70 | NEW CAR BUYERE
lectric drivetrain technology
has progressed to the point
where 200km and beyond is now
an achievable range, so if you
live in a capital city, an electric
car is certainly a viable option as
your daily driver.
Hyundai’s new Ioniq is a
three-model line-up that
includes a pure electric variant,
with a claimed range of up to
230km, and a Toyota Prius-style
petrol/electric hybrid, where
the electric motor improves the
effi ciency of the petrol engine
rather than being able to shift
the car by itself.
Ioniq plug-in, tested here,
claims up to 63km on electricity
alone from its 8.9kWh lithium-ion
battery. In hybrid mode, where it
switches between 1.6-litre petrol
and battery power, sometimes
using both depending upon how
and where you’re driving, its
range can exceed 600km.
Priced from $40,990 in Elite
specifi cation, or $45,490 for
the Premium, as tested, Ioniq
plug-in is $7000 more expensive
than the petrol/electric hybrid
and $3500 (Premium) to $4000
(Elite) cheaper than the pure
electric model.
Plug-in means exactly that.
You can charge Ioniq’s battery at
home, in about two hours using a
wall-mounted charger that costs
$1950 (including installation), or
by plugging the supplied lead into
a 10-amp household power point.
Using that method, I recharged
the test car’s battery from dead
fl at to 100 per cent in three
hours, 50 minutes.
If you forget, or the battery runs
out of charge while you’re driving,
no problem. Ioniq automatically
goes into hybrid mode.
I got 40km on electricity alone,
but in optimum conditions — city
traffi c, where frequent braking
puts charge back into the battery
— Hyundai’s claimed 63km is
possible. In hybrid mode, with
about 80 per cent highway
and 20 per cent around towndriving, the test car averaged
3.0-3.5L/100km. On the open
road you won’t get close to
Hyundai’s claimed 1.1L/100km.
The battery is warranted for
eight years/160,000km.
Refi ned and luxurious, Ioniq
has a comfortable ride, a
supportive driver’s seat and
hushed cabin in electric (EV)
mode. You hear only a faint
drone from the petrol engine at
highway speeds and virtually
no wind noise.
Rear seat space is fi ne for
most adults; the seat is fi rm
and comfortable and vents are
provided, but no connectivity.
All the must-have safety tech is
standard, though autonomous
emergency braking works only at
speeds up to 80km/h.
Performance, especially in EV
mode, is sedate but we’re not
in a hot rod here, are we? The
objective is effi ciency, not tyre-
frying acceleration. It’s fi ne indaily driving and when you need
a shove, the petrol engine kicks
in with reasonable enthusiasm,
assisted by a responsive six-
speed dual-clutch transmission.
You can select EV, Hybrid
or Sport mode, which extracts
maximum hybrid performance
and adds weight to the steering.
But “Sport?” Not even close.
Tight, solid and planted,
Ioniq’s dynamics are a highlight.
Locally tuned, independent
suspension (at both ends)
offers excellent control and
compliance, even on rough
roads. It’s heavy, but a low
centre of gravity means it
doesn’t feel ponderous. I’ve
driven plenty of “normal” cars
that are less capable and
enjoyable at speed.
Ioniq plug-in is a good thing. It
offers most of the advantages of
a pure electric car, without the
limitations, in a reasonably priced
package that’s comfortable,
enjoyable to drive and backed by
Hyundai’s best in the business
quality and reliability.HYUNDAI IONIQ FROM $33,990 S
SafetyPerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
THINGS WE LIKE
Combines the best of petrol and
electric drivetrains
Spacious and comfortable
Hyundai quality and reliability
Safe and secureTHINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
^ It’s not exactly excitement-plus
^ The interior is pretty dull, too
^ AEB works only up to 80km/h
^ No spare, just a repair kit
^ Resale values could be iffy
SPEX (^) Made in South Korea
(^) 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid/six-
speed dual-clutch automatic/front-
wheel drive
(^) 104kW of power/240Nm of torque
(combined)
(^) 1.1L/100km (claimed, combined);
regular unleaded; CO2 emissions
are 26gkm (combined)
(^) Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
(^) Standard: Seven airbags, stability
control, AEB, adaptive cruise, blind
spot monitoring, lane keeping, rear
cross traffi c alert, Bluetooth, Apple
CarPlay, Android Auto, 16-inch alloy
wheels, dual-zone air, navigation.
Premium includes heated and
cooled, power adjustable, leather
upholstered front seats, a sunroof
and wireless phone charging
(^) Redbook future values: 3yr: 42%;
5yr: 30%
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