You’ve got the Power(train).
The Hyundai Ioniq is the first car in the world to offer 3 separate powertrains.
You can choose from 100% electric (EV), Hybrid (Electric+petrol) and Plug in Hybrid.
With the EV and Hybrid in NZ already for pre-release evaluation I was lucky enough to have a drive.
The styling is gorgeous. From the moment you lay eyes on IONIQ you are enamoured with its great looks. The comments I heard were ” Its just looks like a normal car”. Perks for those that like their EV with less quirk.
With Hyundais attention to detail, the Ioniq in both entry and elite models is a stunning car.
Even the entry models get an amazing level of features for the price. Lane keep assist, AES (Autonomous emergency braking), smart cruise control. As well as the usual airbag configuration.
Elite models gain BSA(Blind Spot assist) and CTAS (Cross traffic alert).
Size
The Ioniq is similar in size to a Hyundai Elantra, but being a lift back seems more versatile. Its evident that Hyundais wait to release this car has been worth it. Comfortable seating in the front and back, and even a decent sized boot. No spare in the EV, but you get a tyre repair kit to get you out of trouble. Passenger headroom in the rear is outstanding. Compared to the i3, the Ioniq is a palatially large.
The Drive.
If you’ve driven a modern Hyundai in the last 5 years, you can appreciate the handling and comfort levels are outstanding. The IONIQ EV grin will certainly come across your face, with great torque, and you never feel wanting for power.
The mid sized car means driving is effortless, I never had to fight the car, even on twisty back roads.
With smart cruise and lane keep assist, it really felt like driving the future. And that brings me to the flappy paddles. OOO baby. You have to love the ability to choose the regeneration easily on the fly. Almost like using engine braking. On level 3 around town it can feel quite harsh, but on the hills its wonderful! I found myself fiddling a bit with around town to get the best feel, but 1 or 2 was about the right mix of economy and comfort.
Range
Hyundai claims approximately 200km on charge. During the days I had it, I would say this is pretty much bang on. Real world driving of about 220k on a charge.
Charging.
The Hyundai Ioniq comes with a Type 2 plug. Included is the home trickle charge kit, with takes up to 16 hours for a full charge. Hyundai NZ is also offering 4/5 hour charging units available at point of sale.
Tech Specs.
- 88KW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with a Lithium-ion Polymer Battery Capacity 28 KWh (Approx. up to 225km* range)
- 3 Drive Modes – Normal, ECO and Sport
- 3 Year / 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first) and 10 Year / Unlimited km High Voltage Battery Pack warranty
- Approx. 4 – 5hrs charging time with Wall Charger or Approx. 16 – 18hrs charging time at home
- Latest technology including an 8” Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ and Wireless smartphone charger^
- Modern safety features including: Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS),
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and Blind Spot Detection^^ (BSD) - 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating