Review: 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
Hybrids are unremarkably associated alongside manufacturers similar Toyota, too that’s understandable because the Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid too is the official poster fry of environmentally-conscious motoring. That said, some don’t desire to drive a Prius, too that’s understandable. It’s weird-looking, too at to the lowest degree inwards the Philippines, priced similar an executive sedan. Enter the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid—a auto that says it’ll create everything the Prius tin do. But the inquiry is, tin it create things better?
Starting alongside the looks, the Ioniq at the really to the lowest degree looks similar a regular car. Unlike the Prius which seems to receive got gotten weirder (and uglier) alongside each generation, the Hyundai is an easier pill to swallow. Sure, at that spot are some obvious “eco car” markers similar the twin-window hatchback (for aerodynamics) too blueish highlights, but for the near part, it avoids pretentious individuality. The present unit of measurement rolls on rather tall-looking 195/65 R fifteen rubber, but customers tin at to the lowest degree larn a dose of sporty mode cheers to touchstone 225/45 R 17 ones.
As alongside its exterior, the interior purposely avoids heavy doses of sci-fi styling inwards favor of something much to a greater extent than down-to-earth too ordinary. The toned-down interior is also filled alongside blueish highlights, but aside from that it doesn’t stray far from Hyundai’s corporate formula which is solid too ergonomic, if a fleck boring. It dips into the parts bin for switchgear, too at that spot are some strange difficult plastics hither too there, but for the near part, it tin stand upward toe-to-toe alongside Toyota’s efforts. The lite greyness colouring fabric scheme won’t create good to enshroud scuffs too stains, but at to the lowest degree it does give it an airy feel. In terms of interior space, it’s at par alongside typical compact cars though the sharply-raked hatch does trim down its luggage-carrying capability unless the retractable cargo comprehend is completely removed.
In front end of the driver is a 7-inch LCD musical instrument cluster alongside crisp, easy-to-understand graphics. Without a doubt, the full general layout mimics Toyota’s, but Hyundai has managed to schoolhouse its Japanese counterpart on how to brand the fonts too menus await to a greater extent than high-tech, yet approachable at the same time. Towards the middle, there’s yet some other 7-inch touchscreen which serves every bit the infotainment system’s principal interface. Some functions are counterintuitive too requires going through diverse sub-menus (saving radio presets for one), but at to the lowest degree Apple CarPlay too Android Auto are touchstone here—something that can’t live said alongside the Prius or fifty-fifty the Corolla Hybrid. Rubbing common salt into Toyota’s wounds, there’s fifty-fifty a Qi wireless charger that helps proceed smartphones juiced upward fifty-fifty without the demand for cables. There’s fifty-fifty an innovative climate command setting that blows cool air exclusively on the driver’s side, reducing mightiness consumption. Neat.
Hyundai says i of the principal aims of the Ioniq is to offering a to a greater extent than engaging driving experience compared to other hybrids. While that sounds similar a tall companionship because hybrids typically sacrifice everything else for fuel economy, at to the lowest degree this i is built on the correct foundations. Riding on the same platform every bit the Elantra, the Ioniq gets a unique multi-link nurture axle too diverse aluminum bits (hood, tailgate, too pause to mention three) to proceed the overall weight down. True enough, it tips the scales at merely 1,374 kilograms—comparable to other compact sedans.
For its drivetrain, Hyundai opts to proceed things uncomplicated too, pairing its Kappa 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine alongside an electrical motor. Combined, it may brand merely 140 horsepower, but cheers to the 265 Nm of torque (and managed weight) the Ioniq is effortless to drive, specially inwards the urban confines. It’s no hot hatch or surgery auto past times whatsoever stretch of the imagination, but at to the lowest degree it never feels underpowered, either.
Eschewing a CVT for a six-speed dry-type dual clutch, the Ioniq successfully eliminates the droning too “elastic” sense of acceleration. The gearbox genuinely does a practiced project of fading into the background, shifting chop-chop too locking the engine dorsum into the front end wheels alongside minimal hunting. It’s smoothen too refined specially inwards stop-and-go traffic. It’s fifty-fifty got steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, but live forewarned: they’re hardly engaging, thence best to move out the transmission to create its ain thing.
Once it moves, the Ioniq impresses alongside its smoothen ride. The chassis is on the pleasant side of firm, but an strange bump-thump from the nurture terminate appears every immediately too then. Regardless, for the near part, it’s nifty at muting route noises too little surface irregularities. The steering is light, but straight too accurate to aid house the auto exactly on the road. The brakes besides experience similar a measurement ahead of near regenerative systems, switching betwixt braking on the motor too braking mechanically smoothly.
Of course, the Ioniq’s biggest boon is its fuel economy. Despite its little solid-state 1.56-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, it withal manages 17.24 km/L. It doesn’t touching on those from Toyota’s stable, but it tin easily stand upward for the likes of the Accent diesel. It’s worth maxim though that this high fuel economic scheme figure is reached exclusively alongside a sensible correct foot; non different a diesel fuel which drivers tin force difficult too withal larn the same levels of frugality. This is sure enough non a auto that wants to live pushed.
Now, acre the Corolla Altis Hybrid stole the headlines alongside its affordable toll tag, here’s a surprise: the Ioniq Hybrid is fifty-fifty ameliorate value for money. Priced at P 1,548,000, it undercuts the Toyota past times merely about P 32,000 too withal comes respectably loaded alongside HID headlights, a sunroof, powered driver’s seat, too an auto-dimming nurture stance mirror.
As it stands, the Hyundai Ioniq rocks upward the hybrid segment, managing to accept the Prius (and fifty-fifty the Corolla Altis Hybrid)’s cake too swallow it too. It doesn’t force the hybrid technology scientific discipline envelope past times a lot, too that’s the point. Instead, it offers incremental improvements too alongside that, it brings gasoline-electric hybrid technology scientific discipline to a to a greater extent than affordable toll point. More than anything, it does thence alongside none of the awkwardness too weirdness.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid | |
| Ownership | 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid |
| Year Introduced | 2018 |
| Vehicle Classification | Compact Car |
| Warranty | 5 years / Unlimited Mileage |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | 5-door hatchback |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.6 |
| Aspiration | Normally Aspirated |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 140 @ 5,700 (combined) |
| Nm @ rpm | 265 @ 4,000 (combined) |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 91 |
| Transmission | 6 DCT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed | 17.24 km/L @ fourteen km/h |
| Dimensions too Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,470 |
| Width (mm) | 1,820 |
| Height (mm) | 1,460 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,700 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,374 |
| Suspension too Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Independent, Multi-Link |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Tires | Michelin Energy Saver 196/65 R fifteen H (f & r, every bit tested) 225/45 R 17 (f & r) |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, alongside EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Yes, Rear alongside Camera |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR alongside pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Other Safety Features | Hill Start Assist As Tested: Blind Spot Monitoring Lane Keep Assist |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | HID |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Rear |
| Auto Lights | Yes |
| Rain-sensing Wipers | No |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Electric, 6-way (with memory, every bit tested) |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Manual, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes, 60/40 |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, alongside Fold |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Dual Zone, alongside Rear Vents |
| Audio System | Stereo MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |