Hyundai hybrid has quality, Volt could put squeeze on family
It was a little lonely in the Family Car category at the Canadian Car of the Year TestFest with just three entries.
Have all the families migrated to SUV/CUVs? You’d think so with 15 entries in the “high in the saddle” division.
But the three family car entries still managed to offer luxury, sportiness and up to-the-minute technology.
My judging colleagues all cast secret ballots, as is the case at TestFest, and no one will know for sure who the winner is until AJAC makes announcements. But I suspect the Hyundai will come out on top.
Here’s a look at all the entries: Hyundai Sonata hybrid — $33,799 as tested The Hyundai Sonata hybrid makes you feel like you’ve got box seats for a ball game. The leather upholstery, the lavish legroom in the back, quiet cabin, touch-screen infotainment, it’s all part of the signature Hyundai swag bag.
The fact this hybrid doesn’t drive like one is another gift. The brakes don’t grab, the transmission is a real sixspeed automatic, and on the road the drive is smooth, quiet and forgiving on rough pavement.
It doesn’t have the engaging drive personality that the VW Golf Sportwagon does, but it does pack the standard equipment list with desirable features: rear view camera, magic trunk release, blind spot and lane departure warning and three drive modes.
With the hybrid comes better projected fuel economy of 5.8 L/100 in combined driving of the model we tested.
Hybrids have a higher price tag and that makes them a hard sell, but the quality and packaging of the 2016 Sonata is the best kind of persuasion. Volkswagen Golf Sportwagon —$$24,195 as tested Selling a station wagon is as tough as selling spinach to a kid. Wagons make all the sense in the world, but the sizzle left the building a long time ago.
The Golf Sportwagon was nearly $10,000 less than the Sonata and had cavernous cargo space, athletic steering and handling.
I scored it high, just a few points back of the Sonata.
The Sportwagon’s interior is clinically efficient, the centre console has far fewer buttons than the Sonata and is logically organized, but the colour touch screen is nearly two inches smaller than the Sonata.
Cloth seats are sensible but on the bland side, and the interior does not feel special like the Sonata’s does with its optional leather seating.
If you value a superior drive and a big trunk, choose the VW, if technology and better mileage matters more, choose the Sonata. Chevrolet Volt — $39,155 as tested The Volt as a family car is a stretch. Compared to the vast pasturelands in the Sonata and Sportwagon, the electric hybrid Volt is squeezed for people space. This category is a bad fit. The backseat is workable for two adults, but middle space comfort is questionable unless you want your calves warmed by coffee, since the cupholders butt up against the seat.
Interior design is contemporary with modern fabrics, and front seat passengers will like the sculpted seats and roominess of the space.
The ride is impressive, library quiet, with instant acceleration that seems limitless. The all-electric range is improved, so is gas consumption.
It’s a good package, but maybe not for your average modern family. Kathy Renwald is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach her, email
wheels@thestar.ca and put her name in
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