Fuel Cost Over 20,000 km: 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vs Toyota Camry Hybrid in Alberta
Fuel Cost Over 20,000 km: 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vs Toyota Camry Hybrid in Alberta
Posted on July 9, 2026
A hybrid sedan is only as good as its fuel bill, so this comparison skips the brochure language and works the math. Over 20,000 km of driving, which mid-size hybrid costs less to fuel: the 2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid or the 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid?
The short answer is that the Sonata Hybrid pulls ahead the moment your commute includes highway driving, matches the Camry on the combined rating, and beats every all-wheel-drive Camry Hybrid trim outright. Below you will find the numbers behind that answer, the assumptions used, and what they mean for a year of real driving.
How the Fuel Costs Were Calculated
The calculation uses Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption ratings for each vehicle, a distance of 20,000 km, and an average pump price of 166.9 cents per litre, which reflects Alberta’s June and July 2026 average for regular gasoline. Both hybrids run on regular fuel, so the price applies equally to each.
The formula is simple: distance divided by 100, multiplied by the L/100 km rating, gives litres burned; litres multiplied by $1.669 gives the cost. The head-to-head uses the Sonata Hybrid Preferred Trend against the front-wheel-drive Camry Hybrid SE, the most efficient Camry Hybrid configuration, so the comparison is against Toyota’s best case.
At a Glance: 20,000 km Fuel Cost at 166.9 Cents Per Litre
| Driving cycle | 2026 Sonata Hybrid | 2026 Camry Hybrid SE FWD | Difference |
| Highway | 4.6 L/100 km, $1,535 | 5.0 L/100 km, $1,669 | Sonata saves $134 |
| Combined | 5.0 L/100 km, $1,669 | 5.0 L/100 km, $1,669 | Even |
| City | 5.3 L/100 km, $1,769 | 5.0 L/100 km, $1,669 | $100 |
| Fuel tank | 50 L | 49 L | Sonata +1 L |
| Range per tank (combined) | 1,000 km | 980 km | Sonata +20 km |
| Range per tank (highway) | 1,087 km | 980 km | Sonata +107 km |
Highway Driving: Where the Sonata Hybrid Wins
The Sonata Hybrid’s 4.6 L/100 km highway rating is the standout figure in this comparison. Over 20,000 km of highway driving, it burns 920 L of regular gasoline, for a fuel cost of $1,535 at 166.9 cents per litre. The Camry Hybrid SE uses 1,000 L over the same distance and costs $1,669, so the Sonata Hybrid saves $134 per 20,000 km.
That gap widens against every other Camry Hybrid trim. The SE Upgrade AWD and XLE AWD are rated at 5.2 L/100 km on the highway, and the XSE AWD is rated at 5.5. Against the XSE AWD, the Sonata Hybrid’s highway saving grows to $300 over 20,000 km. For drivers who spend most of their kilometres on open road, the Sonata Hybrid is the lower-cost hybrid sedan in this segment.
Combined and City Ratings
On the combined cycle, the two sedans are rated identically at 5.0 L/100 km, so a 20,000 km year of mixed driving costs $1,669 in either car. The Sonata Hybrid reaches that number with a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine, a 39 kW electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission with a conventional torque converter, for 192 hp combined and 151 lb-ft of torque from the motor available from a standstill.
In city driving, the Sonata Hybrid’s 5.3 L/100 km rating results in a fuel cost of $1,769 over 20,000 km, $100 more than the Camry SE FWD. Spread across a full year, that is roughly $8 a month, and it applies only to drivers whose kilometres are almost entirely urban. The moment highway kilometres enter the mix, the Sonata Hybrid’s 4.6 L/100 km highway rating starts closing that gap, and at a 50/50 split the two cars are already even.
The Rest of the Camry Hybrid Lineup Costs More to Fuel
Toyota’s most efficient Camry Hybrid is the front-wheel-drive SE. Move up the trim ladder and the ratings climb, while the Sonata Hybrid’s single well-equipped trim holds at 5.0 L/100 km combined:
- Camry Hybrid SE Upgrade AWD and XLE AWD:1 L/100 km combined, $1,702 over 20,000 km, $33 more than the Sonata Hybrid
- Camry Hybrid XSE AWD:5 L/100 km combined, $1,836 over 20,000 km, $167 more than the Sonata Hybrid
- Sonata Hybrid Preferred Trend:0 L/100 km combined, $1,669 over 20,000 km, with leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats and a panoramic sunroof standard
Range Per Tank and Trunk Space
The Sonata Hybrid carries 50 L of fuel against the Camry Hybrid’s 49 L. Combined with its highway rating, that translates to an estimated 1,087 km of highway range per tank, 107 km further than the Camry Hybrid SE’s 980 km. On the combined rating the Sonata Hybrid covers an estimated 1,000 km per fill, 20 km further than the Camry.
Cargo capacity also favours the Sonata Hybrid. Its trunk holds 441 L, compared with 428 L in the Camry Hybrid, and the 60/40 split-folding rear seat opens the space up for longer items. The hybrid battery is a 1.62 kWh lithium-ion pack, and it does not intrude on trunk volume.
Which Hybrid Sedan Costs Less to Own?
For a driver who covers 20,000 km a year with a typical mix of highway and city kilometres, the fuel bill is a wash between these two sedans, and the Sonata Hybrid comes out ahead on range per tank, trunk space and standard equipment. For a driver whose commute leans toward highway, the Sonata Hybrid saves $134 a year against the Camry’s best configuration and up to $300 a year against its all-wheel-drive XSE.
Add in the Sonata Hybrid’s 31.2 cm infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go and nine airbags, and the value case is clear. The Sonata Hybrid delivers the lowest highway fuel cost in this comparison and the longest range on a single tank.
Run the Numbers at Sherwood Park Hyundai
Bring your own annual kilometres and commute split to Sherwood Park Hyundai in Sherwood Park and we will work out your projected fuel cost in the 2026 Sonata Hybrid. Book a test drive to see how the 4.6 L/100 km highway rating feels from behind the wheel.