Driving Impressions : 2020 Hyundai Ioniq HEV Limited

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

Driving Impressions' 2018 review of the Hyundai Ioniq (Hybrid) concluded with 'Toyota with its two decade hybrid head start has sold 6.8 Priuses for every Ioniq sold in the latter's first year in the states. I'll bet that gap will narrow.' And it did. In 2019 that sales ratio still favored Toyota with 3.5 Priuses sold for every Ioniq out the Hyundai showroom door. While some of the credit goes to the appeal of the Ioniq, which sold 4400 plus more units in 2019 than it had the year before, mention should be made of the declining popularity of Prius and its class. Why? Gas is cheap! And Americans love SUVs! They bought more than three of the compact Hyundai Kona SUVs for every Ioniq sold.

But that should not dissuade us from embracing the 2020 Hyundai Ioniq. We continue to enjoy its handling and it actually seems even more quiet than the earlier model. It impresses especially in its convenient and practical hybrid form. All hybrids employ a six-speed dual clutch transmission and a combination of a 104 horsepower direct injection dual overhead cam four cylinder and a 43 horsepower electric motor which produces 125 lb.-ft. of torque. The base model, the Blue, carries a sticker of $23200 before shipping. It boasts an 8-inch touchscreen, and the combination of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety comfort and tech features are added including a power driver's seat, front seat heaters, regenerative braking, paddle shifters and a blind spot collision avoidance system to the $25120 SE. LED head and tail lights, a sunroof, a wireless charger, a forward collision avoidance system and 17 inch wheels distinguish the $28400 SEL.

From a value standpoint the SE has appeal. Its regenerative braking can be modulated with the paddles. Use the left side paddle to guide you through 3 increasing intensities of same. (In its most engaged mode, it's fun and a challenge to drive with the far right pedal!) Shift to Sport Mode, and those same paddles can run you through the gears. Steering seems to tighten a bit. The Ioniq is not lightning quick: the Ipad recorded several 0-60 runs at 9 seconds. Underway, it performed well with more than adequate power to pass on two lanes and to merge onto a 70 mph freeway.

The Ioniq's front seats are supportive and seat heaters spread out to my entire contact surface. The low console allowed my pedal knee unlimited room and a feeling of front seat spaciousness. Though the space seemed small, the back seat easily accommodated six footers. Beneath the hatchback was 26.5 cubic feet of space including a hidden sub floor compartment. The front and side views are generous. Rear view is hindered by a spoiler bisecting the glass – it takes some getting used to. Driving Impressions favors hard buttons and switches for climate and radio control systems. There was a paucity of same but the brightly lit touch controls were intuitive and easy to reach.

We tested the $31200 Limited. With its leather seat surfaces, premium audio, folding mirrors,10.25 triple display touchscreen, driver's seat memory, and console mounted rear seat a/c vents, this Ioniq presents as a compact luxury sedan. Driving manners are similar to that previously described. New this year is its exclusive (for an Ioniq HEV) Highway Drive Assist which descends from the Palisade. It employs inputs from navigation and cameras (there is no projection of the front view) to help control steering and acceleration and deceleration to center the car in a lane and maintain proper distance. Parameters are somewhat adjustable. At one point I traveled 83 seconds before that signal to return my hands to the wheel. And I enjoyed the prod/alert that the car in front was underway when my attention at a stoplight was elsewhere.

In addition to a claimed and achieved 55 mpg fuel consumption, Hyundai's warranty is worthy of note: five years or 60,000 miles for the whole car and ten years or 100,000 miles for the powertrain. Lifetime hybrid battery replacement is offered to the original owner. And there's 3 years or 36,000 miles of free maintenance.

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

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