Plug in, turn on, green out: The 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (pictures)

Hyundai doesn't just offer a traditional gas-electric hybrid.

In fact, the 27 miles of range you get from the Sonata Plug-In's battery is best-in-class among mid-size PHEVs.

Don't expect to get 27 miles when you're blasting along at highway speeds, though.

The Sonata's PHEV powertrain operates in one of three distinct modes.

EV mode hustles along silently, with only the battery providing thrust to the wheels.

Hybrid mode acts more like a traditional gas-electric hybrid, occasionally kicking in the engine to either support or sustain the electric side.

Charge-sustaining mode focuses on boosting battery life, putting the engine to work adding range as quickly as possible.

Charge-sustaining mode is best when you are about to get off the highway, so you can jump into EV mode and cruise quietly.

After a couple hundred miles, most of which were EV-unfriendly highway miles, I averaged 53.0 mpg.

For buyers without a highway commute, you could regularly cruise about without wasting a drop of gas.