The Hyundai IONIQ range comprises of three variations of Alternative Fuel Vehicle. There’s the Ioniq Hybrid which is a HEV, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid which is a PHEV, and this, the Hyundai IONIQ Electric. The IONIQ Electric falls into the category of being a BEV/PEV and has been recently revised to give us more of what we loved about the original.
The revised IONIQ Electric has a larger battery than the initial variant: 38.3 kWh (usable), which represents a 10.3 kWh increase and a 30% increase in claimed range. This leaves the claimed range figure at 311 km. While the IONIQ Electric’s real-world range is realistically around 250km, it’s still an increase over the similarly-priced Nissan Leaf.
However, it’s not just the range that impresses. One of the Hyundai IONIQ Electric’s biggest attributes is the way it drives on Australian roads. It feels more car-like in the corners and doesn’t suffer from the awkward bulk and high centre of gravity that most heavy battery-laden EVs suffer from.
That said, the IONIQ Electric isn’t going to break any speed records. With a 0-100km/h time of 9.7 seconds, the Ioniq is decidedly sluggish. That’s despite having a respectable 100kW of power with 295Nm of torque.
The Hyundai IONIQ Electric is also a practical option. The boot is one of the largest in the EV class, with 357 litres on offer with the seats up, and a massive 1417 litres with them folded. This is despite the Prius-like teardrop shape of the IONIQ, which does eat into rear headroom a bit, but translates into a very slippery shape, with a low drag coefficient of 0.24.
While the Hyundai IONIQ Electric is a compelling option from the South Korean manufacturer, perhaps its closest competitor is within its own ranks. Hyundai’s Kona Electric, despite being smaller, has a claimed range of over 400 km, which represents a marked increase over the IONIQ Electric.
The Kona shares the similarly attractive warranty as the IONIQ Electric: A 5 year/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the car, as well as an 8-year/160,000km warranty on the battery. However, for a combination of practicality, affordability and on-road agility, the IONIQ Electric makes a strong case for itself.
