I haven't noticed any Ioniqs on the street but I am seeing a number of Kia Niros, its sibling. The Prius continues to dominate this segment; I'm curious if this new generation of hybrids will finally make significant inroads.
The Hyundai Ioniq represents the brand's most affordable hybrid option. Models start as low as $22,200. Our test car was the highest trim level, and came with the additional Ultimate Package. That inflates the price to $31,460, but adds features like automatic emergency braking, smart cruise control, navigation and much more.
It’s like Hyundai’s take on the Chevy Volt, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. The Ioniq even also has the little microwave oven window in the rear, kinda like a second-gen CRX.
You don’t need a ton of hybrid experience to feel comfortable in the Ioniq. It drives like any other small/midsize car. The days of hybrids being weird and different has more or less passed. This is our present.
Oh, a PS. I just rode in the back of the car to and from lunch. Even with a tall person in front of me, I had room in the back seat.
Checks over each shoulder
Whispers
Okay, so, uh, I liked a hybrid. I know, I know, that’s not the cool thing to say around here, but I really did like the Ioniq. It wasn’t fast, or particularly fun to drive. But it crushed the daily commute with relentless, merciless, assassin-like practicality. This car is like if Boba Fett’s main goal was to efficiently drive you around town.
I’ll start with the shape: Awesome. Roomy front seats, big rear seats, giant hatch. I put my lawnmower in it. Then I got 57 miles to the gallon on the way home. Is it beautiful? It’s no Ferrari 250 GTO, but it is sort of the same profile as a 308 GT4 2+2. I guess that’s a positive, right?
Driving-wise, the Ioniq is totally decent. That’s all–handles well enough, accelerates well enough, and stops well enough after you get used to the regenerative braking. At $31,000 loaded up, it’s got lots of nice options, too–like a sunroof, leather, and radar cruise control. That said, I’d probably opt for the base model. For just over $20k, you get CarPlay and lots of other nice stuff, without leather or the sunroof I’d barely use.
Let’s talk mileage: Wow. I spent the first part of my drive hypermiling, and was able to get close to 60 mpg without too much effort. On the highway at 80 mph, though, it dropped significantly: I suddenly started seeing mileage in the high 40s. The Ioniq was clearly designed for slower-speed trips, but it was still quiet and comfortable, and mileage in the high 40s is still amazing.
It’s comfortable, decent to drive, good enough looking, and knocks down amazing mileage. It’s the right tool for most people to drive every day, and if I had a longer commute, I’d probably be signing the papers on one tomorrow.
This hybrid was awesome for one reason: It didn't drive like a hybrid. And it didn't drive like an econobox. It was quiet and smooth.
Visibility out of the rear is not great. Like David mentioned, it has a divided rear window like a CRX, but—for me at least—the trim between the two pieces of glass always seemed to be in my line of sight.
It's not terribly fast, but hey, it's not supposed to be. It's performance comes in MPG form. Hyundai quotes 55 mpg in the city.
I haven't noticed any Ioniqs on the street but I am seeing a number of Kia Niros, its sibling. The Prius continues to dominate this segment; I'm curious if this new generation of hybrids will finally make significant inroads.
I saw two Ioniqs last night on I-4 but, yeah, you're right in that Toyota dominates this market. I'm eager to see where things go in the next few years, though.
It's a hatchback hybrid that doesn't look goofy as hell, quiet, and has room for actual adult humans in the back? Perfect car for a commuter. It's what I wanted for years and no one offered.
Like others, I've been seeing a lot more of the Kia Nero around then the Ioniq. Absolutely brilliant of Kia to slap some crossover-esque styling over a bog standard hybrid hatch.
If Hyundai would make the safety tech + adaptive cruise available lower in the trim line I'd be very interested in this as a daily driver/commuter.
In reply to Cblais19:
IIRC there is a "tech package" available for the lower trims that gives you that stuff.
The0retical wrote: It's a hatchback hybrid that doesn't look goofy as hell...
And that's why it will fail compared to the Prius. Hybrid buyers are seeking an image just like everyone else, whether its a Jeep, MINI, full size trucks or CUVs.
Toyota owns the market because they established the hybrid 'identity' with the Prius, which happens to look goofy as hell.
Tyler H wrote:The0retical wrote: It's a hatchback hybrid that doesn't look goofy as hell...And that's why it will fail compared to the Prius. Hybrid buyers are seeking an image just like everyone else, whether its a Jeep, MINI, full size trucks or CUVs. Toyota owns the market because they established the hybrid 'identity' with the Prius, which happens to look goofy as hell.
not anymore. maybe years ago.. but a hybrid is just a normal car now. the image seeking is long gone, people want a practical car that fits their family and gets good mileage.
The0retical wrote: It's a hatchback hybrid that doesn't look goofy as hell, quiet, and has room for actual adult humans in the back? Perfect car for a commuter. It's what I wanted for years and no one offered.
But let me guess, in true GRM fashion, you aren't actually going to buy one?
In reply to z31maniac:
I purchased something else because it was cool to be a hyper styled less function more form spaceship when I was looking. So unfortunately I won't be in the market for something new for probably 5 years yet.
At that point I'll take a serious look around again. The SEL version with the adaptive cruise control package would be sweet if I were though. Probably $26k OTD so it's pretty reasonable.
This week we have a Prius plug-in hybrid (as well as a 2.0T Camaro), so look for reviews on those soon.
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