This is getting very close to 100 mpge for a common sense well designed mid-size car at close to $30K after hand outs in many places.

And excellent first interim step to reduce liquid fuel consumption, GHG and pollution, at least until such time as affordable extended range BEVs and FCEVs become common places.

The perhaps biggest advantage PHEVs offer - over BEVs and FCEVs - is to complement regional utility grids and affordably match to rooftop PV solar. BEV battery packs at 3x to 17x larger capacity drain grids more than complement them. Rooftop PV arrays also larger and more expensive to arrange than the the smaller PHEV packs. I could put it in fewer words, but why this isn't considered plainly logical here is utterly baffling.

@Sirkulat - The size of a BEV battery has almost no relationship to the amount of power drawn from the grid or rooftop solar.

The amount you have to charge any BEV or PHEV is related to the number of miles driven each day. For the typical 20 mile commute, a BEV or PHEV will leave home fully charged in the morning and return with 6 kW less than when it left. That's the amount that needs to be recharged daily. About 300 W per mile = 6,000 W per day.

If you have a longer commute or other trips, you'll need to charge more. The only time your PHEV will require less charge than your BEV is if you drive further than your battery capacity will permit, and start burning gas instead. Most people don't want this to be a daily occurrence, which is why Chevrolet upgraded the Volt battery to provide ~50 miles of range instead of ~35. Except for long distance trips, or a super busy day driving all over town, the Volt is an electric car. With the capability to drive anywhere on a moment's notice (and a tankful of gas).

BEVs do not "drain grids more than complement them." It's all just a matter of how much you drive.

Cars mean freedom, having to plan your range is not.

With one possible exception (TESLA S-90) driving limited range BEVs in our cold area is currently out of the question.

Yes, 100 mpge PHEVs are a good interim solution put you (almost) need home charging facilities to reduce ops cost, otherwise you would be on gas most of the time @ under 40 mpg?

The new Prius 2016 @ 55+ mpg is also another short term solution to reduce fuel consumption, GHG and pollution.

"EPA-estimated 27-mile (43.5-kilometer) All-Electric Range (AER)" is incorrect. It is actually 0 to 27 miles.

The electric motor is 50kW, which is less than the PiP & a lot less than the Volt.
With only 50kW of electric power in a mid-sized sedan, the gasoline engine is likely to to start up during acceleration. Mainstream Hyundai customers might not mind if they can drive most of their commute charging at home & at work.

It will be interesting to see how sales of the Sonata PHEV compare with the Volt EREV. Will the 5 seat mid size Sonata sedan with 0-27 miles electric range win more customers than the 4.5 seat compact Volt coupe hatchback with 53 miles?

Also, with no 2016 PiP, will Hyundai win over existing Prius owners?

Is it reasonable to project that this car will have a longer service life than its ICE brother?

I've noticed many high mileage prius's being sold at premium prices and I presume they are assumed to have longer lives.

@ECarInsider, "The size of a BEV battery has 'almost' no relationship to the amount of power drawn from the grid or rooftop solar. The amount to charge an EV is related to miles driven daily. For a 20-mile commute, a BEV or PHEV leaves fully charged and returns with 6kW less; about 300W per mile, 6,000W. BEVs do not drain grids more than complement them. It's all just a matter of how much you drive."

The more important question is related to whether modern motorized society can and therefore should continue driving as much as we do, and increasing, or plan to 'somehow' reduce driving overall.

The limited electric driving range of smaller PHEV battery packs is an incentive to conserve energy by driving less and more closely monitor household energy consumption. As for rooftop PV solar, obviously, the smaller PHEV pack reduces the size and cost of the array and components. This basic backup household power system should complement regional utility grids and may only be possible with smaller PHEV battery packs. Households with 85kwh Teslas will always keep them recharged and use electricity with less sense of the need to conserve energy. My argument favoring PHEVs is the bigger picture obvious to me. Don't forget to watch Minority Report tonight on Fox.
Self-driving cars, as seen on TV!

Electric Vehicle battery packs offer households the means to survive emergency grid failure, Strangelove. PHEVs are less dependent on grids for recharging and offer 'portable' power with an effective mileage rated about 100mpg. Winners own EVs.

Sirkulat. I am Ok with the PHEV design model. For me, this particular application is not a optimal choice based purely on convenience. Stated 27 mpg all electric is an inconvenience.

Please give me the same model in an HEV setup exclusively that achieves +50 mpg combined at a $10K discount. Then, it becomes a winner.

A fish chases a shiny lure. Gadgets sell cars. It's a shame that the vehicles engineers are not doing what they are supposed to do.

I am going back into my closet. That is where my wife says I can watch television.