- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
Perm Magnet, LI
- Engine Power
NA
- Fuel
12h 0m chg, 280km range
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Red'n Gear
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2016)
2018 Hyundai Ioniq review
Hyundai hopes this is Australia’s 21st century Model T moment.
Until now electric vehicles have been focused on the top end of town with vehicles like the Tesla Model S, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron to name a few. But Hyundai hopes to change that with the all-new Ioniq.
As battery technology continues to develop, prices are coming down. But buying an EV is an expensive affair, with only one model priced below $50,000. That’s the pint-sized Renault Zoe which starts at $47,490 (plus on-road costs), which is a lot of money to spend on a city car regardless of powertrain.
Which is where the Ioniq electric enters the picture, undercutting the Renault to claim the title of Australia’s cheapest EV with a starting price of $44,490 (plus on-roads).
So is this the car that will make electric motoring a possibility for the masses, in the same way Ford did with the Model T?
- Most affordable EV
- Choice of powertrains
- Nice to drive
- EV still carries high premium over petrol equivalent
- Upcoming Kona EV will offer more range
- Rear space compromised by roofline
Is it right for me?
The appeal of the Ioniq is that it isn’t a single model but a range of EVs with varying powertrains in the same package. So depending on your need and budget you can choose from the conventional Ioniq hybrid, Ioniq plug-in hybrid or Ioniq electric.
Hyundai Australia has gone a step further by adding the choice of two trim lines - Elite and Premium - for each powertrain.
Can I afford it ?
Pricing for the range starts at $33,990 for the Hybrid Elite with the Premium starting at $38,990, which undercuts its natural rival, the Toyota Prius that starts at $36,440.
The Ioniq plug-in is also the cheapest of its kind, with the Elite starting at $40,990 and the Premium $45,490. By comparison the (albeit larger) Outlander ES PHEV starts at $45,990.
Finally, the Ioniq electric starts at $44,490 for the Elite and tops out the range at $48,990 for the Premium.
While that makes it the most affordable EV, it’s still expensive for a small sedan - which is ultimately what it is with almost identical dimensions as the Hyundai Elantra that costs $17,500 less.
So while it’s a competitive price for an electric car it’s still carrying a significant premium over a conventional petrol-powered model.
What do you get for your money?
To help justify the extra spend, Hyundai has generously equipped all models in the Ioniq range. Aside from the obvious powertrain differences, the three variants are very similar across the two trim grades.
The Elite comes with 15-inch alloys (16-inch on the plug-in), auto headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, 8.0-inch navigation and an eight-speaker Infinity sound system. The plug-in swaps the hybrid’s full-size spare for a mobility kit, while the electric Elite gets an electric parking brake, electric folding mirrors and single-zone climate control.
All Ioniqs come with seven airbags, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors as well as Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety, which includes forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert and active cruise control.
Stepping up to the Premium grade brings 17-inch alloys (but still 16s on the plug-in), bi-Xenon headlights, power sunroof, leather-appointed upholstery, heated front seats and wireless smartphone charging pad. The plug-in and electric also get LED headlights on top of those other additions.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Hyundai offers a lifetime capped price servicing program for all three models. The hybrid and plug-in cost $265 for a minor service with a major check-up $465. In contrast the electric has a flat $160 charge for all of its visits.
Is it well built?
Hyundai has earned a reputation for reliable cars, which is far removed from its early days in the Australian market. It backs them up with a five-year warranty, which is now the norm among mainstream rivals but was extraordinary for a long time.
As it enters the world of electrified vehicles, the battery pack is covered by eight-year/160,000km warranty to try and continue that peace-of-mind.
What are the Standout features?
Choice is what makes the Ioniq so special. Toyota is making a major statement with hybrid variants of the Corolla, Camry and soon the RAV4, but all feature the same conventional hybrid system.
By offering both plug-in and fully electric versions of the Ioniq, Hyundai is giving Australians the choice over how much they are willing to spend on being “eco-friendly” but also the option based on your lifestyle.
If you’re the kind of driver that does loads of driving every day, then the plug-in hybrid will be best for you. While for those who do limited mileage and stay close to home the electric will be a more tempting proposition.
What does it have that others don't?
Normality. Hyundai has taken a very different approach to the Ioniq to typical electric car thinking; instead of going for overt styling the South Korean brand has given it a more conventional look.
While the Ioniq electric has a unique grille to separate it from the hybrids, it isn’t a dramatic styling departure from the rest of the Hyundai range. Instead it looks like a fastback variant of the Elantra, finding a happy medium between looking special and playing it cool.
How practical is it?
That conservative styling carries over into the cabin, where it looks like any other modern Hyundai - which is to say stylish and well finished for a mainstream brand.
The exception is the electric Ioniq does have a slightly different cabin to its hybrid siblings. The console between the front seats is very different, with the EV getting an electric parking brake, unique gear selector and more small item storage.
Is it comfortable?
There’s good space in the Ioniq for what is ultimately a small car. The front seats offer decent support for a variety of body shapes while the rear has respectable kneeroom. But the fastback roofline makes for slightly compromised headroom when you try and squeeze in taller adults.
