What's it like?
On first acquaintance after a full charge on a cold day, our Ioniq showed 171 miles of range and that proved to be a true figure and more than enough for the commuter driving and routes the Ioniq is best suited to.
Performance is brisk but not unruly in the way Hyundai’s other electric car, the Kona Electric, is. Although the two share a 291lb ft torque output, the Kona gets more power (201bhp plays 134bhp here). However, the Ioniq’s power delivery is much better judged and the car is much more driveable across all speeds. It’s sharp off the line, which makes it great for nipping in and out of city traffic, and settles into a much smoother drive at speed, but it is not sledgehammer in its delivery in the way that the Kona Electric is, a car that needs little interaction with the throttle pedal to spin its wheels.
The Ioniq Electric forgoes the multi-link rear suspension of the Ioniq hybrids in favour of a torsion beam to accommodate the lithium ion battery pack. As a result, it’s not the most sophisticated car in the way it rides, being fine over smooth roads but crashy at lower speeds. That lack of sophistication also extends to the handling: there’s no dynamic sparkle here, with predictability the order of the day.
Everything about the Ioniq Electric seems done in the pursuit of efficiency. That brings good and bad: it’s great fun eking out extra range by cycling through the steering wheel paddles to increase or decrease the amount of regenerative braking, but the low-rolling-resistance tyres create a significant amount of roar at speeds to deny the Ioniq Electric the quiet, calm driving environment typical of its rivals.
You’ll have to turn the radio up to drown it out and that radio is part of an upgraded infotainment system that's slick to operate and feature rich. Its modernity does jar slightly with the rather drab interior elsewhere, which majors on lots of dark plastics.
Should I buy one?
'Functional' is perhaps the best word to describe the Ioniq Electric overall. It’s competent in all areas, while being neither outstanding nor sub-standard anywhere, too. It’s likeable for feeling so dependable, yet rivals shine brighter in other areas - including Hyundai’s own Kona Electric.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric specification
Where Berkshire Price £29,450 (after gov’t grant) On sale Now Engine Permanent magnet electric motor Power 134bhp (38.3kWh battery) Torque 291lb ft Gearbox Single-speed reduction gear Kerb weight 1475kg 0-62mph 9.7sec Top speed 96mph Range 194 miles (WLTP) CO2 0g/km Rivals Kia e-Niro, Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe
Join the debate
xxxx
Oh so nearly
That fast charging isn't quite that fast, these days it should be approaching 100kw rather than 50kw. If not possible with the existing 38kwh battery then just a small increase in battery capacity should make 100kw charging possible, or, maybe have 2 versions like the Kona.
Blancster
xxxx wrote:
The writer quotes using a 50kW charger, it doesn't say the car can't charge faster if you happen to find a higher power charger.
The max charging rate is 69kW, avergae 65kW if you have can find the charger - zap map is your friend.
xxxx
Still not that fast then
69kw isn't that fast either
harf
Isn’t it Ioniq, don’t you think ...
cant shake that Alan is morissette song from my head whenever these appear.
Go on Hyundai, reprise the song with a minor rewrite.
“It’s a used chargepoint, when your needing a charge
its a different chargepoint, when you’ve not got the app”
soz, I’ll get my coat ...
Daniel Joseph
Hmm...
Classier than "Another one drives a Duster" I suppose..!
Bimfan
Not a Tesla 3
So for approx £10k more you can have a base model Tesla 3 with slightly more range, better looks and accomodation, and faster charging.
I think Hyundai/Kia need to decide whether they are going to back hybrid or electric or hydrogen and make a best in class version of one of them. At the moment they seem to be falling in the middle.
bol
Half the cost of a Tesla 3 to lease
In the real world this is the most affordable practical electric car at the moment. The lease prices are similar to the Golf Electric on run out, with a lot more range and kit. The Tesla 3 is nice, but loads more money.
BertoniBertone
Dull to the point of soporific....
True...but you are writing this on Autocar's website....not 'What Washing Machine Monthly'. It's still nearly £ 30K - purchase or PCP - and, more to the point, life-witheringly dull. You might as well use public transport: it's more life-affirming....
Onlineo
Bimfan wrote:
Hyundai sell the Kona EV. Kia sell the eNiro. They are both great cars when specced with 64kwh battery packs and definitely best in class for the current price. They are both built on the same platform as the petrol car, so I look forward to seeing what they can do with a dedicated EV platform. Possibly next year, maybe the year after.
Onlineo
Bimfan wrote:
Hyundai sell the Kona EV. Kia sell the eNiro. They are both great cars when specced with 64kwh battery packs and definitely best in class for the current price. They are both built on the same platform as the petrol car, so I look forward to seeing what they can do with a dedicated EV platform. Possibly next year, maybe the year after.
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