Hyundai IONIQ

The, updated for 2019, Hyundai IONIQ (so called as it is a mash up of the words ion and unique) is a medium sized 5 door hatchback car that draws its power from a 1.6 litre 103bhp petrol engine alongside a 43bhp electric motor, the two power units work in tandem, the electric motor will start the car off and will be joined by the petrol when required, you can drive solely on electric power for only very short distances before the batteries go flat, these are charged by both the petrol engine running and by regenerative powers like braking, there is no ‘Plug’ to charge the batteries. Hybrid cars such as the IONIQ and the Toyota range (Yaris, Auris and Prius) are at their most economical over shorter distances and start stop driving, this is where the savings are to be made and the best fuel economy advantage over a non hybrid car is gained. The IONIQ can return a claimed 62.8 miles per gallon.

The Hyundai IONIQ is a comfortable and practical car. The rear passengers enjoy a raised seating position as the batteries are housed under their seat which can cause headroom issues for the taller of passengers but for children it gives them a nicer ride height. Access to the rear is through wide opening doors and storage space in the boot is an excellent 443 litres. Carrying two engines and batteries means the IONIQ is a fairly heavy car at 1370kg but the extra weight is low in the car so while it’s no country lane thrasher, the IONIQ does have a nice turn of pace (0-62 in 10.8 seconds) and there are thrills to be had. Comfort sits high on the IONIQ’s list of abilities and in town it can operate in near-silence – using electric propulsion alone – and its suspension is soft enough to take the edge off pothole strewn city streets. It’s also a serene place to sit at low speed thanks to insulation behind the dashboard and thicker window glass. One point of note is that the IONIQ has a foot operated parking brake, a strange choice as it will put more customers off than it will entice but it’s fine once you get used to it though it’s not our favourite position for a parking brake.

As with all cars that draw their power from two sources, the IONIQ is only avaialble as an automatic car. Hyundai have cleverly fitted a six speed dual clutch gearbox which makes driving more enjoyable than its competitors CVT gearbox that can lead the car to being ‘confused’ when switching from power supply and can cause high revving and a noticeable whirring sound, there is still an element of this with the Ioniq but not as noticeable as with a CVT.

The new IONIQ is available in four trims: SE Connect, Premium, First Edition and Premium SE. SE cars get plenty of kit, including 15-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control and an 8 inch touchscreen. Autonomous braking, adaptive cruise and lane-keep assist are also standard. Upgrade to Premium to get sat-nav through the 10.25 inch infotainment system (Apple car play and Android Auto too), wireless phone charging, heated seats and keyless go. The top-of-the-range model has heated and ventilated leather seats. For us, the IONIQ is a town car that can make long trips when required, the technology that you want is the clever Hybrid engine system.

Ioniq Hybrid removed from scheme 25th May 2022, Car removed from Hyundai range.

Hyundai Ioniq full electric

The new 2019 Hyundai Ioniq electric has an increased battery size of 38kWh (134 bhp) offering a range of 165 miles. Charging is via a Type 2 connector, maximum 7.2 kW, this charges a fully depleted battery back to full in around 6 hours 15 minutes or 19 hours 45 minutes using a three pin domestic plug. Rapid charging is possible through a CCS connection, maximum rapid charge power is 47 kW, this charges the battery from 10% to 80% in around 50 minutes. The new IONIQ features Bluelink that can remotely control the temperature of the car, lock or unlock and charging can be remotely controlled and scheduled.

Spring Best Buy – Hyundai Ioniq Electric 38kWh Premium’ Automatic – £199 Advance Payment (£67.10 wpms) or £799 (£71.05 wpms) in Premium SE