Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid (2016-2022) - Engines, drive & performance
The Hyundai Ioniq performs perfectly adequately for a hybrid and is noticeably more engaging in Sport mode
On twisty country roads, the Ioniq feels eager enough thanks to its relatively low weight and firm ride, but it’s not what you’d call an engaging driver’s car in the mould of the Ford Focus, and the Toyota Prius is also slightly more fun to drive. The steering is quite light, but it can be made heavier (artificially so, it must be said) by selecting the car’s Sport driving mode. Because it doesn’t have the low centre of gravity of the Electric version (which has a heavy battery under the floor), the Hybrid doesn’t feel quite so composed and stable during direction changes. It can’t match the electric powertrain’s immediate responses, either.
There’s a degree of sharpness to the way the Ioniq copes with poor road surfaces, but for the most part its suspension deals with bumps and ruts well, keeping you and your passengers reasonably well-cushioned against the worst road surfaces. It’s still bumpier around town than we’d like, though.
Hyundai Ioniq hybrid engine
The Ioniq Hybrid glides away in virtual silence, but as the speed builds it’s easy to feel the point at which the 1.6-litre petrol engine kicks in. This engine was designed specifically for this application and working alongside an electric motor its combined power is 139bhp. This is enough to see the car get from 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds, or 11.1 seconds when equipped with 17-inch alloys. The big difference between this car and the Toyota Prius is its gearbox.
One factor that ought to work strongly in favour of the Ioniq is that it uses a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the kind more commonly found in petrol or diesel-powered cars. In contrast, the Prius uses a CVT-type automatic, which causes the engine to drone under acceleration and makes the car less engaging. However, while the gearbox is smooth it's fairly sluggish, and you can get an odd surging sensation when cruising on the motorway as the car juggles power from the petrol engine and the electric motor. We like the Ioniq's brakes though, which are much smoother than the Toyota’s. You can also use steering-wheel mounted paddles to increase the regenerative braking effort of the electric motor, which slows the car to a crawl when you release the accelerator in its highest setting.
We found it frustratingly difficult to keep the Ioniq Hybrid in electric-only mode. While this is a relatively common characteristic with hybrid cars, Hyundai claims the Ioniq can be driven using just the batteries and motor at speeds up to 75mph but we struggled to keep it in pure EV mode above 40mph. The hybrid setup also switches between petrol and battery power too frequently for our tastes because the 1.56kWh battery capacity isn’t enough to propel the car a significant distance. For a greater electric range, check out the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid.
Electric motor
For driving impressions of the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, see our full review.