Easy in, easy out?
The sloping roof also makes getting in the back a careful procedure for adults who don’t want to bang their heads.
Space and versatility?
The upside of the fastback body is it opens wide to make loading the boot easier. How much room the boot offers up depends on the model you buy with a different amount for each model.
The hybrid is the biggest with a sizeable 456-litres, the electric drops to 350-litres and the plug-in is smaller still at 341-litres.
What's the engine like?
The three powertrains present three different outputs, naturally. The standard hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 77kW/147Nm with a 32kW/170Nm electric motor.
The plug-in uses the same 1.6-litre petrol engine but gets a more potent 44kW/170Nm electric motor and bigger 8.9kWh lithium-ion battery. Both hybrids use the same six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Finally there’s the electric that has a single motor producing 88kW and 295Nm which has a direct-drive transmission.
We’ve previously tested the hybrid so we’ll focus on the plug-in and electric models, but it’s fair to say all three offer up adequate if unspectacular performance.
While in EV mode the plug-in is quiet and has no trouble keeping up in traffic, but once the battery’s charge is depleted - or you ask for greater acceleration - the petrol engine jumps into life with a noticeable soundtrack.
The majority of our drive was spent in the electric Ioniq and it impressed with good initial performance thanks to the instant torque offered up by the electric motor. But if you’re looking for an EV with the kind of ‘ludicrous’ performance promised by some brands you’ll be disappointed.
Instead, the Ioniq is a small car for the city and provides more than adequate motivation for that role. Naturally it’s quiet and feels refined without an internal combustion engine so it offers up the key benefits of any EV.
How much fuel does it consume?
While Hyundai has tried to make the Ioniq simple and accessible the combination of three drivetrains makes for a complicated efficiency explanation.
The hybrid offers two fuel use ratings, 3.4-litres per 100km for the Elite fitted with the smaller 15-inch wheels and 3.9L/100km for the Premium with its 17-inch rims.
The plug-in has an electric range of approximately 63km and a combined fuel economy figure of 1.1L/100km. The former figures feel realistic based on our initial drive but the latter is a best case scenario. If you do long trips requiring the petrol engine to stay on longer it will consume significantly higher amounts of unleaded.
That’s not an issue for the electric, which has a range of only 230km, which is short of the modern advanced Kona EV coming next year which can manage more than 440km, but still offers meaningful driving distances.
While fuel costs are well known, how much does the electric Ioniq actually cost to use in the real-world? Hyundai claims it needs 28kWh to full recharge, so at an average electricity cost of $0.30 per kWh that means it will set you back $8.40 to replenish the battery from empty.
It takes time too, with a full recharge requiring approximately four hours to complete.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
The normality of the looks carries over into the driving experience, with Hyundai clearly focused on making the Ioniq feel as similar to an Elantra or i30 as possible.
Like those models, the Ioniq’s suspension and steering has been tuned for Australian conditions and it shone through during our test drive on some of the most demanding driving roads outside of Brisbane.
While the extra weight of the hybrid and electric systems dulls the responsiveness compared to the likes of the Elantra the electric Ioniq still acquitted itself with distinction. It turns well and sits relatively flat in the corners so you can have some fun with it.
Around town, where the Ioniq is in its natural habitat, it rides bumps with good composure so it will make for a relaxed daily driver.
The most noticeable difference between the Ioniq and other electric cars we’ve driven is the braking. Typically EVs use regenerative braking, harvesting the energy lost during deceleration to charge the batteries on the move, which translates to heavy retardation as soon as you step off the accelerator pedal. In many cases you don’t even need to touch the brake pedal to bring the car to a stop.
That’s not the case with the Ioniq electric, which despite having three levels of regenerative braking (adjustable via the paddles on the steering wheel) feels more like a conventional car to drive. Certainly in the highest ‘Level 3’ setting there is a noticeable slowing of the car when you lift off the right pedal, but it's nowhere as dramatic as, say, the new Nissan Leaf.
While that may be a shock for previous Leaf owners, or those who have experienced a Tesla, Hyundai is betting that most Ioniq buyers will be new to the EV experience and bring no preconceptions. For that type of driver, Hyundai’s decision to make it less dramatic in its regenerative braking makes it a more accessible offering.
Does it perform as you expect?
Ultimately which Ioniq you choose will depend on your budget and what sort of driving you do. All three have their individual attractive qualities, but it’s the electric that really stands out. The technology has already been superseded, by even Hyundai itself, but it still offers up a useful range that will be more than enough for most urbanites.
For those who have been awaiting a smaller, more affordable mainstream alternative to the premium brands then the Ioniq will fill the void.
Will it be as popular as Ford’s Model T? That’s highly unlikely, but it does make an electric car a more realistic proposition for a much wider audience.
2018 Hyundai Ioniq Electric pricing and specifications
Price: From $44,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: Electric motor with lithium-ion battery
Power: 88kW
Torque: 295Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Range: 230km