The hybrid car market is growing. More so in Europe than in Italy, perhaps. But it is growing. The technology is becoming more accessible, prices are falling, and awareness of the benefits of the hybrid is spreading (even if diesel and petrol won't be leaving us any time soon). And, above all, the range on offer is expanding. It is against this backdrop that Hyundai launches its hybrid. It's called the Ioniq, and it comes in three guises (meaning we will also see the electric and plug-in versions in due course). But above all it is "normal". Normal to look at. Normal to use. And above all it has an accessible price.
We put it to the test, "X-raying" it through our Mobility Revolution rating. And here is how it fared…

Ioniq prova guida — The Ioniq is proof that a hybrid car can also be a pleasure to drive. The gearbox is a dual-clutch automatic that allows you to change gear manually.

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid in brief

Picture a comfortable saloon, with five seats, a hatchback, and a wind-sculpted body free of creative excess. Looking at it from the outside, you would never guess that… beneath the lightweight aluminium bonnet, alongside the 1.6-litre petrol engine (modern and efficient), there is a second electric motor whose presence is almost invisible — a silent "helping hand" that cuts consumption and emissions without dulling the driving experience.
And indeed, hybrid cars are slowly learning that the economy-equals-boredom equation doesn't work, and that few people are willing to sacrifice the pleasure of driving on the altar of sustainability — a concept that is nonetheless becoming ever clearer even to us Italians. So, the Ioniq comes with a fine gearbox — automatic, yes, but with 6 speeds and a dual-clutch setup that, for those who may not know, combines the fun of a manual with the ease of an automatic. And it also cuts fuel consumption.

Ioniq volante sedile con regolazione elettrica — Generous space and pleasant materials throughout. The steering wheel has an attractive sporty shape, and the seat features electric adjustment that can store three positions for as many family members.

Technological innovation

That the Ioniq Hybrid is an innovative car is made clear above all by its drivetrain — hybrid, of course. But there are other aspects that define the level of innovation in a car. Active safety, for example, which here goes by names that are hard to understand but very easy to appreciate in practice. Rcta, Bsd, Aeb. Acronyms that, written out in full, become immediately clearer: Rear cross traffic alert, Blind spot detection, Autonomous emergency braking. Once you know what they mean, here is how (very) useful they proved to us: reversing out of a parking space near home, the camera alerted us to a car we simply hadn't seen coming (we would have driven straight into it); while overtaking on the motorway, a warning light fortunately signalled that a motorbike — which, we admit, we would not have spotted — was lurking in the blind spot of the wing mirror; not to mention the time when, caught up in Monday-morning thoughts while crawling through stop-start traffic on the Milan ring road, we were about to rear-end the car in front, a danger averted only thanks to a radar sensor and automatic braking. Now do you understand what the Ioniq is about?
But innovation also comes in small pleasures…: you approach the door and, in sequence: the LEDs illuminate the handles, the doors open at the touch of a button (without using the keys), and the electric seat first slides back, then positions itself automatically. Your phone? It connects automatically and, best of all, charges wirelessly with no cables needed. Then, of course, the Ioniq's innovation also comes from the 32 kW electric motor (or 43.5 horsepower, if that seems clearer) and from the 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery hidden beneath the rear seats; these too are invisible innovations, whose presence you nonetheless appreciate when you're driving, or when you stop to fill up and realise that a single tank can take you 700 kilometres without stopping.

carica smartphone con supporto wireless — To charge your smartphone in the Ioniq, the USB port (still present) is no longer necessary. Thanks to the wireless system, you simply place the phone on the dedicated pad and charging starts automatically.

Savings

When people think of hybrid and the word savings, they think of lower fuel consumption, or discounted parking and access to low-emission zones. Or tax and insurance benefits. All true. But there are other forms of saving with the Ioniq that deserve a closer look. Have you studied it carefully? It may not be the most original design, but those fluid, wind-sculpted lines conceal a strong rationale: a Cx (i.e. the aerodynamic drag coefficient) of 0.24, the best in its class. What does that have to do with saving? Because a body that offers little resistance to the wind improves performance across the board — from speed to fuel consumption to emissions and comfort (the Ioniq is indeed very quiet, even on the motorway). Finally, savings also come in the form of 5 years of unlimited-mileage warranty, roadside assistance and free annual check-ups, plus 8 years (or 200,000 kilometres on the hybrid battery), with the sole condition of carrying out the annual routine maintenance at Hyundai dealerships.

Ioniq elettrica prestazioni — All-electric driving is only possible at start-up or at low speeds. In all other situations, the electric motor works alongside the 1.6 petrol engine to optimise performance and consumption (both of which are good).

Environment

Being lightweight is also good for the environment. The Ioniq has a bonnet and tailgate made of aluminium (almost 13 kg less to carry around). The interior uses recycled materials or materials derived from natural sources such as sugar cane, which provides part of the roof lining and carpets without resorting to petroleum-derived products. The Ioniq Hybrid scores very well in the Mobility Revolution rating for many reasons, naturally including the hybrid system, which delivers greater efficiency in terms of fuel consumption and emissions (79 g/km of CO2). And still on the subject of savings (and aesthetics), there is one thing worth noting: the Ioniq, across its three trim levels, allows you to choose between 15- or 17-inch wheels — the former offer the lowest fuel consumption, the latter are undeniably better looking. The choice is yours. If you would also like to know more about the Korean brand, which has risen to 35th place in the Best Global Brands 2016 ranking, take a look at the latest Sustainability Report, where Hyundai Motor Company CEO Wonhee Lee clearly sets out the new strategies on mobility and the development of the hybrid for the future.

Ioniq quadro con display digitale — The Ioniq has done away with the old-fashioned needles. The instruments are instead reproduced on a digital display that can show various functions. For example, when sport driving mode is selected, a rev counter appears and the illumination turns red.

