The market for hybrids expands

It used to be if you were looking for a hybrid vehicle you would make a beeline to Toyota. Times, they are a changing: now you have a range of Prius models from Toyota along with many other hybrids out on the market. Sedan? SUV? No problem. You can even pick from luxury versions.

Toyota still leads the pack in volume, though, and the Prius is still the supreme hybrid on the market. You can even buy a used Gen2 or Gen3 Prius and have Boulder Hybrid Conversions make it a plug-in hybrid vehicle. If you don’t want a Prius or a hatchback vehicle, turn to the landscape of hybrid sedans and SUVs.

I recently had the chance to compare two hybrid sedans back to back, and the experience shocked me. I thought I would be able to declare a winner, but that isn’t how it worked out. The contenders: 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid and 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid — Toyota representing the leader and Hyundai the up-and-comer. The Camry tips the scales at about $35K, while the Sonata saves a few Gs with an as-tested price of just more than $32K.

The stark contrast doesn’t come from the features; the cars are pretty comparable there. The Camry doesn’t have some of the cool features like the optional panoramic sunroof and automatic sunshades nor does it have rear heated seats that you will find in the Sonata, but the interior feel and design — surprisingly — feels higher end.

The part that really set these two mid-to-full size sedans apart is the driving experience and exterior design. From the exterior, the Hyundai has a more aggressive “look at me” design. The coupe-like roofline gives it an energetic impression and there are some lovely touches such as the chrome strip done the length of the car. It also has more detailed wheels that are dimensional with graphite inserts and LED accents lights that swirl around the headlights —just plain cool.

But Toyota deserves some kudos too. The Camry saw a redesign for the 2012 model year, sportier and more aggressive than previous generation Camry. The transition has given the Camry new appeal to younger generations that might still not be ready for the radical shift to the Hyundai Sonata.

In the driver seat, a difference between these two hybrids becomes more apparent. I guess I assumed a hybrid by any other name was still a hybrid. However, like the revelations of Juliet, it isn’t the name, but what makes up these hybrids that will challenge perceptions. The Camry has a CVT transmission, 200 total system horsepower and fuel economy that leads the class at 40/38/40 mpg city/hwy/combined. It is one of the smoothest and quiet four-door sedan hybrids you will find on the market.

The Sonata is different; it has 199 total-system horsepower and a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. It uses the hybrid technology different getting 36/40/37 mpg city/hwy/combined. It rides stiffer and corners flatter at high speed. It can even engage the electric motors at up to 74 mph, whereas the Camry’s hybrid operation is limited to speeds lower than about 50 mph.

The bottom line is different strokes for different folks. Throw in a third set of wheels and cross-compare these two to the Kia Optima Hybrid: I recommend a test drive in all of the above.