Road test review: Hyundai Ioniq PHEV

Friday, 6 March 2020

HYUNDAI IONIQ PHEV ENTRY

Base price: $53,990

Powertrain and economy: 1.6-litre petrol inline-four, 77kW/147Nm plus a 44.5kW/170Nm electric motor, 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, 2WD, combined economy 1.1L/100km, CO2 25g/km (source: RightCar).

Vital statistics: 4470mm long, 1820mm wide, 1450mm high, 2700mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 341 litres, 16-inch alloy wheels.

We like: Electric range perfect for commuters, big combined range eases anxiety and allows longer roadtrips.

The plug-in hybrid variant of the Ioniq has been updated for 2020, offering 63km of electric range from its 8.9kWh battery.

We don't like: Quite expensive for the kit, mainly buying the powertrain. Nervous active cruise control system.

Hyundai has given its Ioniq range an update and we're testing the plug-in hybrid version to see how it goes in the concrete jungle of Auckland city.

What's new in the Ioniq family?

The Electric model now has a larger battery, which translates to a claimed range increase of 33 per cent (311km, so Hyundai says). Meanwhile, the Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid versions make do with minor styling revisions, including redesigned front and rear lighting, front grilles and new alloy wheels.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a nice touch while the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) controls are now touch-sensitive.

* Why does NZ have a mental block about plug-in hybrids?

* What were the best-selling electrified cars in NZ for 2018?

The design of the rear is apparently to improve aerodynamics and help increase the electric range. Don't worry though, visibility out the back is still fine, especially with the rearview camera.

* Give us a plug, but we'll keep the petrol engine thanks**

Inside is a new dashboard, capacitive touch panels for the air-conditioning controls and a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel. Electric and Elite models get ambient lighting, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display (Entry models get an eight-inch infotainment unit).

Data nerds can get their fill with the various energy-related screens available in the infotainment system.

The safety kit has also improved, now offering high-beam assist, lane following assist and stop/start active cruise control (in all models above the entry hybrid) as well as various carryover features.

What's the difference between the Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid?

Both use electric motors in tandem with petrol engines but the 32kW motor in the Hybrid is fed by a tiny 1.56kWh battery. That means it can't drive under electric power alone and relies more on the petrol engine.

The motor is really there to help off-the-line movement and allow the vehicle to coast without the petrol engine. Fuel consumption is greatly reduced compared to a standard ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle, with RightCar claiming an average rate of 3.4L/100km.

The wheels are also designed to reduce drag and improve range. They still look good though, fitting with the semi-futuristic style of the car.

The plug-in hybrid has a larger 8.9kWh battery pack plus a stronger 45kW motor, allowing for emissions-free driving over 63km with a full charge. As you may deduce, fuel is therefore only used when you run out of volts, so average consumption really depends on how far you drive.

RightCar says 1.1L/100km while we used an average of 0.9L/100km after more than 430km of driving. Charging from zero to 100 per cent takes around six hours when connected to a standard home outlet.

Right, it's easy on petrol. What else should I know?

While the PHEV is indeed a frugal driver, dynamic it is not. Hyundai has built the Ioniq as a commuter/family vehicle first and foremost. That means the tyres are of the energy saving sort and the Atkinson cycle engine subverts power in the name of efficiency, although the electric motor does a good job of injecting lost herbs back into the drive.

These are not negative points, mind, but if you're wanting a plug-in hatchback with more shove, you might want to wait and hope Volkswagen decides to offer the just-announced Golf GTE here. Seat NZ has also expressed interest in the new Cupra Leon PHEV to expand your European-based options again.

Anyway, where the South Korean PHEV really shines is the daily drive. Commuting roughly 15km to work and back is easily within the limits of the battery, with air-con and music blasting. Adding stop-start functionality to the active cruise control system means the computer can figure out how to motivate the car using the least amount of energy possible at all speeds.

The adaptive cruise control is a bit nervous though. We found it has a tendency to pick up stationary cars in adjacent lanes and hit the anchors to avoid what it perceived to be a crash. Best just switch the system off and drive yourself in those cases.

Just going back to range for a second, a lot of folks will discount a plug-in hybrid because it 'only' has 60-ish kays worth of battery power. I'm not entirely sure why that is, because most people only drive 60-ish kays each day. Just treat it like your mobile phone and plug it in each night. You'll barely notice the extra watts on the power bill but you will definitely notice the reduction in petrol costs.

Since this is the entry version, standard kit isn't the best. Heated and powered seats are absent, as are rain-sensing wipers and a front parking distance warning. Safety features like blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning and lane following assist are similarly reserved for Elite models.

You also get cloth seats instead of any sort of leather and a decent amount of the plastics around the cabin aren't soft touch. Given the PHEV Entry costs $54k (plus on-roads), it feels like you're buying the powertrain more than anything else. Though, the standard Infinity sound system is a cracker and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay are both included as well.

So, the PHEV is the one to get?

Well, that depends. If you use your car for commuting and more than a few road trips, then we would say so, over the Hybrid, at least. However, if you don't often venture far out of the city then we might suggest looking into the Electric. It costs a little bit more then the PHEV Elite, ($59,990 vs $65,990) but ditching petrol stations altogether will help recuperate some of that money in the longer term. The PHEV trumps the Electric in overall range, offering well over 900km with a full battery and petrol tank, compared to a WLTP-rated 311km for the Electric. Although it pays to mention that there are a lot more electric charging stations than there once was and more are being added all the time.

Any other cars I should consider?

Aside from the performance-oriented Golf GTE and Cupra Leon PHEV, you can also look into the Prius Prime, which starts at $46,990. It costs less but you also get fewer kilowatts and a CVT instead of a DCT. Audi also offers the A3 in plug-in e-tron guise, which costs a decent chunk more at $71.5k, but beats the Ioniq PHEV and Prius Prime in output with 150kW/350Nm on tap. It does use a mite more fuel though, rated at 1.7L/100km. Mini also offers the Cooper S E Countryman at $59,990, albeit with a smaller claimed electric range of 40km.