Where many brands did their best to make their electric model as fast and flashy as possible, the Koreans took a different approach. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric initially delivered 120 hp and was equipped with a modest battery pack with a net capacity of 28 kWh. Fast charging was possible with a neat 70 kW, so that from 20 to 80 percent charging was done in about 25 minutes.
In 2019, the Ioniq Electric received an update, increasing the engine power to 136 hp. The battery grew considerably and could now accommodate a net 38.3 kWh, but the fast charging was considerably slower than before at a maximum of 44 kW. For some second-hand buyers, this turned out to be a reason to go for the older model after all.
Is the Ioniq spacious enough?
The Ioniq has the dimensions of a family car, but the teardrop shape could well adversely affect the living space. “The Hyundai is very streamlined and quite low. That means low consumption on the one hand, but also a fairly deep entry on the other. The space in the back is quite good, although the headroom is not enough, partly due to the sliding roof, ”experiences the owner of a 2017 Ioniq Electric.
“Rear passengers have enough space, just not behind me,” writes a driver who is more than 2 meters tall about his 2020 Ioniq Electric 38 kWh. “It is a pity that there is a center tunnel, which makes it a bit more uncomfortable for three people in the back. But as indicated: 95% I drive alone in the car. Unfortunately no frunk in the front of the car, trunk is more than sufficient, but would have liked to see the charging cable in the front.”
“The seats in the front are fine, comfortable and easy to adjust,” writes an average-sized owner. “The headroom in the front is also more than sufficient with a height of 1.85 meters. In the back, the seats are also fine, but it is less spacious. Legroom is ample, but passengers taller than six feet may experience some headroom issues.”
The rider above already gave it away: people are mostly positive about the seating furniture. “I opted for the most luxurious version because the electrically adjustable seats have more adjustment options. I’m 1.95 meters tall and my back often hurts, that’s why. They are not Volvo seats, but they are good for me,” writes the driver of a 2018 Ioniq Electric Premium. “Good seats with many adjustment options, the driver’s seat electrically with two memory positions and a widely adjustable steering wheel make comfortable seating position is easy to find,” confirms the driver of a younger model with a 38 kWh battery.
Still, not everyone is satisfied. “The chair seat sags a bit and doesn’t provide the support you should have. After 2 hours of driving I get a very sore seat, a rear passenger also complained about the seat,” said a critical driver who is considering measures. “I’m thinking about replacing the upholstery with (genuine) leather and having the seats and back seat padded.”
Driving the Ioniq Electric
How does that drive, such an electric Hyundai? “Driving is focused on comfort,” says the owner who previously drove a Volvo V50. He continues: “On the other hand, the rigid rear axle is striking. You have to take speed bumps with care and potholes and wells you do feel. Another minus is the noise of the rear tires, which is mainly audible to the rear passengers. But if you drive on very quiet asphalt, there is really a silence on board, that is wonderful driving.” More owners complain about those rear tires: the insulation of the rear wheel arches could be better.
The electric motor drives the front wheels, which sometimes leads to surprises. “The front-wheel drive in combination with the strong electric motor does give some reactions in the steering wheel and sometimes a traction control that intervenes. Acceptable for the Ioniq, but with a much stronger engine this seems like a point to me”, thinks this rider with the development department.
Not everyone is happy with the driving comfort. For example, several drivers think the rear axle could be improved. “The car is pretty stiff. Now I have read that there is a rigid rear axle underneath and I think you can notice this. When you drive over a threshold, you also feel the threshold completely. It is not so much uncomfortable, but you always hope that you feel a little less threshold,” the owner of a 2018 copy describes his experience.
Ioniq Electric: range
An important point with an EV is the range. The Hyundai Ioniq is not at the top of the lists in that respect, but it has an important asset: efficiency. In the words of this owner: “Perfect car for people who do not travel too great distances. Average consumption in summer 11 and in winter 13.5 kWh per 100 km. The car therefore travels 230 km in summer and 190 km in winter.” These are values that several riders confirm.
It helps that Hyundai does not portray things better than they are. “In terms of range, it soon turned out that the prediction made by the Ioniq is quite accurate, but also that the Ioniq is very efficient”, is the experience of the driver who traded in his Ioniq for a new Ioniq 5. “The big differences you hear from other brands between stated value and reality is really not that bad here.”
Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric turns out to be a pretty reliable car, but it’s not flawless. “In the last 4 years I haven’t had any real problems with the car,” writes one driver after some 85,000 kilometres. “In addition to the regular service, there was a recall for the charging port in the first year. This seemed to cause problems, but I didn’t notice it. The port has been replaced. The air conditioning pump was replaced about 5 months ago. The air conditioner worked fine, but the pump was noisy. You heard that especially when you were outside the car. It was also replaced under warranty. For example, the five-year warranty that Hyundai offers comes in handy.
That warranty is also not flawless, noticed an owner with a defective Infinity audio system. After replacing it, he was presented with a bill of no less than € 6,300. Although this audio system seemed to be excluded from the five-year warranty, he eventually received a full refund for this part. Drivers with a 38 kWh variant were faced with a recall in which the battery was replaced, with this driver the engine and gearbox unit were also replaced.
The above matters seem to be excesses, the only problem we read about more often is a draining 12V battery. Annoying, but unfortunately not uncommon in electric cars. We conclude with a satisfied driver: “The total maintenance costs, including the winter tire changes, amounted to 2,138 euros over 4 years. Converted to the number of kilometers driven, this is only € 0.02 per kilometer. Clear proof that electric cars are cheaper to use than a fuel car.”
Conclusion Hyundai Ioniq Electric
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric turns out to be an excellent electric choice in practice. Despite its modest battery pack, the range is sufficient for many users, because the car uses electricity efficiently. Except for a few recalls, more common problems are limited to a dead 12V battery. It is to be hoped that the factory-supplied audio systems will continue to function, because replacing them appears to be an expensive task.
2023-07-30 14:00:06
#Practical #experience #Hyundai #Ioniq #Electric #Autotest
