A bit of old with your new, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has some of the latest hybrid tech – hello, lithium batteries! - paired with some of the oldest for a combination that just might unseat some solidly cemented rivals. With Ford's Fusion Hybrid impressing with sporty handling and class-leading fuel economy and Toyota's Prius sitting on more than a decade of experience, there wasn’t much pie left for the Sonata Hybrid to carve out a slice. Know Thyself is a bit of Delphinian wisdom that’s just as useful in the contemporary automotive industry as it was in ancient Greece. Hyundai knows this as well as any other manufacturer out there, and the strength of Hyundai has been in high quality at a low price – at least lately. Most manufacturers have been stitching their hybrid lumps to a new-tech continuously variable transmission (CVT) – a costly and complicated piece of equipment. Hyundai decided to utilize its reliable old 6-speed automatic instead and needed to develop some of its own new tech in order to do so. Ditching the torque converter that would normally weigh down the electric motor in order to mate it to the CVT, here the gas and electric motor are attached via a clutch, while the transmission is attached directly to the electric motor. Hyundai claims a combined 209-hp rating, but only 41 of that comes from the electric motor. Still, it’s providing 151 lb-ft of the total 195 torque rating, and it’ll scoot the Sonata Hybrid around just fine. Actually, the powertrain performance is one of the best parts of the Sonata Hybrid. Because it employs a more traditional 6-speed transmission, it doesn’t feel as alien as a hybrid equipped with a CVT, which can leave you feeling very unsatisfied as you wait in vain for the system to shift while it continually builds the rpm. You can even use the manual shift gate here if you really don’t care about your fuel economy. Speaking of which, testers have been split in their ability to recreate the Sonata Hybrid's EPA-estimated 35/40 mpg rating. Some have reported upwards of 58 mpg, while others have been unable to come even close to the much-ballyhooed 40 mark. Regardless, with the 2011 Elantra hitting 40 mpg in highway use from a conventional gasoline engine, should we really be content with getting it from a hybrid? But the Elantra doesn’t look like a Hybrid, and what good is praying in secret? Hyundai knows this, too, and has made some adjustments to the Sonata Hybrid so your neighbors will all know how eco-conscious you are. A new front fascia sports a wide, black opening and new headlights with some fancy light framing. The rear taillamps are LEDS and fitted in a redesigned rear fascia as well. The exhaust is hidden here, and new wheels show up as well. This isn’t all aesthetic, either, as the side skirts and underbody fairing prove. All of this, coupled with an “active air flap” system in the front grille, cuts the drag coefficient down to a Prius-tying 0.25 cD. Some small changes take place inside as well, with perforations gracing the optional leather and an extra panel in the sunroof. HVAC controls have been upgraded as well and are much more intuitive with a triad design, and the tach is missing here, replaced with an LCD “eco display” that I’d gladly trade to get back a nice tachometer. More noticeable might be the loss of trunk space due to the batteries, down from 16.4 to 10.7 cubic feet. However, this is a welcome sacrifice, as the Sonata Hybrid is the first commercial vehicle to use a lithium-polymer battery bank, a more compact, lighter and more energy-dense setup than the NiMH units used in other hybrids. But regardless of all this tech talk, the Sonata Hybrid acts much like its conventional gasoline-powered stablemates. Tight electric steering is weighted well and quick enough to make you consider abandoning your ecological tendencies and push it through the turns a bit harder. The suspension actually encourages this, soaking up all but the largest road imperfections easily and still remaining stiff enough to offer a slightly sporty experience. Because of Hyundai’s approach to the Hybrid segment, the Sonata offers a smart blend of old and new that might be the least obtrusive entry into the class. By pushing the tech with lithium-polymer batteries and sticking with the familiar by using the traditional 6-speed automatic transmission, they’re easing the entry into a new arena for the consumer. With style that immediately announces your ecological intent and a price that doesn’t make the sacrifice too painful, the Sonata Hybrid stands a good chance of getting some of that eco-pie.