colors and trim levels available on dealer lots. In the other 40 states, “we’re not going to encourage dealers to stock them,” because the company expects demand to be low, said Mike O’Brien, Hyundai’s vice president of corporate and product planning.
In 2015, Hyundai is releasing the redesigned Sonata with an all-new Hybrid model and an all-new Plug-in Hybrid model.
According to the Hyundai USA website, the Sonata Hybrid will be available in Spring 2015, and the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid will be available in late 2015.
At the 2015 North American International Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled plans to update the Sonata Hybrid, as well as offer a 2016 plug-in hybrid Sonata. The plug-in hybrid version has a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor.
The plug-in version, as reported by Car And Driver, will only be sold in California-emissions (CARB) states: California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
No word was given on whether the plug-in will eventually be available nationwide in the USA, or in other countries like Canada or European countries with strict inner-city emissions laws.