Used 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Hyundai offers the 2020 Ioniq in three flavors. The 5-door hatchback comes in pure electric form or a choice between a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The last two share a 1.6-liter gasoline engine but the plug-in version has a more powerful electric motor and larger battery. The Ioniq Hybrid Blue is one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids you can buy, with an estimated 57-mpg city/59-mpg highway for a total cruising range of nearly 700 miles.

Now available in 13 states, the Ioniq Electric is improved this year, with a larger battery and more power enabling it to travel 170 miles on a single charge. Hyundai has added more safety features as standard, as well as extended the warranty for the battery packs on all three models.

From behind the wheel, the 2020 Ioniq Hybrid is refined and comfortable with few indications that its complex powertrain is using both an electric motor and a gasoline-powered internal-combustion engine to get you down the road. Basically, it feels like a regular compact car, and that’s a good thing. The Hybrid even uses a normal-looking shifter for the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and there are paddle shifters if you want to get sporty and choose gears for yourself.

There’s ample power for daily driving, engine-to-motor transitions are smooth, and brake response is nicely linear, but there is some tire noise. Throttle response, transmission shifts and steering response feel livelier in Sport mode, although fuel economy takes a hit. Use Sport mode habitually and mileage in the city will dip to about 40 mpg. The Ioniq Electric has a nice punch off the line, but overall it too has a relaxed, easygoing nature.

If you didn’t see the hybrid badges, you would never know the Ioniq was a hybrid/electric vehicle. Far from the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius school of futuristic design, the Ioniq’s interior is conventional but nicely laid out with the materials and build quality of a premium-compact car.

New this year is a larger touch screen for the infotainment, eight inches on the base models and 10.25 on upper trims. All controls are intuitive and user-friendly, with such high-tech must-haves as Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging. Interior bits are composed of eco-friendly substances, including recycled plastics, wood, sugar cane and even volcanic stone. Rear-seat space is generous for this class, and seat comfort both front and rear is good.

While some people may like the extreme look of the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf, Hyundai keeps the Ioniq’s styling pretty mainstream. Aerodynamics is the primary motivator behind the hatchback’s wedge-shaped profile, although we’re still at a loss to explain the odd split-rear window with its trim piece running directly through the driver’s rear vision.

New this year is a revised grille and rear end, LED headlights, taillights and running lights plus new wheel designs and brighter side-sill treatments. To save weight, Hyundai engineers fashioned the Ioniq’s hood and liftgate from aluminum. The Ioniq Electric features a closed front grille and lighter, more aerodynamic wheels.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Now standard on every model, the Ioniq’s automatic emergency braking system uses cameras mounted in the windshield and radar sensors in the front end to watch for vehicles that may cause an accident. The system will alert the driver to the danger and, in certain conditions, can even bring the car to a complete stop.

PLUG-IN HYBRID
With the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid, you get the best of electric and hybrid cars. The Plug-in can travel up to 27 miles solely on electric power, after which it switches over to the gas/hybrid system. The Plug-in costs a bit more than the Ioniq Hybrid, and its fuel economy, when running in hybrid mode, is a bit lower.

Even the base Ioniq Hybrid Blue offers an impressive roster of standard equipment. Topping the list is an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, hill-start assist plus seven airbags.

Also standard is Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite that includes forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, high-beam assist and a driver-attention-monitoring system. Moving up to the SE brings Blue Link connected services, heated side mirrors, a power-driver’s seat and heated front seats. Dual-zone climate control is standard on the Hybrid and Plug-in, but not available in the Electric.

The Ioniq has its options grouped according to trim. There are no additional packages. The SEL trim includes adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and taillights, Qi wireless charging, power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, lane-follow assist and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection.

The Limited trim adds a 10.25-inch touch screen, leather seats, memory for the driver’s seat and mirrors, rear air vents, navigation, highway-driving assistance, Harman Kardon audio plus front and rear parking sensors.

While all three members of the new Ioniq family use an interior-permanent magnet synchronous motor, the horsepower and torque combination is different for each car. All three also use a lithium-ion polymer battery.

The Ioniq Electric gets an upgrade this year, with a larger battery pack and onboard charger allowing for longer range and faster charging times. With a 100-kW fast-charging station, you can recharge 80 percent of the EV’s battery in about 54 minutes. Fuel economy for the Hybrid Blue model — 57-mpg city and 59 highway — is best in its class, and the fuel-economy equivalent for the Electric is the best in the country.

Ioniq Hybrid
1.6-liter Atkinson cycle inline-4
104 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
109 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
32-kW Interior-Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
43 horsepower, 125 lb-ft of torque
Total system output: 139 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 55/54 mpg (Hybrid), 57/59 mpg (Blue)

Ioniq Electric
88-kW Interior-Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
134 horsepower, 218 lb-ft of torque (Electric)
Total system output: 134 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy equivalent: 145/121 MPGe (133 MPGe combined)
EPA-estimated range per full charge: 170 miles

Ioniq Plug-in
1.6-liter Atkinson cycle inline-4
104 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
109 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
44.5-kW Interior-Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
60 horsepower, 125 lb-ft of torque
Total system output: 156 horsepower
EPA city/highway combined fuel economy: 52 mpg/119 MPGe