Shropshire Star

It won’t set your pulse racing, but the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is a very likeable EV

Electric cars are going to become a more common sight on UK roads. Simon Davis puts Hyundai’s Ioniq EV to the test to see if it’s any good

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What is it?

Hyundai’s Ioniq comes in a number of guises. There’s a conventional hybrid model, a plug-in hybrid model and this – the fully-electric version. Electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t exactly a common sight on our roads currently, but the Ioniq Electric is a strong example of how EVs can cater to the mainstream.

There are five seats, plenty of standard equipment and a decent-sized boot, too. Thanks to a claimed 174-mile range, range-anxiety shouldn’t weigh too heavy on your mind for daily driving, either.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric
(Hyundai)

An added bonus is the fact that the Ioniq Electric qualifies for the full £4,500 government plug-in grant, which drops the entry-level price to £24,995.

What’s new?

Everything, really. The Ioniq Electric is an all-new car for the South Korean manufacturer, and you get the impression that it’s really tried to impress. Afterall, there aren’t too many options in this segment of the market at the moment, so Hyundai has obviously realised that it will need to do something to stand out against the likes of the similarly priced Nissan Leaf and far cheaper Renault Zoe. The key way Hyundai has gone about doing this is offering buyers plenty of bang for their buck in terms of the toys on offer.

The EV version of the Ioniq is only available in the top-flight Premium and Premium SE trim levels, which means you get a generous amount of equipment fitted as standard. There’s satellite navigation, heated seats, a reversing camera as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Ioniq Electric relies on an electric motor coupled with a 28kWh battery. The motor produces a respectable 118bhp and 295Nm, which allows for a 0-60mph time of 9.7 seconds and a 103mph top speed. Not bad when you consider the Nissan Leaf, which is priced incredibly similarly to the Ioniq, can only manage the dash in 11.3 seconds and hit 89mph.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric
(Hyundai)

One of the key benefits of EV ownership is the fact that you don’t have to worry about any tailpipe emissions. As the Ioniq Electric produces no CO2 when it’s on the move, you won’t have to pay any vehicle excise duty, either.

According to Hyundai, the Ioniq Electric is capable of travelling as much as 174 miles on a single charge. While cars such as the Renault Zoe offer greater range – at a claimed 250 miles – the Ioniq should provide more than enough range for the average daily needs.

As far as charging is concerned, using a regular three-pin household socket will take up to 12 hours for a full charge. It’s much faster to install a dedicated wall box, which will take this time down to about 4.5 hours. Public rapid chargers can also be used to charge the Ioniq to 80 per cent in roughly 30 minutes.

What’s it like to drive?

As far as driving is concerned, the Ioniq Electric is basically much the same as any regular car. Sure, the traditional combustion engine rumble has been replaced by a quiet whine from the electric motor, but other than that you’d be hard-pressed to tell this was an EV.

It’s not a particularly exciting car to drive thanks to at times vague steering and a lack of outright power, but it inspires enough confidence through the bends and deals with uneven surfaces well. Around town it’s easy to place, and out on the motorway it settles down to become a comfortable cruiser – although properly long-distance trips will require a bit a planning in advance if you don’t want to run out of battery.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric
(Hyundai)

How does it look?

Appearances are always going to be subjective, and while some people have said the Ioniq is a fairly awkward-looking thing, we quite like it. It’s eye-catching without being over the top, and in the right colour it really stands out from the crowd. Regardless of what your opinions are on the Ioniq’s appearance, you’d have to agree it runs rings around the Nissan Leaf, which is downright ugly.

What’s it like inside?

In our opinion, the Ioniq Electric’s interior is its most attractive feature. It’s by no means the last word in luxury, but there’s plenty of equipment and it feels as though it has been incredibly well put together.
In Premium SE specification, our test car’s cabin was really impressive. The seat facings were trimmed in leather, and the dash made use of plenty of soft-touch plastics. Sure, it may not offer the same levels of luxury as an Audi or Mercedes might, but it’s unlikely it will disappoint.

What’s the spec like?

If you’re after a relatively affordable electric car that offers plenty of toys, the Hyundai Ioniq makes a strong case for itself. Prices start at £24,995 (including the government’s £4,500 plug-in car grant) for the entry-level Premium model – although the equipment levels are far from entry-level. There’s satellite navigation, heated front seats, smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth, and DAB radio to name a few.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric
(Hyundai)

Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-range Premium SE model, which starts at £26,795. This trim level adds leather-trimmed seat facings, ventilated front seats, rear cross traffic alert and alloy pedals to name a few.

Verdict

There’s a good deal to like about the electric Hyundai Ioniq. Not only does it drive noticeably better than rivals such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, it also offers a far nicer interior and truly impressive levels of standard equipment. It’s not prohibitively expensive to buy, thanks to the £4,500 plug-in grant, and it won’t cost as much to run as a conventional petrol car, either. Those in the market for an affordable, practical and reliable family EV will not be disappointed by the Hyundai Ioniq.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Hyundai Ioniq Electric Premium SE
Price as tested: £26,860
Engine: Electric motor with 28kWh battery
Power (bhp): 118
Torque (Nm): 295
Max speed (mph): 103
0-60mph: 9.7 seconds
Charge time: 12 hours with regular household socket
Range: 174 miles
Emissions (g/km): 0

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