The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) can travel 27 miles in battery-electric mode and can achieve 99 MPGe combined in that mode, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid's 9.8 kilowatt-per-hour lithium polymer battery system is roughly five times larger than the Sonata Hybrid's battery. The larger battery system can be charged via an external electric power source using either a Level I 120-volt power outlet in less than nine hours or a Level II 240-volt charging station in under three hours.

A 2.0L Nu four-cylinder GDI engine combined with a 50-kilowatt electric motor allows the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid to operate like the Sonata Hybrid once the on-board battery charge is depleted. Sonata PHEV's Nu engine produces 154 hp and 140 lb.-ft. of torque, and the total system output is 202 hp at 6,000 rpm. The power output from the electric motor is 32% more powerful than the 38-kilowatt electric motor applied on the Sonata Hybrid and allows for EV operation at higher engine load and speeds.

The new Sonata gets an EPA-estimated 40 mpg combined in hybrid mode, and a total driving range of up to 600 miles. Pricing starts at $34,600. The vehicle is eligible for a $4,919 federal tax credit based on a 9.8-kilowatt-per-hour battery capacity.