The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq comes as an affordable green car, which sells on affordability rather than luxury. For 2019, the maker of this car offers two options for car buyers. These are Plug-in Hybrid, Electric. While the car is quite similar to the one from 2018, active safety features have been added to the Hybrid SEL trim.

Powertrain, Performance, and Charging

The Plug-in Hybrid comes with a 1.6-liter engine, electric motor, and a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. It charges quickly using a 240-volt outlet that requires about two hours getting to full charge. While using a 120-volt outlet, getting a full charge takes about nine hours.

On curvy roads, the Ioniq handles quite well. Steering is responsive and the car has a firm grip on the road. If you push hard in tight corners, the body will lean a bit but the car is quite stable and competent in most cases. In the Ioniq EV, there are steering wheel paddles, which can be used to modulate the regenerative braking level. This makes it possible to get a similar experience to one-pedal driving that has been made popular by Tesla.

Fuel Economy

In 2019, the Ioniq Blue holds the bragging rights for the most fuel-efficient car without a plug on irish roads. It has a combined EPA rating of 58 mpg. With the plug-in and full-electric option on offer, this range of cars is in their own league. The Hybrid option appears to be most popular with riders. It has an EPA rating of 55 mpg city and 55 mpg highway and 55 mpg combined. This is just a bit lower than the Ioniq Blue, which has slightly fewer features.

The full-electric Ioniq has a 280km range, which is similar to the VW e-Golf. However, it lags in range compared to other electric models. In terms of fuel efficiency, the car is rate 136 MPGe. This makes it one of the most efficient car on sale  today.

In the Plug-n Hybrid, the range is 50km on full electric while it does an impressive 52 MPG combined. These two figures mean that the car has a rating of 119 MPGe.

Interior of the Car

Even in the base trim, the Ioniq has an attractive and comfortable interior. To ensure it is one of the greenest cars on sale, Hyundai sourced materials for its interior sustainably. The composites used in the interior come from sugar cane and volcanic rocks.

Even in the base model, you will find a 7-inch screen, Android Auto, Apple Car Play, USB port, and aux port. The touchscreen is quite easy to use. In the Plug-in version, you will have up to 4 cubic feet of space.

Summary

This is an ideal car for daily commutes if you really want to save money. The prices for the two models     in the Ioniq range are:

  • Electric  from €29,745          (includes Government grant €5,000 )
  • Plug-in hybrid from €32,745

These prices are good compared to some other vehicles that charge much more for less efficiency. If your aim is great efficiency, low maintenance, and affordability, the Hyundai Ioniq s is worth a look.