Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Ioniq at a glance

Three powertrains in one body

Hyundai revealed the Ioniq Hybrid in South Korea in January 2016, and all three versions appeared at the Geneva and New York shows that spring. Sales started at home with the hybrid in February 2016, the electric car in July 2016 and the plug-in hybrid in February 2017. One body for three drivetrains was the car's main idea: a buyer could choose the level of electrification without changing the car's size, cabin or price class.

Every Ioniq is front-wheel drive. The hybrid and plug-in use a multi-link rear suspension, while the electric car has a torsion-beam rear axle.

Ioniq Hybrid: built to beat the Prius

The hybrid uses a 1.6-litre Kappa direct-injection petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle with 78 kW, plus a 32 kW electric motor. Combined output is 104 kW (141 PS) and 264 Nm. Unlike most hybrids of the time, it has a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox instead of a continuously variable transmission, so it drives more like a conventional car.

Hyundai cut weight with an aluminium bonnet and tailgate, saving about 12 kg, and placed the 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery under the rear seat. In US tests the most economical version was rated at 58 mpg, which by our calculation is about 4.1 l/100 km. That made it the most fuel-efficient mass-produced hybrid of its day. The hybrid was the best seller of the three: 211,755 of the roughly 325,500 Ioniqs sold by January 2021.

Ioniq Plug-in: short electric trips, long range

The plug-in hybrid arrived in February 2017. It keeps the 1.6-litre engine but adds a 45 kW motor and an 8.9 kWh battery. The EPA rated its electric range at 47 km and its electric efficiency at 119 MPGe. With the fuel tank full, total range reached about 967 km. It was the rarest Ioniq, with 35,757 sold by January 2021.

For a driver with a daily trip under 40 km and a socket at home, the plug-in covers most journeys on electricity and still crosses a continent without planning charging stops. Our fuel cost comparison shows how much that saves at your own fuel and electricity prices.

Ioniq Electric: the efficiency record

The first Ioniq Electric had a 28 kWh battery under the rear seats and an 88 kW motor with 295 Nm. Its NEDC range was 280 km and its EPA range 200 km. The old version of this page said that real-world range was 160–180 km; that is an estimate from the old text, not a test figure. The EPA rated it at 136 MPGe combined, which by our calculation is about 15.4 kWh per 100 km. That made it the most efficient vehicle the EPA tested from the 2017 to the 2019 model year.

Fast charging used a CCS socket. The 28 kWh car accepted up to 100 kW, and a charge to 80 % took about half an hour. The old page also quoted an eight-year or 200,000 km battery warranty; terms differed by market.

The 2019 update brought a 38.3 kWh battery, 100 kW and 295 Nm, a WLTP range of 311 km and a faster 7.2 kW on-board charger. Its DC charging was limited to 50 kW, so a long-distance stop took longer than in the first version. Holding the regenerative paddle gave one-pedal driving. About 77,972 Electrics were sold by January 2021, and nearly half of them went to Europe.

Crash-test result and driver aids

The Ioniq earned five stars in the Euro NCAP test of 2016. Autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist and blind-spot detection were available, depending on market and trim. In 2019 the Ioniq Electric also scored 10 out of 10 for clean air in the Green NCAP programme.

Inside, the Ioniq used a conventional layout with a central touchscreen, physical climate controls and copper-coloured trim on electric cars. The old version of this page gave a ground clearance of 140 mm and a boot of up to 1,505 litres with the rear seats folded. These figures come from the old text and vary by version, because the batteries sit under the rear seat and boot floor.

How many Ioniqs were sold, and why it ended

By January 2021 about 325,500 Ioniqs had been sold worldwide. Europe took 118,575 and the US 60,354. Hyundai ended production in July 2022. The name now belongs to Hyundai's electric sub-brand, which began with the Ioniq 5, and the hybrid's role in North America and South Korea passed to the Elantra Hybrid.

Ioniq versus its rivals

The Ioniq Hybrid competed with the Toyota Prius and the Kia Niro, which shares its platform. The Electric competed with the Nissan Leaf, the BMW i3 and the Renault Zoe. Its advantage was efficiency: on the same battery size it went further than most rivals. Its drawback was the small 28 kWh battery of the first version. Our Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Prius comparison sets the hybrid against its main rival, and the electric cars section lists current alternatives.

Buying a used Ioniq: which version to choose

• For high mileage on long trips: the Hybrid. It needs no charging, has the best official fuel figures of the three and the simplest drivetrain.
• For short commutes with home charging: the Plug-in, if you find one; it is the rarest version.
• For town and regional driving: the 38.3 kWh Electric from 2019 onwards, for its 311 km WLTP range.
• For the lowest price and short trips: the 28 kWh Electric, which charges faster but covers about 200 km on a full battery.

On any used electric Ioniq, ask for a battery health report and check that the charging socket and cable are in good order. On a hybrid, check that the dual-clutch gearbox shifts smoothly at low speed. More of the brand's story is in our Hyundai history.