The Ioniq acquired up to date front-end styling for 2020.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
In a world the place EVs are capable of hit 300 miles per cost, and the place sub-5-second 0-to-60-mph instances are regular, Hyundai’s Ioniq Electric would possibly look like a little bit of an also-ran. But regardless of its modest efficiency and common lack of flash, it is a automotive that is price contemplating — particularly as a primary EV.
LikeUsable 170-mile vary.DC fast-charging customary.Good infotainment.Lots of cargo house.
Don’t LikeLooks a little bit boring.Limited trim is a much less enticing worth proposition.
With the Ioniq Electric, what you see is what you get: An unassuming battery-electric hatchback from a well known and revered producer. It provides little in the way in which of advantage signaling for individuals who need the world to know they purchased an EV, however with 170 miles of vary and a sub-$35,000 price ticket (together with vacation spot), it presents a reasonably painless and accessible path to EV possession for individuals who care extra about doing good than wanting good.The little electrical Hyundai is powered by a single permanent-magnet electrical motor that provides up 134 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque. Not earth-shaking by any means, however completely ample for every day use. That motor drives the entrance wheels through a single-speed discount gear — fairly customary fare for many EVs.
The automotive shops its juice in a 38.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, which is nice for a claimed vary of 170 miles. That places the Hyundai behind equally sized rivals just like the Chevrolet Bolt (259 miles) and Nissan Leaf Plus (226 miles), however 170 miles is greater than sufficient vary for most individuals in most EV use instances. Thankfully, the Ioniq Electric accepts DC fast-charging and can go from 0% to an 80% state of cost in round 45 minutes. The Ioniq is a wonderfully good driver, however dynamically talking, it is nothing to put in writing house about. The trip is not punishing and even disagreeable till you get to essentially nasty pavement. But apart from this suspension that feels prefer it might do with a bit extra sophistication, the Ioniq is all completely superb.
The Ioniq provides three ranges of adjustable regenerative braking, which is superior. I’m firmly within the “all the regen, all the time” faculty of thought, and the Hyundai permits for one-pedal driving round city, although it isn’t so sturdy that it will convey the Ioniq to a cease. What I do not love is that I’ve to reset the regen stage each time I get within the automotive, which I can see changing into actually annoying if I owned one in all these.
Hyundai’s customary driver-assistance techniques are quite a few and properly executed. Features comparable to adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go performance, lane-keeping help and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection are customary tools throughout the board. If you resolve to step as much as the dearer Limited trim seen right here, you additionally get options like blind-spot warning and Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assistant, which pairs adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help to maintain your automobile within the heart of a lane and at a protected distance from different autos. Moving inside, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary, and for those who do not need to use these, Hyundai’s proprietary BlueLink system is snappy, legible and usually nice to make use of. I’m a fan. The base Ioniq Electric SE comes with a 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system, however stepping as much as the Limited will get you a bigger, 10.2-inch display screen, and contains navigation.The inside seems a little bit drab, however it’s snug and quiet.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
The Ioniq’s inside might sound a little bit low-cost with its sea of light-gray plastic, however it all feels higher than it seems. Numerous the surfaces are topped with soft-touch supplies, and there is not a single squeak or rattle to talk of — one thing that is particularly vital in a automotive the place there isn’t any powertrain noise to cowl up smaller imperfections. Hyundai enables you to flip off the passenger-side air vents to scale back your local weather management drain, which is a close to function to have when the climate is delicate.Being a hatchback, the Ioniq Electric provides loads of room for cargo: 23 cubic-feet with the rear seats up. Since all the powertrain mechanicals are packaged underneath the hood, there isn’t any frunk right here like on a Model 3, however the Ioniq does not actually need it. The hatchback is lots spacious, itself providing extra room than what you get within the Bolt or perhaps a Tesla Model 3.Overall, the Ioniq is a wonderfully competent little EV, and affordably priced, too — $34,020, together with $975 for vacation spot. Even in its costliest type, the 2020 Ioniq Electric Limited retails for $39,590 together with vacation spot, and that is earlier than you think about any authorities or native incentives. That places the Ioniq proper alongside opponents just like the Bolt and Leaf. Chevy’s EV begins at $37,495 together with $875 for vacation spot, although the value will increase slightly rapidly when you begin including choices. Of course, that greater funding will get you much more electrical vary. As for the Leaf, it begins at $32,525 together with $925 for vacation spot, however that is for the bottom S mannequin with the 40-kWh battery pack, which is rated at 149 miles of vary, however does not come customary with fast-charging functionality. Stepping as much as the Leaf Plus prices $39,125, which will get you the 226-mile vary and customary 100kW fast-charging, however Nissan’s ProPilot Assist — which is analogous to Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assistant — remains to be elective.Go for a base Ioniq and you will get a number of automotive for the cash.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
Then, after all, there’s the Tesla Model 3, which begins at $37,990 in its most cost-effective Standard Range Plus configuration. You’re getting significantly better vary with this Tesla — 250 miles, to be actual — however when you select a coloration apart from white, totally different wheels or any choices, you are nicely into the mid-to-high-$40,000 area.Personally, I’d stick to the cheaper Ioniq Electric SE, which will get you an identical vary and charging functionality, however takes away the bigger infotainment display screen, not-super-luxurious leather-based seating and the Highway Driving Assistant — issues I might completely reside with out. Factor within the accessible incentives, and you could possibly get an Ioniq Electric SE into the mid/high-$20,000s. The solely EV that undercuts that’s the new Mini Cooper SE, however it solely provides 110 miles of vary.All issues thought of, the 2020 Ioniq Electric provides a number of automotive for the cash, to not point out Hyundai’s glorious 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain guarantee. It’s a very enticing possibility for first-time EV consumers.