We suspect most will prefer the slightly more conventional grille of the hybrid to the surgical mask-style front of the electric car too.īut this is evo - and for us, the Ioniq Electric is more of a driver’s car than the Ioniq Hybrid. In the hybrid’s favour, it’s cheaper than the electric model (see below), will require fewer compromises of its owner thanks to achieving many hundreds of miles on a tank, and if you’re simply buying one to commute in then it’s a comfortable, well-equipped and easy-to-drive vehicle. It doesn’t really make the hybrid any more entertaining – just noisier, and adds unwelcome heft to the steering (rather than feel, which is what you’d actually want) which makes it feel even less responsive. Sport mode feels a little pointless in fact. With more mass hanging over the front wheels and less battery to even out the weight distribution, the hybrid feels more lethargic in its responses – the balance isn’t as sweet, the steering not as lively (but still devoid of feel) and inputs to the throttle feel delayed compared to their equivalents in the electric car, even in Sport mode. CVTs may be bemoaned by enthusiasts, but in hybrids they’re simply a better match for the drivetrain. Despite the electric portion of the drivetrain contributing 125lb ft of torque, it’s difficult to pull away from rest on electric power alone, and that means experiencing some surprisingly jerky changes from the dual-clutch ‘box and more noise than you’d hope for. Unfortunately, there are some inherent problems with the hybrid’s drivetrain too. In isolation, or after driving most conventional petrol or diesel cars, the Ioniq Hybrid would feel perfectly civilised, but electric cars do have a habit of making combustion equivalents feel a bit prehistoric.
It all feels a bit noisy, vibratory and unsophisticated in fact.
HYUNDAI HYBRID FULL
Sporty dual-clutch transmission or not, the hybrid is neither as quick, nor as responsive, and certainly not as seamless as the full electric model. We drove the Ioniq Hybrid after the electric model, and the comparison wasn’t flattering for the hybrid.
HYUNDAI HYBRID MANUAL
A Sport mode allows manual control of the cogs, via the shift lever – there are no paddles behind the wheel.
The reason is supposedly driving fun, and a more natural feel, as some dislike the rise and fall of revs in a CVT. Hyundai has gone down the six-speed dual-clutch route for its transmission, rather than the more familiar ‘e-CVT’ (an epicyclic gearbox, rather than a traditional belt and pulley CVT) in cars like the Prius. 74.3mpg is the combined economy figure, and a number well into the 60s should be possible for most drivers. On-paper performance is adequate – 10.8sec to 62mph (11.1sec on the optional 17in wheels) and a top speed of 115mph.
The battery is relatively small at 1.56kWh, which does allow some electric-only driving – though it’s so insignificant that no distance is quoted. It does reduce power – hence Atkinson cycle engines tend to be paired with electric motors in a hybrid drivetrain, making up that power deficit (as well as allowing electric-only running when necessary).Ĭombined, the engine and motor develop 139bhp and 195lb ft of torque, at 5700rpm and 4000rpm respectively. Engine, transmission and performanceĪt the Ioniq Hybrid’s heart is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder GDi petrol engine running on the Atkinson combustion cycle, which is a more thermally efficient way of extracting energy from the air-fuel mixture. Hyundai’s offering is cheaper however, and the company has taken a slightly different approach in the hopes of dragging a few of Toyota’s customers into Hyundai showrooms. The Ioniq Hybrid is one of a trio of cars being launched in the Ioniq line, the other two offering increasing levels of electrification – one plug-in hybrid, the other a full battery electric vehicle.Īs a regular hybrid this model will be the highest seller, rubbing shoulders with the global leader, Toyota’s Prius.