It is no secret that fuel economy is one of the most important criteria for buyers when it comes to compact vehicles. It is also no secret that we are moving more and more towards electrified powertrains. All of this would explain why Hyundai made the decision to introduce the 2017 IONIQ to the market last year.
Available in both hybrid and EV versions, the IONIQ will also be made available as a plug-in hybrid model soon enough. That means, in other words, that Hyundai has every base covered when it comes to what buyers want, and what the market seeks.
We have already covered the IONIQ in another text, now let’s have a look at some reviews that have been recently published.
The Ioniq Hybrid comes in four trim levels, starting with the Blue at $24,299. There’s an SE at $26,499 and Limited at $29,749, while my tester, the Limited Technology, tops out at $31,749. That’s a lower base price than the Niro at $24,992, and the Prius, which starts at $27,190. The Ioniq also undercuts the base prices of other larger gas-electric hybrids, such as the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and even Hyundai’s own Sonata.
Along with the price, the Ioniq arguably has a better-looking front end than its angry-faced Prius rival. While the rear isn’t bad-looking, I find it a bit bulky and with a fairly high lift-over when loading in groceries. Like the Prius, it features upper and lower hatch windows, with a thick divider that bisects the view in the inside mirror.
Hybrid cabin styling can go either oddball or conventional, and Hyundai opts for the latter with a clean and simple look that’s similar to most of its other vehicles. There’s space to stash small items, while frequently-used features on the climate and infotainment are handled by hard buttons – as they should be on all vehicles to minimize distraction
All models include heated seats, while the SE and higher levels also heat the rear seats and steering wheel – seemingly odd on a vehicle meant to spend much of its time on electricity, but when your hands and butt are warm, you tend to turn down the cabin temperature. If the front passenger seat is empty, you can save a little juice by setting the climate fan for the driver’s side alone. – Driving.ca
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The hybrid model features a lithium-ion polymer battery able to produce 1.56 kWh, while the plug-in hybrid version can produce 9.8 kWh. Both of these are propelled by a 1.6L, 105 hp Atkinson Cycle combustion engine linked to a 43 hp electric motor, for a total output of 139 hp for the hybrid and 164 hp for the plug-in hybrid; the latter has a range of 40 km. As for the 100% electric Ioniq, its battery capacity is 28.0 kWh, and it has a range of 200 km; it can produce 118 hp and has a top speed of 164 km/h.
While most hybrid vehicles come with CVT transmission boxes, the Ioniq features an Eco Shift 6-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. In the case of the all-electric version, power is transmitted to the wheels by a single speed reduction gear.
To ensure greater rigidity and to reduce weight, high-quality steel was used for the chassis, while a number of the suspension components, as well as the hood and the trunk lid, are made of aluminum – Auto123.com
To learn more about the 2017 Hyundai IONIQ, contact us today at Gyro Hyundai!