In production since 2016, the Hyundai Ioniq has been refreshed for the 2020 model year. The compact liftback’s electric option has more battery capacity than ever before at 38.3 kWh, translating to 311 kilometers of range under the World Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure.
Over 60,000 examples of the breed have been sold since the Ioniq launched three years ago, and even though the Ioniq Electric is the worst seller of the lot, there’s no denying that Hyundai is onto something if you take a look at the most direct competition out there. The Nissan Leaf – which is the world’s best-selling EV ever – musters only 285 kilometers from 40 kWh.
“Our new Ioniq Electric builds on the success of the first generation thanks to a range of upgrades in terms of connectivity features, overall driving range, and design,” said chief operating officer Thomas Schmid. “When it comes to Hyundai’s eco-mobility vehicles, Ioniq is leading the way by offering our customers all they need thanks to life-enhancing, easy-to-use technologies.”
In addition to the 36-percent improvement in energy density, the eco-friendly interloper from South Korea boasts a 7.2-kW charger for Type 2 AC charging. That’s an improvement over the previous 6.6 kW, and if you can find a 100-kW charging station, the battery can reach 80-percent charge in under an hour. The front-mounted electric motor makes do with 136 PS and 295 Nm, translating to 134 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of instant torque.
eCall is a new feature for 2020, designed to automatically dial the emergency services if the airbags are deployed or the call button next to the rearview mirror is pressed. eCall can automatically send to the emergency service the time of the accident, driving direction, and impact sensor information.
Live Services are available if the customer opts for the 10.25-inch Audio Video Navigation system, featuring a five-year free subscription. The suite includes weather, traffic, speed camera warning, parking, dealership, and charging station information. Oh, and by the way, the AVN touchscreen infotainment allows two phones to be connected at the same time through Bluetooth.
Both the interior and exterior feature a few modifications, but all in all, the Ioniq Electric remains rather familiar. Standard safety features? Hyundai thought about those as well, making a case for front collision warning and avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning are two more noteworthy systems.
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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