Driving confidence

This is an aspect that is very significant on the Ioniq. It comes through in the silence of running on electric power alone. It comes through in the city, where, on manhole covers and cobblestones (anyone from Milan will know exactly what we mean), the soft suspension absorbs bumps without transmitting jolts or vibrations. It also comes through in aspects related to everyday use.
We've already mentioned the doors that open on their own while the LEDs light up the handles. We haven't yet told you about the interior. The cabin is spacious, front and rear, so much so that five passengers travel comfortably (protected by 7 airbags). The Euro NCAP crash-test result isn't available yet, but given the Ioniq's equipment and high safety standards, it shouldn't have any trouble earning 5 stars. The materials, especially the plastics, are not luxurious but are pleasant and largely made from recycled materials (volcanic stone and powdered wood) or natural ones such as sugar cane.
The sense of ease continues on the Ioniq when parking, aided by front and rear sensors as well as a camera that compensates for the rear spoiler, which reduces visibility somewhat — especially in the rain. As mentioned, ease of mind (and safety) also means forgetting about your phone and focusing solely on driving: connectivity is total and fast, for both Android and Apple systems, and voice commands make it possible and safe to handle phone calls or the sat-nav (even if you shouldn't, as many studies have shown that distraction still slows your reflexes) while on the move. And what if peace of mind in a car also meant knowing there's room for everything and everyone on board? The Ioniq offers 5 genuine seats, a generous boot — its only shortcoming being a slightly high loading sill. The batteries mounted under the rear seats don't eat into space, although folding the backrests down (which takes the boot from 443 litres to 1,505 litres — enough to load a 55-inch television) does leave a small step. A video lets you explore the Ioniq from every angle.

Test drive

Before we tell you how the Ioniq Hybrid drives, one last aesthetic observation. White may well be the colour best suited to showcasing the Ioniq's environmental credentials, but among the eight available colours there are certainly more interesting options (simply black, the original Phoenix Orange or Demitasse Brown, to name a few) — the choice is yours.
As we mentioned earlier, the Ioniq is a "normal" car to live with, meaning it requires no special considerations. At most, you'll need a little familiarity with the automatic gearbox if you haven't had the chance to appreciate one before. A hybrid like this can therefore realistically serve as the sole family car: you can commute to the office with the benefit of reduced consumption that the hybrid system delivers in the city, and of pure electric drive (on pull-away and at low speeds); you can load it up with kids, shopping and the dog thanks to the spacious, suitably flexible cabin.
But above all, the Ioniq Hybrid is the car for weekend getaways, where the pleasure of driving a hybrid — thanks in part to the dual-clutch automatic gearbox that allows manual gear selection — becomes a welcome novelty. The driving position is comfortable, the steering wheel sporty, the dashboard not particularly original but rational; a shame about the foot-operated parking brake, which cannot be reached by the passenger in an emergency.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine already delivers 105 horsepower on its own, which rises to 141 combined with the electric motor — more than adequate for an enjoyable journey. The Ioniq is designed to prioritise comfort rather than outright performance (which is indeed very good), but there are surprises in store; simply moving the gear lever to the left unlocks a more rewarding driving experience, where engine and gearbox offer a greater sense of driver engagement, and the instrument cluster (entirely digital) simultaneously changes colour, displaying sportier, more "classic" functions such as the rev counter.
Performance? A top speed of 185 km/h and 10.8 seconds from rest to 100 km/h; not bad for a hybrid saloon. Especially when you consider that average fuel consumption hovers around 17–18 kilometres per litre, with peaks of 20 km/l in the city where the hybrid system is at its best. The on-board display naturally allows you to monitor the hybrid system's operation; watching it helps you develop a more efficient driving style.
Behind the wheel of the Ioniq Hybrid, however, there are other aspects to appreciate too. The adaptive cruise control, for instance, which on long motorway journeys automatically maintains both distance and speed. Dedicated cameras and sensors warn of unintentional lane departures (the classic microsleep) or the presence of pedestrians in the road: in that case, the Ioniq is also capable of braking autonomously to avoid a collision.

Hyundai Ioniq: le caratteristiche tecniche

The Ioniq's boot can be expanded by folding down the seats. The loading sill is a little high, but the batteries, hidden under the seats, don't take up any space.

The Hybrid is the first of three models: hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrid. Visually, the three versions are very similar.

Thanks to the use of aluminium components, the Ioniq is particularly lightweight, with direct benefits for fuel consumption and emissions.

The cabin is spacious. The materials are partly recycled and partly of plant origin.

The detail that makes the difference

In the Ioniq, between the front seats, there is a perfect slot for a tablet, which can be connected to the USB port right beside it. This way, passengers can watch and share photos, videos and audio files, use their favourite apps, plan an itinerary, write emails, browse Facebook or simply read an eBook during the journey.

vano per tablet sedili anteriori — Between the front seats there is a slot designed to hold a tablet, which stays charged and is easy to reach even for rear passengers.

The alternative

Toyota Prius is the main rival. With a similar budget but different dimensions, the Toyota Auris could also be an alternative.

Hyundai Ioniq technical specifications

Version: Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Price: from €24,900

On sale from: November 2016

Engine: 1,580 cc 4-cylinder petrol + electric motor (32 kW); power: 141 hp

Transmission: automatic dual-clutch gearbox (6 speeds)

Performance: top speed (km/h) 185; 0–100 km/h (sec.) 10.8

Fuel consumption (l/100 km): urban (3.4), extra-urban (3.6), combined (3.4)

Emissions (g/km): 79, Euro 6

Dimensions (mm): 4,470×1,820×1,450 (l×w×h).

Ioniq hybrid, how Hyundai is taking on the best-selling Prius