I thought folks might like to know that the brakes turned out to be a nonissue and the Sonata Hybrid SE was purchased. It is a very nice vehicle for a very good price at the moment (excellent rebates/incentives). Hyundai continues to amaze with the quality they offer at such reasonable price points.
I'm doing some research on the 2016 Sonata Hybrid for a family member; reviews are generally very positive, but a couple of them have been critical of the brakes. For instance:
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"Our only gripe, and the reason performance gets a nine rather than a 10, is with the brakes. The regenerative braking system causes braking to feel soft and delayed when compared with standard non-hybrid sedans of similar size. This is a typical byproduct of electrified cars and one we find customers could quickly adjust to; we simply felt it noticeable enough to mention."
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"Yes, most of this hybrid?s operation is seamless. But those brakes are terrible. Let?s start there. On the expressway, there?s a decent bite right at the top of the stroke. Nothing happens for about 5 more inches, and then the sedan finally grinds to halt. On the street there?s basically nothing, until you get several inches in. I locked the tires up in the wet recently trying to avoid a car that didn?t sneak up on me at all."
This second quote from autoweek.com is particularly concerning. I have to wonder if there's inherently more risk with regenerative braking because of the interaction between battery charging/braking and traditional hydraulic braking? TIA for your thoughts.