The 2016 Toyota Prius and the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime now have something to get anxious about. It’s the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq, which will go on sale later in the year in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric form. And yes, all three models are FWD.
Understandably, there’s not much of a difference between the Ioniq Hybrid and the Plug-In. Both models are motivated by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine mated with an electric motor and a dual-clutch transmission. Peak output for the Ioniq Hybrid is 139 horsepower. The Plug-In, on the other hand, is expected to offer more than that because it has a more powerful electric motor.
As far as the battery is concerned, the Hybrid makes do with a Li-Ion unit packing 1.56 kWh. The Plug-In has a larger battery (8.9 kWh). The latter is expected to deliver more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) in electric mode, which is better than what the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime can do (22 miles or 35 kilometers).
Furthermore, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid’s estimated 125 MPGe trumps the Prius Prime’s 120 MPGe. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it seems that Hyundai just waged war on Toyota with these specifications. Curious what the Electric brings to the table?
According to the South Korean manufacturer, the Ioniq Electric can travel up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) on a full charge. It is able to do that thanks to a 28 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 120 horsepower electric motor linked to a single-speed reduction gear transmission. The top speed isn’t something to write home about, though - 75 miles per hour or 120 kilometers per hour for our readers from Europe.
The best thing about the Ioniq, however, is the practicality and the fact that it feels car-like inside. You have seating for five, best-in-class cargo space, seven airbags, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless charging for your phone. What more could you wish for?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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